HHow can you bond with your teenage son? After my son Hugo finished his A levels, I knew that I wanted to go on a “journey” with him. I wanted to make a final trip together before he leaves home. I wanted to take a trip that would give us both some happy memories.
The difference between a woman in midlife and an adolescent boy is vast. I wanted to be driven. He wanted a driver. I wanted to be up early. He wanted to sleep. I wanted something unusual. He wanted pub food. I wanted to remain active while remaining safe. He wanted to lay on a couch or scramble up a precipice. I wanted to talk. He wouldn’t talk to me (at the very least, not for hours). The problem of getting to the destination seemed impossible.
Making and building things was something we both loved. Could this be our “bonding’ trip? He agreed when I suggested that we take a three-day course in stone carving on the South Downs followed by a class in wood turning deep within an East Sussex forest.
You and I could be together all day, but without talking. It would start at a time that was between his and mine preferred rising times. We could combine our creative endeavors with meals in pubs that cater to both of us. The travel requirements were minimal. We would stay at my mother’s house in Lewes. (There are many options for local accommodation including a youth hostel A converted Sussex farmhouse on the South Downs offers a range of options, from private bedrooms to bell tents). We may also leave with more than a few fond memories. Conran-esque wooden bowls, and Hepworthesque stone sculptures, swam before my very eyes. We agreed that this would work.
With a bit of trepidation we arrived at the Skelton Workshop Hugo took his final A-levels just after Hugo. The Skelton Stone-carving Studio is located in a secret crevice on the South Downs near Hassocks. It was once the home of the late eminent sculptor, letter-cutter and sculptor, John Skelton. Students can visit Skelton’s nearby sculpture park during their courses. The vast barn-style workshop looks over slanting vineyards which also contained – to our surprise and delight – a very cool wine bar and restaurant. The Artelium wine estate It offers wine tastings and vineyard tours. When we discovered that their wines had received multiple awards, the alfresco area became our dining spot for the following three days (charcuterie plates and homemade bread).
We had to decide first whether we wanted to sculpt letters or sculpture. Both of us chose sculpture. Then we had to decide what kind of stone. Hugo selected a beautiful block of green granite while I chose a large Italian soapstone. We were both disorganised and had no idea what we wanted to do. The course tutors provided books to inspire us and – after a little discussion with our eight fellow students – we both decided to go abstract. After three days spent hammering in the open air, sanding, and polishing our sculptures, they were deemed suitable for the course show. The tutors praised our sculptures in front of a crowd. We celebrated the evening with a dinner in The GunHugo hates sweetcorn and black beans but his mother loves them.
The following day, we drove for 30 minutes east to a woodland owned by a private owner just outside Battle. We hoped to learn the ancient craft of wood-turning using pole lathes. This is now a heritage skill. Green woodworker Amy Leake – youthful, petite, impressively muscled – had set up our pole lathes beneath the shade of a vast, spreading oak. Amy introduced us to her lathes, simple contraptions she built herself that used ropes, sawn-off branches and treadles to turn the wood. Then, she demonstrated how to axe down a large chunk of timber to create a bowl. While sunlight poured in through the greenery above us, wood chip whizzed across the grainy air. Sweat ran down our faces as we shook. To turn a pole lathe, you need strength, stamina, and skill. Amy’s guidance was invaluable and we ended up with two beautiful bowls.
We then headed to Hastings, where we had fish and chips by the seaside followed by a round of crazy golf. We were exhausted after all of the treading, so we returned to Lewes and slept.
As I type, I’m staring at our sculptures and bowls (which are proudly displayed). I always smile when I see them. These bowls make me smile not because I see two budding artists but because they remind of the bond Hugo made with me while we worked together, sharing blood, sweat, tears and laughter. The bowls can also be used to serve crisps. That’s better than a series of digital photos any day.
Skelton Workshops Running a three-day Beginners workshop at The 29th and 31st of July The following are some examples of how to use £216 All materials. Amy Leake The range of green runs woodworking classes (£200 for two people per day) Included are brush-making, spoon-carving and more
