John G
Member Armidale Men’s Shed
Mentor to Women’s Woodworking Group
Woodturner
Woodworker
King of the lame dad joke
John and his lovely wife, Karen, have moved to warmer beachside waters .
We all miss them very much..
When did you first start coming along to the Men’s Shed?
About 10 years ago. I was aware of it. I used to go to U3A and Roy was there talking about wanting to start a toy group. I did eventually come in when I donated a drawing board to the shed – that was the start.
What do you enjoy spending time doing when you’re here?
Woodturning.
Cutting up big bits of wood into little bits of wood.
John IS ALSO ONE OF A HANDFUL OF MEMBERS WHO DONATES HIS TIME AND EXPERTISE EVERY TUESDAY - rain, hail or shine - TO THE WOMEN’S WOODWORKING GROUP
What one thing would you like people to know about the Armidale Men’s Shed?
It’s a good place for blokes to meet and drink coffee and tell stories and spread a bit of glue...bind the place together.
AND A FEW GET-TO-KNOW-YOU QUESTIONS…
Did you pursue a particular career path?
Fitter and turner/toolmaker by trade. Spent a number of years ‘on the board’ as a draftsman, contracts engineer & project manager
I also raise lawnmowers...alpacas! At Karawill Park Alpacas we were breeding, promoting and showing alpacas which consumed quite a bit of our time.
Do you have any hobbies?
Yeah, coming to the Men’s Shed.
Do you collect anything?
No, but I have lots of stuff.
Have you ever had a nickname?
John is my middle name – first name is William, so I’m occasionally known as Bill.
When I was young, my mate’s father called me Blondie.
What makes you laugh?
Lots of things. Funny people.
What excuse do you use when you need one?
I never need one!
What did you want to be when you were young?
Grown up.
What is your favourite game or sport to watch or play?
Don’t really care for watching. Used to do a lot of swimming, surfing, ski, board or body.
You’re an avid reader – what are you enjoying reading at the moment?
At the moment crime fiction. Right now, Stuart McBride but last week it was Michael Connelly. One of my other favourites was Rudyard Kipling’s Captains Courageous.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what book would you want to have wash up on shore?
Whatever turned up would probably average about 500 pages – only a week’s worth of reading.
If you were a super-hero, what super-power would you have?
X-ray powers to see through the lies, bumph and bulldust.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
Anyone but Tom Cruise.
If money was no object, what would you do all day?
Try to live a full and interesting life.
If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Couldn’t be just one.
Favourites: Roast leg of lamb & baked vegies or steak & chips or beef casserole or pork and plum or beef stroganoff or bangers & mash or bacon & eggs or spag bol.
What's the most unusual or disgusting thing you've ever eaten?
I draw the line at disgusting. Don’t like offal of any sort.
And the big question…
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONTENTIOUS TOPICS OF CONVERSATION THAT CAN BRING DISCORD TO THE MOST CIVILIZED OF DISCUSSIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE TOPIC OF PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA – YES OR NO?
It’s alright on a Hawaiian coz you expect it there but don’t want it anywhere else.
