Leaf it out

How to make half a May whistle. First take a fresh three inch length of sycamore stick about 3/8 in diameter. Cut one end square and the other at an angle, one inch from the square end cut around the bark. Place the two inch end on smooth stone and then, using handle of penknife, gently tap until the cylinder of bark detaches from stick and is free to turn. Is that about right so far? I believe there is a notch or slot to cut next however this is as far as my memory goes. Does anyone remember?

That is about it, my grandfather used to make them for me, when we went walking through the allotments by Lescudjack School; he used different twigs, the hedges there were a mixture, but he found all manner of straight twigs. There is a cut and a slit to make before sliding the outer bark back on; there were other holes to cut, to be able to play a tune . He used to make a whistle from various thicknesses. A very resourceful, intelligent and witty man, with endless wisdom. My Hero.

I set out to make a whistle today thinking that when I came to the notch /groove part my memory would go back to my youth and all would become clear. Several different carefully made models were made - not a peep. The secret was lost - in desperation I Googled “making a sycamore whistle” and up came an excellent detailed video,on U Tube, courtesy of The Eden Project - will try again tomorrow.

I was just musing on the fact that I grew up in an age when people could make and do things; make do and mend. Cope with anything. We live in a world of supermen, hoping for Bicycle Repair Man to arrive.

My mate works at Halfords - would he do? laugh#

Pedal to the Metal read#

My grandchildren are like all others now growing in an age of gratification from wonderfully made electronic things of plastic. In some respects I envy them. However as they have been growing up I have endeavoured to make it known to them some of the simpler toys and games from past times, when you made things from what was available around you (even bicycle repairs). They are all coming around to spend the day tomorrow - which is why I was looking for the whistle detail, its going to be one of our things to do, and in return I expect them to get together and show me how to operate my new mp3 player.

I don t envy them in the slightest - by the age of eight, I knew my way to, around and home from Trevaylor Woods; there s no way I d let my eight year old son make that journey unaccompanied. That s only a simple example, but I wouldn t swap my childhood for his.

laugh# ... My grandfather made a wonderful doll s house for my sister; Later I made a doll s house for my daughter, a garage and western fort (based on research into cavalry forts in the US), as well as a very solid fast moving tank, and an electronic organ, in the shape of an upright piano ... oh yes, and a ukelele, I just enjoy making things ...