Staff

 I've hurt my leg, and since then, even though I'm not a fit bloke, it's become depressingly clear how much of my recreation is based on exercise. Most weekday evenings I go out for a stroll to relax, get some air, and a little exercise. I go to indoor climbing twice most weeks. That is all on hold while I recover. So what can I do to pass the time? I like mixing and drinking cocktails but alcohol would stop the wound from healing so effectively. I like to cook, but I'm severely constrained in how much I can eat while I'm getting zero exercise. This weekend I set myself a crafting project in the workshop and I loved it. I made a walking stick from a bit of hazel that I cut from my hedge. At one point I had to sharpen a lathe tool so that I could true up the thumbwheel on a rubbishy Chinese spokeshave so I could thin down the stick. My new walking stick has got a knobbly handle, a gentle taper and a steel ferrule, all made at home.

Richard "Mum, I'm bored" B