The News From England:

[pertinux]

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.

Pressies!

A package-let arrived from Jack Black late yesterday afternoon.

What could these be?

Answers:

(Jack, if only you could have heard me gasp upon opening each item, especially the knife and the owl-on-a-chain. I was muttering pondering, "Now, why on earth would Jack send me a big ol' chain," when I saw the OWL. {{gasp}}, then a big smile. )

(More about this beautiful knife below.)

Crown "cork opener," eh? Sure looks like a cap lifter to me!

As mentioned above: {{gasp}}, then a big smile.

(A sleepy, happy little trinket.)

Wow, Jack-- thanks so much!

In which one learns that appreciation in a given thread, in this case Jack's This week's score, can lead to unexpected consequences. To whit:

...and this German-made rose budding/grafting knife caught my eye.... with a hand-forged blade and a hand-carved walnut handle.

This is my favorite of the bunch, even before reading of its relatively hoity-toit classification. The blade shape reminds me of the 'combed' roosters I saw on wlfjr's farmer jacks, taken to an extreme. :thumbup:

This knife is simply exquisite, with its smooth, chatoyant walnut and clean lines.

The hand-forged, wee blade has all sorts of interesting angles and such careful detailing. I'm almost tempted to go out a'grafting and a'budding. Almost.

(This is a "right-handed" knife, clearly so; my understanding in some brief reading since yesterday is that TINA Germany has been making these knives for a long time, and still, and also produces a left-handed version.)

Jimping!

(

)

A size comparison with a current in-pocket denizen:

While the knife is the stand-out, I'm blown away by Jack's thoughtfulness in the owl gifts, and in an industrial-strength bottle opener (heh).

Thanks so much, Jack!

~ P.

 

[Blues]

Brittania Rules! :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Glad the package arrived OK P, and that you like the contents I figured there wasn't much point sending you a bottle-opener that didn't also have a corkscrew!

Jack

 

[paulhilborn]

Sarah, that is so neat!!! All the gifts are...ENJOY!!!

Good on you Jack, you got a way with gift giving my friend

You two are great people and I enjoy conversing with you both :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Paul

 

[Modoc ED]

Nice move Jack. Very nice knives and trinkets. I think the coolest item is the owl because of course the tie-in between Sarah and her Avatar. Cool all the way around.

 

[Humppa]

Sarah, that is so neat!!! All the gifts are...ENJOY!!!

Good on you Jack, you got a way with gift giving my friend

You two are great people and I enjoy conversing with you both :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Paul

Nice move Jack. Very nice knives and trinkets. I think the coolest item is the owl because of course the tie-in between Sarah and her Avatar. Cool all the way around.

You both fellows hit the nail on its head !! I couldn´t agree more.

 

[SAK Guy]

Another happy news thread!!!! :thumbup:

 

[mike Berkovitch]

That's not just news from England, it's GREAT news. Well done Jack.

Mike

 

[Campbellclanman]

Just Awesome!
Good on you Jack - what a great guy!, and what a fantastic Lady who you sent those great gifts too! Sarah is a Gem.

A great read before I head out and face the day!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Great gifts from a very generous man, congratulations and enjoy them. :thumbup:

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Very nice!

 

[scruffuk]

What smashing gifts. That sleepy owl is cute, the chained one too to be fair.

Love that budding blade! It's quite exquisite, like a petal itself I suppose.

Good on that man!

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks folks, great community we have here

 

[ptradeco]

Nice!!! Jack, if she has not sent you a hand written note insist on one. Sarah has some of the most beautiful handwriting! . You guys rock, both of you!

 

[paulhilborn]

Nice!!! Jack, if she has not sent you a hand written note insist on one. Sarah has some of the most beautiful handwriting! . You guys rock, both of you!

That is the absolute truth Brad!!! One of the things I treasure most :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Paul

 

[Campbellclanman]

Hear hear on that Brad and Paul. Just beautiful handwriting - very much a lost art that Sarah is preserving!

 

[pertinux]

I'm not sure what you're all on about...? I just took a moment to write to Jack:

... Truthfully, I am honored to be in such good company, and humbled by the kindness in word and in action I have received, including in the posts above. To all who have so graciously commended my handwriting: if you have received a handwritten note from me, it was the least I could do.

Love that budding blade! It's quite exquisite, like a petal itself I suppose.

An apt description! What makes the knife extra-compelling is the combination of that delicate appearance with rock-solid construction and mechanics. There is no lateral give in the blade at any point in its arc (no half-stop), least of all when it's fully open.

This is clearly a tool designed well for a very specific job-- just one with which I happen to be unfamiliar(!). I'd love to see someone use this knife for its intended purpose. Then, give it back of course.

I'm am going to love having this knife along with me....

~ P.

 

[RickT57]

If the common folk ruled instead of politicians we'd all get along

 

[SHEBOP]

Good on you, Jack!
Sarah, You Rock!

 

[Gevonovich]

Just lovely gifts, each one. The grafting knife is an absolute looker!! Looks like a rooster to me. Sarah, you are a real pillar of the community and are so deserving!! The letter is perfect...lol

Jack, what can one say, tip of the hat to ya sir