quiet around here

[Tonyz]

Is there a way to track numbers over a given period of time.
I am wondering if things have gone a little quieter on this forum lately, or is just me in retirement spending more time here.

[BobL]

It seems a bit quieter than usual - my experience is this tends to happen when the forums go down, but it seems to have been quiet even before that.

Reading a book at the moment called "calling BS" . It includes a section about the negative side of mobile phones, computers, social media and forums etc.
As well as disseminating endless amounts of BS, another negative thing it discusses is the time wasted by who constantly use using these facilities. I guess this applies to me as much as anyone and I'm pretty sure it does impact on my productivity. I've been thinking about going cold turkey for a while and see what happens.

I've got a long list of projects like house repairs and things to do for SWMBO piling up.
If I disappear for a while you'll know why.

[aldav]

It wouldn't surprise if things were busier during the covid lockdowns, or that things are quieter now that everybody is doing their best to get back to 'normal'.

[BobL]

Another of my pet excuses about why I might be less productive than in the past is related to the fact that the more stuff you accumulate the more can go wrong and unless you pay to have things repaired then this starts to soak up more and more time.

By way of example yesterday I sent time trying to fix my 3D printer and looking for leaks on my compressed air line - neither of which are fixed and need more time
I also sent some time sorting out glass and a back for a picture frame for SWMBO who found the frame during a verge pickup scrounge.

The other thing that soaks up time is SWMBO has not been able to drive for about 12 months so I'm still driving her everywhere.

On the positive side, because of COVID and my comorbidities etc I'm sort of self isolating (not even seeing the grandies) so staying out of all shops.
I do buy a fair bit on line otherwise if I want something for the shed I look it up on line (part numbers etc) and even print off a picture and details and give that to SWMBO to take into the store to select, pick up and pay for it. Being an ex-librarian she's very precise about things, so far all purchases have been spot on.

[Bushmiller]

Tony

If you go to the home page of these Forums and scroll to the bottom of the page there are a number of statistics which might help if you wished to compare numbers of users, both members and guests.

Regards
Paul

[Chris Parks]

It is pretty obvious that the forum is going through a period of change, most of the names that posted here for many years no longer do so or if they do it is only occasionally.

[orraloon]

I have also been thinking its gone a bit quiet. Could be down to all sorts of things as after all this last couple of years have hardly been good. Every time you think you can stick your head up then more c&@p is winging your way. Cost of living is not helping either putting wood in the luxury bracket. Top that off with never ending high humidity making you think twice about even starting a wood project. Found green mold on one of my wooden planes the other day.
Anyhow lets hope for better times and I feel sure the forum will pick up again.
Regards
John

[A Duke]

It is pretty obvious that the forum is going through a period of change, most of the names that posted here for many years no longer do so or if they do it is only occasionally.

Hi,
Old Father Time is stalking us all!
Regards

[Wongo]

Is there a way to track numbers over a given period of time.
I am wondering if things have gone a little quieter on this forum lately, or is just me in retirement spending more time here.

Don't worry I am still here

[LanceC]

I'll put my hand up as someone who used to post more, but has been quiet of late. I still read most days, but find that I'm just more exhausted at the moment, physically, mentally and emotionally. It will no doubt pass, but in the interim I still enjoy visiting and being a member of this refuge on the internet.

It was like this in Feb '20 when Matt started the "What's on our bench" thread, which was a great way for people to engage without too much effort, so it is cyclic.

I think the forum is a little like the ocean swell; periods of low high activity will inevitably be followed by low activity, and vice versa. I hope the swell never stops.

[chambezio]

AS lance has mentioned, I read these pages at the beginning of the day while I have my first coffee. This pattern has been going on since 2009. For the last 6 months or more the subjects written about don't "grab me" as much as they did. The Black Dog has certainly been around more often than I like too. The wet weather is another factor in the mix of stuff percolating through my brain. My concentration is also affected and that makes me stay in front of the TV (bored with what's on) instead of doing things in the shed. I struggle with all these symptoms because the brain is telling me I could do "this" or "this" or even "this" but if I go out in the shed to start I lose very quickly any incentive. The brain is rolling through all these things all day and by nightfall I give myself a little less beating up because its night and bed is next. When I wake up I feel just as tired as I was when I went to sleep......and then the next day comes and.....I will do the brain game again.

Its not like I have nothing to do. On my list is The Jeep Restoration Project (I have finished the body work and the chassis) and have been waiting for a mate to put the motor together when he finishes his convalescence after Hip surgery) I have recently acquired a Wadkin JTA Disc Sander/Bobbin Sander restoration, then there is tidying inside the shed to make shelves etc to to store stuff that I can see and use without having to mount a search.
There are a few smaller jobs that will use the Wood Lathe and some metal jobs which will use the Metal Lathe.

As you can see I am not spoiled for choice of tasks/jobs so I am really not "looking" for something to do but I just don't seem to be able to get the brain in the right place to carry out a job/task.

Its pathetic isn't it. But this is how my days go. Better days ahead? Boy I hope so

[Bucky]

I usually login and check new posts with my morning cuppa. It’s been too hot to do much in the shed and the lawns need mowing on a very regular basis. Living in a farming community means no near neighbours to complain about the noise, it does mean more yard work. I’m usually a bit of a hermit and some would say antisocial. As such Covid hasn’t been much of an issue and online shopping has been my preferred option for quite some time. Waiting for deliveries can be a bit of a drag. A couple of companies are excellent in their turn around times, some not so. Cost of freight from overseas is now beyond my modest budget. I will get a $250 handout from the recent budget, but by the time that is converted into $US not much buying power there. Nothing in the budget about wood prices. Maybe we should start a woodworkers party. Although we would probably ended up with power vs hand tools factions, with independent hybrids. Talking about hybrids, with the recent increases in petrol I can’t afford to drive my now. Not that I have anywhere or reason to go.

I would post more but in all honesty I have nothing worthwhile to say. I do have 5 stray kittens in my shed and mother cat has just had another 5 in a hollow log in the yard. We can now handle mum and she will be desexed when the kittens get older. We will give her a home and find homes for the new kittens. The older kittens we can’t catch or trap, they are too smart for us.

Cheers Bucky

[damian]

"I would post more but in all honesty I have nothing worthwhile to say."


True of me also, although it's never stopped me before...


Since my strokes everything takes 10x longer and I've all these new things to get through, medical stuff and (shudder) dealing with the government...so hobbies get pushed down the list.

[taz01]

I'm working on something for my 10yo daughter at the moment.

As she has insisted that its not only painted, but also bright pink and white i can't bring it on myself to post it on the forum.....

Regards

Adam

[AJ.]

Seems to be a bit of a theme here, I too am struggling a bit with the world at the moment. The 2 places I find peace are at work (driving my truck on my own down the highway) and in my shed. I am spending way more time in the truck than I would like, but honestly I cant even buy half the stuff I want to, in order to continue with some projects. So getting up at 1.30 in the morning and jumping in the truck seems like the easiest way to deal with the world at the moment. So in my ideal world I would have a lot more to post. Having said that I will post up a few progress pictures in my projects thread of the MFT workbench I have on the go.

Cheers Andrew