9 January 2010

I'm back in Needham Market, having spent Christmas with Harry & family in Manchester, with lots of snow & family gatherings, followed by New Year's with Kate & Chris in Woking, with friends for celebrating, a couple of walks, "Avatar", etc.

I know I keep saying this, but I'm still cushioned daily by all the e-mails, phone calls, cards & letters that continue to arrive. Also by a number of tributes to Roy's place in the world of antique woodworking tools over the past 35 years, starting as a tool dealer, then publisher & in the past few years solely as a bookseller with the best stock in the UK of good books on tools & trades. He & his partner Philip Walker began the Arnold & Walker business with the blessing of Bill Goodman, a self-educated carpenter who had written the first serious study of woodworking tools. They were also founder members of the UK's TATHS (Tools & Trades History Society) as well as members of the US's EAIA (Early American Industries Association). If you are interested in this aspect of Roy's life, you might see the following blogs:
http://toolemerablog.typepad.com/toolemera/2010/01/roy-arnold-an-era-passes.html

http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=NEXT&StoreCode=toolstore&nextpage=/extra/blogpage.html&BlogID=169

Today I finally had my swine flu innoculation, & next week I'm back on my regular chemo routine. Willa will be coming for a 6 week visit in the next month or so. Meanwhile, it's terribly cold (below freezing for the past few days); we have had about 3 or 4 inches of snow, with frequent flurries; & my car battery won't turn over. But as I live on the High Street, the sidewalks are reasonably okay, & there are two grocery stores nearby. I also have a near neighbour who is very helpful. And I have loads of paperwork to keep me inside at the moment!