News from Mr Grady
Hello everyone!
I hope that your half term was a pleasing and restful one. There was at least plenty of sun around.
I decided over the half term that a small maple tree was looking very tight in the pot we had it in, but instead of forking out cash on a larger box, I would use those off-cuts of wood I've had in the shed for the last 5 years for "a project" and build my own planter.
I ignored the fact that my practical abilities are not of the finest, nor are my engineering abilities of the highest quality either. I worked on the basis that this was going to be a box with four sides, and possibly, if I could stretch to it, a bit of trim on the edges.
My wife stayed well out of the garden as I went about preparing carefully for this construction - working out what was going on the Amazon playlist, whether to have a coffee first, or midway through, and whether or not I needed some sort of protective goggles.
Abba. Both. And Always WEAR GOGGLES!
I got the wood out, and the toolbox that my parents bought me when I moved into my first flat after leaving university, and made a start!
Then I made a stop. I had a total of 8 metres of wood, in a variety of lengths, my box obviously needed 4 sides, each side being about 50 centimetres. I say "about" as I only have an old handsaw, and getting even sides was going to be a challenge. So, before I took to any physical activity, I sat down with a pen and paper and spent another hour with another coffee scribbling out plans.
And a mere 2 days later, I finally produced the finished article. A box, marginally bigger than the pot it was replacing, mostly 50 centimetres square. The sheer pleasure I took in making something from scratch, for which there was no plan in existence was fantastic, and meant the euphoria of physically making something on my own outweighed the mostly minor injuries to fingers from: splinters; the saw, a mistimed hammer blow; and some split hot coffee.
We can all make something with our bare hands, and I had forgotten the creative pleasure it can so often give. I urge you all to have a go, whether it be making a card for friend, a new or experimental recipe, or a piece of art or writing to be displayed. I also remind you of a simple rule: Always ask an adult's permission before using tools/ hot cookers etc etc. I would have been sensible to wear gloves throughout my creative endeavours.
Stay safe and well,
Best wishes,
Mr Grady
National Theatre at Home
Tom Hiddleston (Betrayal, The Avengers, The Night Manager) plays the title role in Shakespeare’s searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge.
The Physical Fellowship is going online.
Photography Competition
KS3 Book Recommendation
