In September 2016, I decided that I wanted to learn how to plaster walls. It was a niggling thought from years ago- I had been one of two girls at GCSE who wanted to take the BTEC Building and Construction course that my school offered. I moved schools in Year 10, just before the plastering module started and I always felt as though I had missed out.
So, more than 10 years later, I enrolled at my local college for Plastering Level 1.
For the first session, I had to go straight from work- there was no time to get changed and I didn’t want to be too late for the induction session. As I walked into the classroom, I noticed there were around 15 men (all of whom had had the chance to go home and dress like they were going to do some plastering) and me- fully suited. The instructor came over and asked me which of the men I was there with.
“I’m here for me. I’m on the course”.
The instructor was mortified.
After a quick change in the men’s toilets, I was ready to go and I have never looked back.
I absolutely loved the course. It was uncomfortable, challenging and it was a real test of my patience and resolve- the best 10 weeks of learning I had received and I now have the confidence to be able to use these skills in my own home.
Here are the photographs of a little fireplace project I was working on earlier this year. This was completed at the end of February half term.
