How often have you ever found a solution to a very real, sometimes costly but usually time consuming and uncomfortable problem and for no money! Well I did just that yesterday. My particular problem - dropping (and often loosing). bits on the floor. The solution - a clear out at my daughters school! In the skip were quite a number of strong plastic trays that I just couldn't resist. I was initially thinking seedlings for the garden or an extra cat poo tray when we go away (Yuk!), but one (and possibly more), has now found a home on my toy desk. By placing all the bits I am working on in the tray and only filing, drilling, gluing etc over it any dropped bits just stay in the tray. Simple but effective. My only concern is that I am putting all my eggs in one basket and if the tray should get knocked off there will be utter carnage!

Those of you not fortunate enough to have a son or daughter at a school having a clear out could always try using the cats litter tray (emptied!), or preferably go out and buy a new one!

The very observant amongst you might have noticed the contents of the tray which is the start of an attack at the on the new Hunslet chassis but more of this when I have some real progress.