What I Usually Do on Weekends

Considering that carpentry is my hobby, I spend most weekends in the little workshop that I have rigged up in my garden, making a large assortment of furniture.

The types of things I used to turn out at the very beginning consisted mostly of benches, chairs, stools, bookcases and other items that were fairly easy to make. But gradually, as my skill improved, I went in for much more elaborate pieces of furniture, such as sideboards with intricate carvings, dining room sets, etc.

The tools I originally had were simple ones, such as hammers, planes and saws. But now that I have become more professional in technique, I have equipped my workshop with an electric saw as well as an electric plane, and several other labor-saving devices.

I do not know why carpentry has absorbed my interest so much, for I know of no carpenters or cabinet-makers among my ancestors. But I do know that it is a hobby which truly keeps me happy in my free hours, and I heartily recommend it to people who find that time moves sluggishly on weekends because of having nothing to do.

由于木工是我的嗜好，所以我大部份周末都在花园里草草搭成的工作间中制造各种家具。

起初我常做些易做的家具，像是长板凳、椅子、凳子、书架之类。但随着技术逐渐熟练，我开始制造较为繁复的家具，譬如有细密雕刻的餐具橱及橱具等等。

我刚开始使用的工具是简单的锤子、刨子、锯子等。但现在我的技术愈来愈专业化，我的工作间也添加了电锯和电刨，以及其他省力的装置。

我不知道为什么木工这么吸引我，因为就我所知，我的祖先中没有人是木匠或造橱柜的人。但我却知道，它是真正让我在闲暇时保持愉快的嗜好，而且我诚心推荐给那些因没事做而觉得周末难挨的人。

carpentry n.木工

assortment n. 物品之总集

elaborate a. 复杂的，讲究的

intricate a. 错综复杂的

professional a. 专门的

sluggishly a. 迟缓地