Driving on the left side of the road, rubber sink-stoppers on a chain, grilled tomatoes for breakfast; these are some of the things to get used to, quickly, when on a six-day visit to the UK. I was there to take part in the DSWA Standardization and Assessment weekend for craftsman scheme examiners. Along the way, E. and I took in two of the three legs of the “ Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle.”

The Hepworth Wakefield Museum is newly built and dramatically situated alongside a working canal. Large exhibit spaces permanently display the work of modernist, Barbara Hepworth and currently show work by three, contemporary women artists. At the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, works by Henry Moore and many other fine sculptors are spread across 500 acres of woods and fields.

In Cumbria I joined 20 other DSWA (Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain) examiners in evaluating the construction of eight, Level 1 - 4, timed tests. We then compared the awarded marks in each section of each test to see if we, as individuals and as a group, are grading to a similar standard when evaluating craftsman candidate’s work. Many thanks go to the organizers of the event including Andrew, Richard and Alison. Special thanks the test candidates for enduring a day of walling with all of us examiners looking over your shoulder.