I've been working on the stone carving quite a bit over the Bank Holiday weekend and it now has a front surface which is gradually meeting up with the back. I'm not sure what it says about me but I prefer starting with the rear. I also remembered a great tip from one of my favourite old art teachers (Joe Burrows who is still producing wonderful pieces even though he retired from teaching 20 years ago) - he advised carving the stone in a tray of sand, which as the piece looses its regular surfaces is a sure way of holding the stone in almost any position - and it helps absorb some of the impact thereby reducing the noise a little too - a win all round I reckon.
