Boris
My daughter, Princess Jasmine wanted a swing for her birthday and her old King daddy decided it was cheaper to try and build one than buy one (the cheapest timber one I could find, being £169.00). So on Friday morning, with nothing but the look of expectation in my little princesses eyes, I set off and scoured the local area. I bought the wood, bolts, seats and rope locally and saved a bundle by making it myself, the time it took to complete - a few hours, years of happiness in a little girls eyes that'll always remember the swing her daddy made for her, priceless. 
5 x 10ft round logs - £42
Not bad eh?
Boris
Well, here it is, finally finished, except for, well her left hand could do with some more work (as I've already been told) so that's a job for a rainy day (no, no I will finish it, promise).
My mates Steve (the Stig) and Murfee are into monsters, so I dug out an old doodle I did many many moons ago, I don't think it catergorises as a monster, more an Alien...
As I had a couple of weeks off over Christmas and the New Year, I thought it about a little job that was long overdue, I decided that my three Siberian Huskies need a more permanent kennel compound than the poor security fence state of affairs they enjoyed here (photo on left). These security fences were always temporary (I kept telling myself) and when I had a bit of spare time on my hands, I'd build them something a bit more substantial. Poor buggers have only been waiting six years! So this was it, nothing to do (apart from waiting to devour Christmas dinner and get sloshed on Auld Years night. So together with my tiny band of helpers (and I really mean tiny) my kids, Jasmine, Kallum, Scott and Adam, we embarked upon the building of something better akin to the scale of a small pyramid project (well not that big, but it sure felt like it at times). So with kind donations of timber, advice and valuable experience from my some of my mates, Lenny Welch (Landscape Supplies, Stannington Station) and our local Furniture/Carpenter Steve Taite, Kevin and Peter (JT Pine, Stannington Station) Only 10 days later, a few pounds lighter (talking about the cost of timber, nails and bribes used!). We finished this huge undertaking.
As you can see, we eventually came up with the Siberian Husky Hotel (built circa 2007). I'm sure you'll agree with me that this finished project is streets ahead of anything they had, for one thing it has a roof on it! The dogs seem to like it when they eventually took up residence. It seems I just finished it a few days before these hurricane winds came, and I must of built it good as it is still standing (testament to a good simple design and a bit of pot luck thrown in too!). 
OK, this is for anyone who may have the slightest interest in what art pieces I'm currently working on. At the moment, I'm busy sketching a sexy lingerie pin-up in pencil, I saw the photo on the internet and decided it would make a great sketch. I started it this evening round about 8pm, as it's now getting a bit late 12.30am, and the light is starting to fade (note to self: get longer candles!) I thought I'd call it a night and continue another day. The sketch is on A3 cartridge, using only a few pencils (H, HB, 2B, 4B and a 6B - had a great H10 pencil but can't find the bloody thing!). I'm not too happy with the left hand (her left hand) and may change it, possible holding a sheet/coat? We'll see how it goes.
