I like the shave horse, it's a really relaxing tool, at some point I need to make myself a tool to add to it for making rake tines and pegs, it's an easy bit of metal work, just got to find the right bits to get it done. Glad you continue to enjoy the soporific videos.

Cheers buddy, next time you are up we'll have to do some form of crafting together...bramble basket or something!

Thanks dude.

A nice way to spend a couple of hours. 👍

I know what you mean, excellent at their job. I like being able to make useful stuff for free, definitely a satisfying experience.

That's really interesting, I looked that up and yes a cheeky girl! Could also have be applied to mean twig like stick thin, as besom meant twig, stick etc. But I'm certain your mum must have meant the first meaning. There's much to learn from history and our old language, I love stuff learning things like this.

Thanks paquirri, I enjoy trying to make useful things!

I think his was a bit more fancy!

I'm not sure, I haven't opened her up yet, I'll be needing some more lessons from Mary yet😉

@@maryandsam2 No comment, and I doubt you will either once you've had your fingers broken when she sees what you wrote ;)

As I'm using this as an outdoor broom, I wouldn't even rinse them, one thing though...if you are gathering off the ground, the branches are liable to be brittle already having snapped off the tree. It's best if you could prune from a tree any pruning of a birch is best done in the winter months. Hopefully that helps. Glad you enjoyed the vid.

I'll need to double check the rules Vinnie, and the covid restrictions, not sure the government have mentioned quidditch yet. 😉

@@maryandsam2 Not a lot of sense or logic to the rules so far is all I can say

Yes indeed, without getting political, it's almost as if no-one knows what to do, and when people are told what to do no-one is prepared to do it.

From memory I think it was that years flexible bramble stems, stripped the thorns off by running then through a gauntleted hand.

As I recall they were pretty fresh green, using what I had at the time. I tend to work on the basis that if I need it I'll make it at that time, I admire those who are more organised than I and can save stuff up for a project. It's all an experiment, and I'm certainly no expert.

Yes, made from the new long runners as they are the most flexible parts.