weaseldandaw
#1A visit with Ian McColl
What a day!!!
My wife & I were on a surprise visit to Australia as it was her friends (big) birthday. As I had never been to Australia before my wife had asked if there was anything I wanted to do while we were there.
Obviously I said, (We need to visit Ian)
I contacted Ian before we left the U.K. & he was more than happy to meet up. He sent me details of the weather to be expected & asked what we wanted to do.
I said "I want to see the workshop of the master"
I wanted to see where a master (a modern day Jim Collins) works his magic!
After visiting my wife's friend, we headed to Melbourne!
On arrival I looked at renting a car for the journey to Ian's, but found as there was a big Greek festival going on, all cars were rented out. This was the first hurdle!
We went to the main train station & found a train to Pakenham. I called Ian & he said if we got that train he & Lisa would pick us up. Things were looking up!
The next morning we got the train from Flinders Street Station & were looking forward to our day.
Second hurdle: I fell asleep on the train!
I was woken by good cop, bad cop. Due to our hectic schedule, I fell asleep on the train.
I was woken a told it was an offence to have your feet on the seat. It was also an offence to graffiti, but the train was totally decorated!!!
As I didn't have any photo ID (or didn't want to give it), my wife was taken to a different carriage to verify my answers. After finding out we were visiting from the U.K. the situation was resolved. I didn't have a problem with this & it only added to our visit..... I got to see Australian cuffs!
When we arrived at Pakenham, Ian & Lisa picked us up & took us to their farm. As we pulled up Ian asked if we had any problems with spiders.
Well, I can deal with snakes, but big poisonous spiders aren't my thing & are a big problem for my wife.
We took the bit between our teeth & went in. We were greeted by Ian's three dogs & had a coffee on the porch.
Ian & Lisa then took us around the farm & showed us their horses & cattle, before taking us around the surrounding area (Ian looking for spiders constantly). We saw Kangaroos & the effects of the bush fires.
After stopping for a great lunch we headed back to the farm. This is where things got good!
Ian & I left the girls to their own thing & headed to his workshop.
I had finally got to Aladdin's cave!
I spent the next few hours looking at "a small part" of Ian's collection of cuffs & seeing a masters work, his letter lock cuffs & his new Russian manacle as well as a fantastic pair of cuffs that a prisoner bent to escape.
I would love to have seen the prisoners wrists!
Ian was kind enough to inscribe one of my locks as well as supplying me with a few additions to my collection/arsenal.
I won't tell you more as it's not down to me to tell. All I will say is, if any of you are ever in Australia, Ian is a must!
Thanks Ian,
I only wish we had been able to spend more time together.
What a day!!!
My wife & I were on a surprise visit to Australia as it was her friends (big) birthday. As I had never been to Australia before my wife had asked if there was anything I wanted to do while we were there.
Obviously I said, (We need to visit Ian)
I contacted Ian before we left the U.K. & he was more than happy to meet up. He sent me details of the weather to be expected & asked what we wanted to do.
I said "I want to see the workshop of the master"
I wanted to see where a master (a modern day Jim Collins) works his magic!
After visiting my wife's friend, we headed to Melbourne!
On arrival I looked at renting a car for the journey to Ian's, but found as there was a big Greek festival going on, all cars were rented out. This was the first hurdle!
We went to the main train station & found a train to Pakenham. I called Ian & he said if we got that train he & Lisa would pick us up. Things were looking up!
The next morning we got the train from Flinders Street Station & were looking forward to our day.
Second hurdle: I fell asleep on the train!
I was woken by good cop, bad cop. Due to our hectic schedule, I fell asleep on the train.
I was woken a told it was an offence to have your feet on the seat. It was also an offence to graffiti, but the train was totally decorated!!!
As I didn't have any photo ID (or didn't want to give it), my wife was taken to a different carriage to verify my answers. After finding out we were visiting from the U.K. the situation was resolved. I didn't have a problem with this & it only added to our visit..... I got to see Australian cuffs!
When we arrived at Pakenham, Ian & Lisa picked us up & took us to their farm. As we pulled up Ian asked if we had any problems with spiders.
Well, I can deal with snakes, but big poisonous spiders aren't my thing & are a big problem for my wife.
We took the bit between our teeth & went in. We were greeted by Ian's three dogs & had a coffee on the porch.
Ian & Lisa then took us around the farm & showed us their horses & cattle, before taking us around the surrounding area (Ian looking for spiders constantly). We saw Kangaroos & the effects of the bush fires.
After stopping for a great lunch we headed back to the farm. This is where things got good!
Ian & I left the girls to their own thing & headed to his workshop.
I had finally got to Aladdin's cave!
I spent the next few hours looking at "a small part" of Ian's collection of cuffs & seeing a masters work, his letter lock cuffs & his new Russian manacle as well as a fantastic pair of cuffs that a prisoner bent to escape.
I would love to have seen the prisoners wrists!
Ian was kind enough to inscribe one of my locks as well as supplying me with a few additions to my collection/arsenal.
I won't tell you more as it's not down to me to tell. All I will say is, if any of you are ever in Australia, Ian is a must!
Thanks Ian,
I only wish we had been able to spend more time together.