Yesterday after lunch I collected a block at the eastern windshelter where I originally started off. They were the only ones I knew the be found on the island. I was pretty heavy carrying it to the other side of the island so I started kicking it like it was a football. I then decided that I would probably make my spoon at Program anyhow. It was ok then to leave my block there.

The first birch I set of to chop turned out to be rotten inside. I couldn't use it for carving. A lot of effortwent in finding that out.

The second tree however turned out more or less ok, even though apparantly it was also sick. It was much more dry then they should be.

I had a lot of help from Gunilla from Storgårn, the camp office. She once followed a carving course and is a keen carver. She explained a lot of stuff to me then weren't to be find in my rather basic books. She showed me 4 save grips you can use when carving wood. I will put them on my vlog soon.

Speaking of "expert help": I also found a keen fisherman who is going to learn me how to fish. He caught 2 pikes in less then thirty minutes!

That evening I only managed to get the wood sawed in the right lenght. I had promised program staff some blueberry pancakes. It therefore took me some time during the day to pluck enough berries and make the dough. I also made some mayweed tea. That didn't turn out that well because I left the flowers in too long. Apparantly it should only be left in the hot water for about 5 to ten minutes.

The program staff also learned me a neat Swedish scout trick. If the smoke is blowing in your directing while working or sitting be a woodfire: just hold up your arms, in 90 degrees, in front of you, so you can still see the fire. It works! Magic :-)

Because we were up pretty late I had problems getting up in the morning. I shouldn't make it too late today!

I spent the morning making breakfast (the rest of the pancakes and some good strong coffee) baking bannock on hot stones, doing the dishes and washing my clothes in the sea. Finally I managed to get washed because to sun was up. I even washed my hair. Next time I will use birch leaves!

After that I prepared the wood for my spoon with the axe. You have to get the hard core out. Then I sketched to spoon on my piece and cut it the form with a carving axe. I then started to carve with my crooked knive. We'll see how that turns out.

There was a British group that arrived today. The scouts were really eager to make a spoon themselves. Even though I'm not working here this summer, and I'm everything but an expert on the subject I showed them everything I know by now. Unfortunately Gunilla had already left on her holiday by then.

They were also keen on getting hold of my Old Skool Scout T-shirt. I therefor showed them my shop: www.cafepress.com/evilbuddhism and by blog and vlog.