Sue D
Member Armidale Men’s Shed
Member Women’s Woodworking Group
The absolute master of turning found objects into practical pieces or works of garden art
How long have you been coming along to the men’s shed?
About 13 years ago when John Bock was our instructor and the shed was down the road.
What do you enjoy spending time doing when you’re here?
Catching up with everyone and making lots of projects and seeing the fabulous projects that everyone is working on.
What one thing would you like people to know about the Armidale Men’s Shed ?
It is a wonderful relaxing place to go to and create whatever one can dream up with the help of some brilliant instructors.
AND A FEW GET-TO-KNOW-YOU QUESTIONS…
WHAT IS ONE QUESTION do YOU WISH PEOPLE WOULD ASK YOU MORE?
What do the ladies do at the Men’s Shed?
WHAT IS ONE QUESTION do YOU WISH PEOPLE WOULD ASK YOU LESS?
How do you fill in your day?
And I think, ok where do I start ...there is always so much I can do in a day.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love creating our garden which is always changing , love making projects at the shed, love reading, love being a part of our "animal farm" and having pet lambs.
Do you collect anything?
Pieces of timber , interesting rocks - a passion from childhood, animals that other people don’t want.
What was your favourite subject in school?
Science
Did you ever have a nickname?
Buzz - in the days of being a student
What did you want to be when you were younger?
A scientist
WHAT SKILL WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO LEARN?
To be a Kinesiologist
ASIDE FROM NECESSITIES, WHAT ONE THING COULD YOU NOT GO A DAY WITHOUT?
A shower at the close of day
WHAT WAS/IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY?
Christmas in Sydney with my cousins swimming at Clareville and Paradise beaches on Pittwater, sailing on Pittwater onboard one uncle’s yacht and another’s cruiser, fresh fish and chips, seeing the beautiful Christmas decorations in homes, smelling dead leaves smouldering in gardens, catching the train at Wahroonga in my Sunday best to travel to the CBD over the bridge..there was so much to see for this country bumpkin.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SEASON?
Definitely spring with fresh leaves on the trees, flowers in the garden, the glorious scent of these, warmer and longer days and little lambs in the paddocks.
What is your favourite game or sport to watch and play?
Hockey
WHAT ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT?
Call of the Reed Warbler…a new agriculture…a new earth, by Charles Massy
WHAT MOVIE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD WATCH, OR BOOK YOU WISH YOU COULD READ AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME?
Velvet Pears - gardening by the seasons at Foxglove Spires by Susan Southam. This garden is on the south coast at Tilba Tilba and Susan talks about establishing the garden and renovating the old home.
What makes you laugh the most?
Funny people, funny movies
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT INSTANTLY MAKES YOUR DAY BETTER?
A sunny day without the wind
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RANDOM FACT?
You are what you eat
What excuse do you use all the time when you need one?
These days it’s "I forgot" which really isn't an excuse, it’s fair dinkum.
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU DO REGULARLY THAT YOU WISH COULD BE AUTOMATED?
Feeding, watering and cleaning out our aviaries
What is something that people seem obsessed with but you just don’t get the point of?
[The media obsession with the negative.] One thing that really grates on me is why the media doesn’t concentrate on how the population can stay healthy in Covid times by boosting the immune system and what people can do when they are ill with Covid at home to help their recovery.
also…
Sitting in front of a computer for endless hours ... my apologies to those who do, I’m sure you have a good reason for doing so.
A GENIE GRANTS YOU THE ABILITY TO HAVE INFINITE AMOUNTS OF ONE ITEM. WHAT IS IT?
Flowering plants especially violas and pansies
If you were a super-hero, what super-power would you have?
Definitely hands on healing which I could do using Kinesiology, so maybe being clairvoyant would help.
IF YOU HAD A WARNING LABEL, WHAT WOULD YOURS SAY?
Do not press my buttons...ha ha!
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
That's a hard one, but it would have to be someone who is positive and happy and never complains - maybe Kath from Kath and Kim.
If money was no object, what would you do all day?
Employ a gardener, a cook, a housekeeper, which would give me time to read all day with music playing and doing nothing which would then drive me crazy so I'd give them time off and do their jobs.
WHAT WEIRD FOOD COMBINATIONS DO YOU REALLY ENJOY?
Couldn’t think of any so I phoned a friend who loves banana and crisp chips on a sandwich.
WHAT FOOD DID YOU LOVE AS A CHILD THAT YOU DISLIKE NOW?
Cereal smothered in freshly separated cream topped with Akta Vite.
If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would have to be wild caught salmon with a delicious salad of greens, avocado, mango and red dragon fruit.
What's the most unusual or unpleasant thing you've ever eaten?
Kidneys - so never again!
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?
Yes
