John Bear (a.k.a. "Bear" or "the Bear")
Hello Dear Reader:
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Thank you for your interest in the person behind this website. So, what can I tell you about myself? Well obviously, it goes without saying, I am a bit of a Nerd* (and I have a sneaking suspicion you might be one too?).
* Nerd [noun] - Someone who has a habit of getting excited about things other people don't understand or care about.
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Taiyodo were making 35mm cameras before I was born, but I purchased one (in later life) as part of a general camera collection and was sucked into solving the mystery of who made them ... because nobody seemed to know. I never speak directly to anyone about Taiyodo cameras (I don't want to risk loosing the few friends I have), which is why I've shared all these gripping facts on the Internet.
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Whilst I’m still a few years off State pension age, I am thankfully retired from work. I have no ties or obligations and am free to spend my days doing whatever I like - Woohoo! I have plenty of other interests, some of which might also be considered a bit nerdy, but I’m most keen on making things. Give me some leftover scraps of wood, and I’ll turn them into something beautiful and useful, and enjoy doing it.
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I spent my final years of employment working in churches (or what I like to call "buildings for Christian worship" [Nerd joke]), mainly repairing or scratch-building items of furniture, and I’ve realised that most of what I make today turns out more ecclesiastically-styled (i.e. Victorian Gothic revival) than I had intended: apparently old habits die hard. I am however, not "a believer", despite many attempts to convert me whilst I was captive.
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I’m very fortunate to have a reasonably large garden, and its care and landscaping eats up my days - when it's not freezing cold [what we call a "weather event" today]. On rainy days, I can play in my workshop - provided the temperature is above 6.250 degrees approximately [more Nerd humour].
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I am a BIG Tea drinker. No less than three morning cups are required before I can function.
Toodle Pip & thanks for visiting. Live Long and Prosper fellow Nurd and may "The Force" be with you.
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Bear
My home (Taiyodo HQ) is in beautiful Northumberland (if you're foreign, that's in the top-right corner of England, next to Scotland).
Here's a pew-frontal I made from scratch, and copied from a surviving example. I believe I repaired and refinished every wooden item in this particular church. It took a long time.
Critters wander the grounds of Taiyodo HQ. Sadly the Red Squirrel was last seen in July 2020 (they are frightened-off by the Greys).
Roe Deer often called in the mornings and evenings, stopping briefly to nibble some of the flowers, but I haven't seen any for a while now. This one was just a baby.
I named this Greater Spotted Woodpecker "Edward", but then I realised he's a girl (no red patch on the back of the neck). April 2023.
Here's a baby Grey, who looks like he may have had a dreadful accident, but don't worry ... he's just been eating Black Berries. He let me get about 3 feet away to take this picture (September 2023)
It's difficult to photograph the Pheasants as they are easily spooked, but I captured this guy as he attempted to tiptoe past me (March 2024).
May 2023 - and there are some new woolly neighbours.
The view from my bedroom window as the sun rose - the morning sky on fire (January 2024).
OK, I know it's cruel to mock others, but I found this on reddit and it made me chuckle (click to enlarge).
This is why I compiled this website: knowledge we once took for granted is being lost.