new chit chat topic but i didn't want to start a new thread
knottiversary
it seems i joined the forum 7 years ago!, asking questions about the ubiquitous two-strand 'diamond knot'.
i was welcomed by members, including Sweeney,
and other patient knot people helping me, so kind. thank you!
is it old-timey reminiscence hour?
my Dad had Geoffrey Budworth's The Knot Book since i can remember and showed me and any captive audience some string tricks.
(he also did card tricks and things like photography and other things, still to this day)
fast forward to a job in my 20s in a backstage setting, and a guy there was showing a handful of kids how to tie some practical knot.
at some other stage i saw a segment at the end of local news about a mariner type guy and he had a knot board. ropey stuff. i thought it was a bit extreme, but the board and knots displayed were visually striking.
also in that decade the marquee crew used truckers hitches to tie the poles to the pegs (where else), and i gradually learnt that, i was a bit slow.
in another setting as i milled about, the guys' punching bag rope was fraying;
i had a go at backsplicing, it seems to have worked.
i worked with/ for an older guy who had been in u.s navy,
he gave me an unsolicited demo of the sheepshank/ loops,
i didn't have interest in it at the time but i remembered what he said,
which was valuable.
i did motorcycling and - horreur - would use (2) ratchet straps when transporting it,
i thought they were great.
i used ocky straps for baggage.
then, when selling a bike, the buyer tied it down on his trailer with a loop and other hitch, on each cord - was it 4mm cord?, it was a thin line - i saw how well it worked,
it was the beginning of the end of ratchet straps for me.
with the job with my u.s navyman friend, i used ratchet strap, cargo net, and began using rope more.
fast forward, massive illness, internet, i read The Knot Book more thoroughly,
saw the diamond knot (3Lx4B) in 1 strand and 2 strand,
went on a knot bender,
asked questions on the forum,
got the answers (with thanks),
fast forward, intrigued by decorative knots,
found my local cord manufacturer,
still asking questions,
cord habit,
tying habit,
it's my indoor sport and physio,
plus practical
...
so, thanks, friendly folk