On a recent 96 Hour Pass I jumped a flight from Kuwait down to Qatar.
Me, waiting for my flight out:
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/waiting.JPG
Did all the usual R&R stuff us military folks do, relax, eat, sleep.
( Everything revolves around drinking our 3 alloted beers per day ;-)
On a tour to Doha City (Qatar) we went to the "Old Souks" which is the
oldest section of town, about 4 city block of ancient stalls and shops
selling all sorts of crap to tourists. While walking along I spotted
something that made me stop and take a picture:
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/boatsoutside.JPG
Behind the boats, my eyes gleamed and my heart quickened as a spied a
pile of raw lumber:
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/lumber.JPG
Upon entering the small storefront my nostrils were filled with the
aroma of teak, cedar, and tung oil.
I wondered around the small store admiringing at the craftsmanship of
the various objects:
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/scroll-work.JPG
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/model-boat.JPG
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/chairs.JPG
The proprietor came out of the "back room" and betwen his extrememly
broken english and my total lack of Arabic, we communicated mostly via
gestures and hand signs, and I conveyed to him that I was also a
woodworker and he took me back into his work space, behind a curatin in
the back of the shop. Keep in mind that everything this guy made on
disply in the front of the store was completed, start to finish in this
humble workspace (including the big boats outside).
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/workspace.JPG
That is all thers is.... and ther is no more! That is the ENTIRE scope
of the "shop". So the next time you are complaining that you are
running out of room in your 3-car garage turned "Shrine to Norm".Quit
yer' bitchin, and suck it up!
On the way out I spied a succulent bow-drill that I tried to purchase,
however it was not for sale, since it was his only drill (besides his 2
braces)
www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/bow-drill.JPG
I wonder how much Pat Leach would charge for something like that?-)
--
V/R
The Sand Squid
Fascinating post Squid,
Thanks very much for your story and pictures. Come home safe please
and send some more pics if you can. The guy does great work.
Marc
The Sand Squid wrote:
> On a recent 96 Hour Pass I jumped a flight from Kuwait down to Qatar.
>
> Me, waiting for my flight out:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/waiting.JPG
>
> Did all the usual R&R stuff us military folks do, relax, eat, sleep.
> ( Everything revolves around drinking our 3 alloted beers per day ;-)
>
> On a tour to Doha City (Qatar) we went to the "Old Souks" which is the
> oldest section of town, about 4 city block of ancient stalls and shops
> selling all sorts of crap to tourists. While walking along I spotted
> something that made me stop and take a picture:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/boatsoutside.JPG
>
> Behind the boats, my eyes gleamed and my heart quickened as a spied a
> pile of raw lumber:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/lumber.JPG
>
> Upon entering the small storefront my nostrils were filled with the
> aroma of teak, cedar, and tung oil.
>
> I wondered around the small store admiringing at the craftsmanship of
> the various objects:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/scroll-work.JPG
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/model-boat.JPG
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/chairs.JPG
>
> The proprietor came out of the "back room" and betwen his extrememly
> broken english and my total lack of Arabic, we communicated mostly via
> gestures and hand signs, and I conveyed to him that I was also a
> woodworker and he took me back into his work space, behind a curatin in
> the back of the shop. Keep in mind that everything this guy made on
> disply in the front of the store was completed, start to finish in this
> humble workspace (including the big boats outside).
>
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/workspace.JPG
>
> That is all thers is.... and ther is no more! That is the ENTIRE scope
> of the "shop". So the next time you are complaining that you are
> running out of room in your 3-car garage turned "Shrine to Norm".Quit
> yer' bitchin, and suck it up!
>
> On the way out I spied a succulent bow-drill that I tried to purchase,
> however it was not for sale, since it was his only drill (besides his 2
> braces)
>
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/bow-drill.JPG
> I wonder how much Pat Leach would charge for something like that?-)
>
> --
> V/R
> The Sand Squid
The Sand Squid wrote:
> On a recent 96 Hour Pass I jumped a flight from Kuwait down to Qatar.
>
> Me, waiting for my flight out:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/waiting.JPG
>
> Did all the usual R&R stuff us military folks do, relax, eat, sleep.
> ( Everything revolves around drinking our 3 alloted beers per day ;-)
>
> On a tour to Doha City (Qatar) we went to the "Old Souks" which is the
> oldest section of town, about 4 city block of ancient stalls and shops
> selling all sorts of crap to tourists. While walking along I spotted
> something that made me stop and take a picture:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/boatsoutside.JPG
>
> Behind the boats, my eyes gleamed and my heart quickened as a spied a
> pile of raw lumber:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/lumber.JPG
>
> Upon entering the small storefront my nostrils were filled with the
> aroma of teak, cedar, and tung oil.
>
> I wondered around the small store admiringing at the craftsmanship of
> the various objects:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/scroll-work.JPG
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/model-boat.JPG
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/chairs.JPG
>
> The proprietor came out of the "back room" and betwen his extrememly
> broken english and my total lack of Arabic, we communicated mostly via
> gestures and hand signs, and I conveyed to him that I was also a
> woodworker and he took me back into his work space, behind a curatin in
> the back of the shop. Keep in mind that everything this guy made on
> disply in the front of the store was completed, start to finish in this
> humble workspace (including the big boats outside).
>
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/workspace.JPG
>
> That is all thers is.... and ther is no more! That is the ENTIRE scope
> of the "shop". So the next time you are complaining that you are
> running out of room in your 3-car garage turned "Shrine to Norm".Quit
> yer' bitchin, and suck it up!
>
> On the way out I spied a succulent bow-drill that I tried to purchase,
> however it was not for sale, since it was his only drill (besides his 2
> braces)
>
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/bow-drill.JPG
> I wonder how much Pat Leach would charge for something like that?-)
>
> --
> V/R
> The Sand Squid
Nice post!
Stay safe.
Morris Dovey wrote:
>You might be able to pick up a couple of pieces of sandalwood and cedar in Kuwait;
> and I noted from your list that he didn't have any at his shop.
Hmmmm.... good though.
> Also some incredible woodworking shops on Bahrain if you get a chance
> to visit there.
I'm planing to on my next R&R, well either there or Prague.....
> Thanks for the job you're doing -
Just another mobilized reservist taking his turn in the sandbox so our
full-timers can get a break.
>and for sharing.
Tis' what I "do".
Joe Gorman wrote:
> Maybe if you had a hand cranked one to trade he'd be interested. I
> could probably find one out in the shed if you want to try. Email if
> interested.
I have his address... Whne I get home, I'm going to mail him an egg
beater and some bits as well as a few of the Hock plane irons I never
got around to building bodies for.
I was thinking of sending him a super-tuned Stanley #4, but I don't
think he'd get much use out of it as he makes his own wooden hand
planes and uses them in the "pull" mode.
--
The Sand Squid
J T wrote:
> Thu, Aug 24, 2006, 12:53pm (EDT-3) [email protected]
> (The Sand Squid) doth claimeth:
Didn't recognize who I "really" am by my E-mail address and the address
fo the server the pictures were on?-)
> I don't recall the troops being so oogly when I was in. LOL
The US Military is getting desperate for soldiers and sailors. Just
imagine 400+ Sailors in the middle of the desert working as Customs and
Border Protection..... before you know it we will be recruiting W*lm@rt
Greeters!
>Some where I've got various pictures from Nam showing a 50 foot or
>so junk being built on the beach. All handtools, no nails. Kinda amazing.
Please share!
> Judging from the picture of his "workshop" I'd say he doesn't do
> much, if any work back there.
There is a back corner of the "retail" space that you can see (from
stains and wear patches on the floor) that quite a bit of work is done
there.
> JOAT
--
The Sand Squid
Just Say (tm P.L.)
And once known as Duct Tape, and Spokeshave, etc.
Etc.
Wed, Aug 30, 2006, 9:31pm (EDT-3) [email protected] (The=A0Sand=A0Squid)
spits sand and says:
<snip>The US Military is getting desperate for soldiers and sailors.
Just imagine 400+ Sailors in the middle of the desert working as Customs
and Border Protection..... <snip>
Please share!
There is a back corner of the "retail" space that you can see (from
stains and wear patches on the floor) that quite a bit of work is done
there.
When they REALLY get desperate they'll start issuing weapons to the
Air Force.
I'm trying to find some place to get all my slides converted to
negatives, so I can make prints. Once that's done I should be able to
post some pick-tures. Been awhile since I've gone thru them so not sure
what all I've got. The big boat for sure.
I dunno, all the small shops I saw were usually pretty much packed
full of stuff and people, without a lot of maneuvering space. Not
unknown to see someone squatting on the floor working, and then someone
above him, squatting on a bench working. Maybe that what some of the
guys that bitch about how small a shop they have could do - move some of
their tools on the floor, under a bench, then work on the floor and
bench top - double their shop space.
JOAT
Justice was invented by the innocent.
Mercy and lawyers were invented by the guilty.
"J T" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:
above him, squatting on a bench working. Maybe that what some of the
guys that bitch about how small a shop they have could do - move some of
their tools on the floor, under a bench, then work on the floor and
bench top - double their shop space.
It all works out to the same space you use for sex ~ working with what's
available. In a crunch, I've seen both happen in some pretty tight places.
Haven't yet seen both happen at the same time and not sure I want to.
Duff wrote:
> The Sand Squid wrote:
> n..... before you know it we will be recruiting W*lm@rt Greeters!
> >
>
> Guess it's now since the Army raised limit to 42 years old ehh?
Aye Chief, that is pretty much the case. If USN would raise the age
limit to 40 I'd go full actrive... We've seen a lot of USN folk
embedded in Army units, and of course our HM's, RP's, and Chaplains
have alwyas hung out w/ the USMC.
> EMC(SW/AW), USN
--
IT3 (Dirt Sailor) USN
Thu, Aug 24, 2006, 12:53pm (EDT-3) [email protected]
(The=A0Sand=A0Squid) doth claimeth:
On a recent 96 Hour Pass <snip> he took me back into his work space,
behind a curatin in the back of the shop. Keep in mind that everything
this guy made on disply in the front of the store was completed, start
to finish in this humble workspace (including the big boats outside).
<snip>
I don't recall the troops being so oogly when I was in. LOL Some
where I've got various pictures from Nam showing a 50 foot or so junk
being built on the beach. All handtools, no nails. Kinda amazing.
Judging from the picture of his "workshop" I'd say he doesn't do
much, if any work back there. In all the shops, some extremely small,
in the Far East and Mid East, no one person would be working, usually
half a dozen or so,and, in the Mid East at least, the owner would NOT
be doing ANY of the work. In Thailand I visited a furniture factory
that specialized in carved teak desks, the oldest carver was probably
around 15 (fifteen). An older worker would chalk out the design, and
about a dozen carvers would go at it. Seldom saw all the work on a
particular item being done by one person, usually each would do separae
steps. Often the workers were all family. I'd say the owner was either
buying his stuff, or the actual workshop was somewhere else. But what
the heck.
JOAT
Justice was invented by the innocent.
Mercy and lawyers were invented by the guilty.
The Sand Squid (in
[email protected]) said:
| On a recent 96 Hour Pass I jumped a flight from Kuwait down to
| Qatar.
Fascinating! If you have another opportunity to visit, don't forget to
take the guy a couple of duffle-length pieces of wood. You might be
able to pick up a couple of pieces of sandalwood and cedar in Kuwait;
and I noted from your list that he didn't have any at his shop.
Also some incredible woodworking shops on Bahrain if you get a chance
to visit there.
Thanks for the job you're doing - and for sharing.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto
"The Sand Squid" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Tim Taylor wrote:
>>Keep alert, stay safe!!!
>
> 3 keys to NOT getting a purple heart:
> Eyes open, head down, and mouth shut!
>
LOL Without a doubt!!!!
"The Sand Squid" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On a recent 96 Hour Pass I jumped a flight from Kuwait down to Qatar.
>
> Me, waiting for my flight out:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/waiting.JPG
Dressed up in case of table saw kick back? ;~)
Be safe...
John
The Sand Squid wrote:
> On a recent 96 Hour Pass I jumped a flight from Kuwait down to Qatar.
snip
> On the way out I spied a succulent bow-drill that I tried to purchase,
> however it was not for sale, since it was his only drill (besides his 2
> braces)
>
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/bow-drill.JPG
> I wonder how much Pat Leach would charge for something like that?-)
>
> --
> V/R
> The Sand Squid
>
Maybe if you had a hand cranked one to trade he'd be interested. I
could probably find one out in the shed if you want to try. Email if
interested.
Joe
email is valid
The Sand Squid wrote:
> Joe Gorman wrote:
>> Maybe if you had a hand cranked one to trade he'd be interested. I
>> could probably find one out in the shed if you want to try. Email if
>> interested.
>
> I have his address... Whne I get home, I'm going to mail him an egg
> beater and some bits as well as a few of the Hock plane irons I never
> got around to building bodies for.
>
> I was thinking of sending him a super-tuned Stanley #4, but I don't
> think he'd get much use out of it as he makes his own wooden hand
> planes and uses them in the "pull" mode.
>
> --
> The Sand Squid
>
Nice. I'm sure with a little practice, and maybe a heftier front knob a
4 could be used in pull mode. I just don't have one here at work to try
it on right now. Have to fix that.
Joe
"The Sand Squid" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On a recent 96 Hour Pass I jumped a flight from Kuwait down to Qatar.
>
> Me, waiting for my flight out:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/waiting.JPG
>
> Did all the usual R&R stuff us military folks do, relax, eat, sleep.
> ( Everything revolves around drinking our 3 alloted beers per day ;-)
>
> On a tour to Doha City (Qatar) we went to the "Old Souks" which is the
> oldest section of town, about 4 city block of ancient stalls and shops
> selling all sorts of crap to tourists. While walking along I spotted
> something that made me stop and take a picture:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/boatsoutside.JPG
>
> Behind the boats, my eyes gleamed and my heart quickened as a spied a
> pile of raw lumber:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/lumber.JPG
>
> Upon entering the small storefront my nostrils were filled with the
> aroma of teak, cedar, and tung oil.
>
> I wondered around the small store admiringing at the craftsmanship of
> the various objects:
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/scroll-work.JPG
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/model-boat.JPG
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/chairs.JPG
>
> The proprietor came out of the "back room" and betwen his extrememly
> broken english and my total lack of Arabic, we communicated mostly via
> gestures and hand signs, and I conveyed to him that I was also a
> woodworker and he took me back into his work space, behind a curatin in
> the back of the shop. Keep in mind that everything this guy made on
> disply in the front of the store was completed, start to finish in this
> humble workspace (including the big boats outside).
>
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/workspace.JPG
>
> That is all thers is.... and ther is no more! That is the ENTIRE scope
> of the "shop". So the next time you are complaining that you are
> running out of room in your 3-car garage turned "Shrine to Norm".Quit
> yer' bitchin, and suck it up!
>
> On the way out I spied a succulent bow-drill that I tried to purchase,
> however it was not for sale, since it was his only drill (besides his 2
> braces)
>
> www.shavings.net/images/navy/Qatar/Wood/bow-drill.JPG
> I wonder how much Pat Leach would charge for something like that?-)
>
> --
> V/R
> The Sand Squid
>
Nice! Very nice!!! Thanks for the pics. Keep alert, stay safe!!!
42? I thought it was 44. I'm too old anyway, barely. Got out just before the
fist Gulf thing. Don't really want to do it again anyway.
"Duff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> The Sand Squid wrote:
> n..... before you know it we will be recruiting W*lm@rt Greeters!
> >
>
> Guess it's now since the Army raised limit to 42 years old ehh?
>
> EMC(SW/AW), USN
>