It's been interesting to read how the various groups meet up etc so I just
thought that I'd add my bit too. The classes I teach were originally adult
education classes at the local college when I was invited by the retiring
tutor to take them over. All went well for the first year apart from the
fact that the college wanted everyone to work towards assessment which was
non too popular with ladies who were making lace for pleasure. The following
year it was made very clear that we were not welcome - we were sited in a
room in one of the colleges annexe buildings, on the second floor -
surrounded by decorators equipment and even a couple of chainsaws ! What
they thought I might do with those we will leave to the imagination. The
first night of classes I wondered why so few had turned up, it wasn't until
almost time to go home that the ladies and I discovered what was up. The
caretaker walked into class and was extremely surprised to see us. He had
been walking home when he saw the room light on and came to investigate it
transpired that we had been locked in sometime earlier and left with no
access to fire escapes, emergency telephone etc etc and we weren't even
supposed to be there! Needless to say I went to see the college principle,
just about every rule of health and saftey had been broken by the college -
her attitude didn't help - well they are just a group of old ladies does it
really matter stance - I somewhat flipped as I pointed out that they were
the mothers and wives of policemen, fire inspectors, health and safty
inspectors and lawyers and could probably between them get the college shut
down ! We went private a week later.
Today I teach the classes from home, weekly on roughly a school term basis.
I don't have a large house just two dining room tables (one in the adjoining
conservatory) which are sufficient for up to nine students, and a husband
who now makes lace (if you can't beat them join them) and attends every
class (now grown from the original 2 to 3). I am registered with Inland
revenue and I don't advertise, my classes are rarely ever short on numbers
and when they do drop (I had to shut for a term because of convalesence
after an operation) the numbers soon pick up again. We get to lace days and
events around our region and enjoy our lacemaking.
As they say variety is the spice of life - what matters is that lacemakers
can meet up and enjoy their lacemaking.
Nicky in Suffolk
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