Fire by friction and a sleepless night

Sometime ago, I met the team at fenland bushcraft on a father/son Snr/jnr introduction to bushcraft weekend. We had a great time and my boy has been asking periodically to go again.
Then a few weeks back Geoff Preen from Fenland Bushcraft and I were chatting online and he invited me to a mini moot or gathering that took place this weekend just gone. Obviously we went despite the boy having a cold and we made our best preparations which included the borrowing of my mate George's palatial fishing Bivi.

Not quite roughing it but I didn't notice any central heating either! It covered us and allowed my boy and I some private space which is sometimes good.

So on arrival I met Geoff and Sean, and Geoff's children who are also keen on the bushcrafting.

A fire bit was burning already in the camp away from the main tuition area which would be used later in the evening.

The boy and I settled in by opening the much anticipated ration packs, what does Mick Dundee say? "Tastes like s*** but you can live on it" My lad enjoyed it anyway.

Geoff had asked if I was interested in making fire by friction. I've been into bushcraft and survival for years, since I bought my first copy of lofty Wiseman's survival guide at the age of 16, however, I've never done friction fire lighting, and to get a chance of one on one tuition can't be passed up so away we went. No bow drills, which I have to say has always been a put off, so many parts and a fiddly (no pun intended) method are a bit intimidating to be honest. We were using the hand drill.  Geoff demonstrated and talked me through what he was doing and why. He of course got an ember. Then it was my turn. I hand drilled and hand drilled for 20 minutes probably, nothing but dust produced. A serious workout on the upper arms, just where the upper arm joint joins the shoulder. Something was burning and it wasn't the embers! We walked away for few minutes to have a breather and a drink, but I had produced smoke from my first effort so felt if I pushed on I'd get it. So back to it, and this time as I say in the video, less fannying around, and push on before you are too fatigued. We got an ember! What an awesome experience and something I'll treasure forever.

Video link is here, hopefully it should play...
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10215397625963749&id=1529927933

Later that evening Sean cooked the most amazing chicken kebabs which went down a treat.

We then all played, kids and grown ups, camp fire stalker...what a laugh and everyone had a great time, but you will have to book a weekend with fenland bushcraft and ask to have a go, I'm not letting the cat out of the bag.
Speaking of cats, Vernon, and Vernon 2, the mice killing, sleeping bag wrangling, ration pack stealing gingers made themselves prominent figures in the camp the whole time.

My night has slipped into a haze of lack of sleep, I managed about 2 hours. Glad I opted for a tent with a boy who has a reputation of talking in his sleep and wandering around, he was kept confined, so a Bivi and beds may not be the most bushy option but for us it works. It was like having the child from the excorcist in there with me, minus the projectile vomitting and the power of Christ, he was up every 45 minutes, needing a wee, panicking because he'd spun round in the bag and it was covering his face, weird dreams about stacks of blankets, sitting bolt upright talking about random stuff. He needs his own tent next time!!! I finally drift off with the sun rising to sound of a full of beans boy saying good morning are you having a coffee??! I still needed a night cap!
Anyway, so, a guy called Joe had arrived the afternoon before, a knife making buff with shooting skills like dead eyed dick who I reckon could put a pellet up a gnats backside at fifty paces. He hadn't done fire by friction either, and was busy that morning getting it put away, and he and Geoff got an ember going and started the breakfast fire going so great stuff all round.

Then after breakfast, we had a chap called Derek arrive to do wood carving with us. Now this was a nice surprise, and I truly hope I go again and he's there. I sadly don't know enough about him to do him justice in this piece, but if he's not  or has never been a professional teacher then he's missed his vocation. What an amazing demonstration of what in essence could be viewed as quite simple. However, the knife and axe skills, knowledge of the subject, and pure skill was amazing. That's why in the pictures, as I said on the day, I must have looked like a dog being taught a card trick, this guy was spot on. He made tent pegs, I know simple right, but the depth of knowledge as to why each cut was made and why a certain shape was used was superior. Then onto spoons. However, this is where our story cuts short and I was gutted, Derek's demo was superb and I wish we could have stayed. However my boy, who already had a cold when we arrived was quickly going man down as can be seen in the photo so I had to cut it short and get him home.

He fell asleep in the truck on the way back. He hasn't done that for years.  What I can say, is what a fabulous weekend end we had, and new skills and new ideas were discussed. Hopefully we'll be going again, better equipped, and cold free! Please take the time to have a look at fenland bushcraft's homepage and the photos here.
Great guys.

https://www.fenlandbushcraft.co.uk/

Photos were a mixture of sources, so I'll name all, Rob Finch, Geoff Preen, Sean Callaghan, Joe Smalley. If anyone didn't take any pics on here, enjoy the free mention.