Shiten's Stonemonkey Shows Southend Society Some Sexy Shapes!

Southend Bonsai Society (in their wisdom!) invited Shiten's Mr Stonemonkey to demonstrate his pot making skills at their annual show at the Bushukan Bonsai nursery. During the day he displayed his world renowned talents and threw a few shapes* on the wheel as well as Shohin, sorry showing, how to construct a slab pot.

As this was the first time since he joined Shiten that he had been invited to present on his own the elder of the group went along to make sure the low standards of Shiten were not breached. I am happy to report that Mr Stonemonkey maintained the low level that we have come to expect from our elite membership.

(* he's really down with the kids you know!)

Surprise Shiten Selection Shocks & Stuns Spanglish Superstar Sam!

Not a statement that you would normally associate with us but Shiten is fast becoming a truly International Society and it is with the greatest of pleasure that I announce our very first “Overseas” Member Jose aka “Sam” out of Spain via Paris and latterly Lundon. Many people may know him as one of the finalists of last year’s UK New Talent Contest (as well as Chairman of Maidstone Bonsai Society) although this fact didn’t go entirely against him!

His selection was secured on a probationary period at his interview on Saturday night that Andy decided to hi-jack as his “Six Stags Salute Shiten's Stonemonkeys Single Status, Swigging Shots, Sparkling Shandy, Scoffing Seafood, Salad, Steak & Spaghetti” Stag Party. Heated debate about his credentials ensued (plus his use of the English language) and it was agreed, well that’s that last thing I remember, that as long as he upheld the ethos of the SBS and didn’t try and convert the members to actually “giving a toss” about Bonsai then he would be considered. His position within the Society will be monitored closely by the Committee (if they ever sober up!)

Welcome to the fold young Padawan but please note Sam, the Membership fees payable to Grandpa Les are still outstanding although the rest of the Committee are still suffering with the effects of your “payment”!

Shiten’s “Seven Swaying* Samurai” Surprisingly Survive Saturday Stag

We at the SBS are not all about plants and pots and do like to “let our hair down” every now and again although judging by one of our members he must have “party’d hard” as a youngster! On this occasion we got together to ply the Stone One with the grape before his forthcoming nuptials. Charged with the office of Breast Man, opps sorry, Best Man I assembled an elite group of like-minded fellas along for a meal and a wee drinkiny poos. They do say the “small is beautiful” and our little band of Shiten’s (and honouree Shite’s for the evening) had a more than pleasant meal discussing life, the world and everything! Much amusement was had when the “claim to fame” conversation came around with subject ranging from cupping John Toshack’s love spuds, holding doors for Russian billionaires as well as ditties about Joan Collins and Virginia Wade all made an appearance – and our Stag? Nothing, nadder, nowt - a leg-end in his own lunchtime maybe but nothing that sprung to mind. He did confess to treating Private’s privates in his camo nurses uniform in a previous life but that’s another story!

After our very fine Italian meal we moved on to a local drinking hole and partied well into the wee small hours (OK, not that late but it was dark – we’re not getting any younger you know!) drinking more than that is good for us and then stupidly onto the shots. During a drunken Committee meeting we accepted Shiten Membership from our first overseas member after completing his interview and ensuring that “payment” was made in full to Andy and myself! There will be more news on this exciting development when I can get Les’s boot out of my back passage! There was also news of a “Members Perk” but I’m sure that Andy was far too drunk to remember what it was.

Finally, saved by British Rail, it was time to depart to our beds, or patch of floor, shed, clay cellar, wherever you could rest your head really and wait for the next phase of the “celebration” – The Hangover!

(*OK, Grandpa Les wasn’t swaying but I think that I did enough for both of us!)

Members of Mass Distraction

At this time of heightened tension and security, the SBS Committee has taken this opportunity to re-evaluate its membership criteria. After incursions from BOBO, the BSA and MBS it has become apparent to us that we have been lacking in our security and background checks of our many, many members. With requests growing on a daily basis we are now evaluating prospective members on a “points” system based around the attached Membership Application Form*. 

Due to the unexpected additional workload involved we have regrettably had to levy a Membership Fee which will be based on how much it costs for the Committee to fall down drunk or a lifetime Costa Coffee Card for the bald one! 

(*All data collected by the SBS will, of course, be available to any interested parties for the appropriate bribe)

Spectacular Shiten “Seaside Special” Show Silences Sceptic Storey

Sometimes you just gotta love it when a “plan comes together” and last weekend was a case in point. With short notice bad planning and a lot of “winging it” (and that was just Simon’s wardrobe malfunctions!) the Shiten Subs managed to produce a cohesive and thought provoking display. No doubt on his journey* to the event “Baldylocks” was wondering how shiten our efforts would be but for once we left him speechless – not easy for a Scouser!

Classy ceramics, sexy scrolls, lovely landscapes and attractive accents adorned our corner of the exhibition (all aboard the vomit comet!) only to be occasionally interrupted by our ugly mugs and of course Les! We were told how refreshing our outlook and display looked and was complimented by some smashing (and very well behaved) Suiseki on display from a member of the Kent Club. Many visitors to the show found it very interesting how many aspects there was to this great hobby of ours rather than “just” sticks in pots. Unfortunately, after speaking to us they left more confused than before they arrived! 

Here's a selection of what we had to offer!

On a more serious, and worrying note, it seems that our wonderful Society has be infiltrated by a member of BOBO (or should that be D’oh, D’oh?) although from what we understand from internet chatter he is in the process of being expelled or exorcised. This is an unprecedented chain of events and at this time of heighten tension the Committee will be taking a look at the membership criteria – watch this space! 

(*Notice how our illustrious leader managed to duck out of the hard work?)

Second String Shiten Supporters Surprise Seaside Show

Due to a clash in Show dates the Maidstone Bonsai Society were unable to take up their annual invitation to exhibit at Nick Pearce’s Azalea and Kent Bonsai Show on the weekend of the 14th & 15th of June. Ever the resourceful, or, that desperate for a sale and some promotion, Stone(d) Monkey Ceramics and SUTEKI! agreed to fill the void with a show of their Ceramics and Accent plantings.


At first the Shiten Committee were concerned about these two amateurs “flying solo” and not being under the wing of Mother Hen (aka the Chairman) Les but they assured us that they would not hold the Club, or the art of Bonsai, in disrepute. Time will tell but let’s hope that these two whipper snappers haven’t bitten off more than they can chew and show our popular Club in a bad light.

Gentlemen you have been warned!

Shiten Successes Successfully Secures Sponsorship Scoop

They say that “Success breeds Success” and I’m sure that our 2 new exciting Club Sponsors will be hoping that Shiten’s meteoric, and highly surprising, success in 2014 will rub off on these 2 fledgling Bonsai businesses.

Firstly, we are proud to announce that an agreement has been reached between SBS and an up and coming UK ceramic artist, Stone Monkey Ceramics that will see them support each other’s projects and work in collaboration together for an unspecified duration.  Exact contract details at this moment are sketchy but this is seen as an excellent opportunity for SMC to be associated with such an exciting and hunger driven Club.  It was put forward that ALL Shiten trees should be displayed in Stone Monkey pots and maybe this will be looked at again as and when they achieve a high enough standard.*

Secondly, serial second-rate supplier SUTEKI! has agreed to supply all Shiten’s pot (ceramic not organic!) and Accent plantings for Club displays.  Seen by many in the Bonsai world as a highly risky move we at Shiten feel that we are an inclusive Club and keen to nurture home grown, if wayward, talent.  Their work will be closely monitored and SBS hope that under their guidance SUTEKI! will improve to an acceptable standard within the UK although we fully understand they will never make an international contribution to the Bonsai scene as a whole.

(*Although some success has been attained using SMC containers it was agreed that the “sai” transcended the “bon” in all cases)