The Hendy Archive
Pilot. Teacher. Runner. Poet. I love Making Things. This is a curated archive of a life lived with curiosity. Welcome to my World.
01 — Aviation
We used to go to airshows when I was five and cover our ears as the English Electric Lightning roared by. Something about those machines — the noise, the speed, the sheer improbability of them — got under my skin and never left.
I've been a flight instructor and more recently an aerial survey pilot. This beautiful aircraft is the Cessna Chancellor — a very capable twin that's not too challenging to fly, which is exactly how I like it.
02 — Making Things
Starting with Airfix kits, I graduated to building model planes out of balsa as a teen. When we came to the USA I put together a woodworking shop in the basement, along the style of New Yankee Workshop.
Now, with my new career as a high school engineering teacher, I spend more time 3D printing and coding with Arduino. The lamp in this photo was designed, printed and wired by my students — which pretty much says everything about why I love this job.
Explore Engineering →
03 — Health & Wellness
I like being fit and purposefully build exercise into my daily routine — cycling to school, swimming every week, and occasionally running a 5K. Running used to be my passion but staying injury free gets harder. My new love is rowing. I have a Concept 2 and post my times on their Global Ranking site.
I'm a whole food plant based eater. I love vegetables and fruit, so forgoing meat and dairy is no big deal — though I put cream in my coffee, eat cake now and then, and some fish. So, not quite from planet Vega. My wife invents new dishes at the drop of a hat, which makes it considerably easier.
Health & Wellness →
04 — Poetry
I like writing whimsical poems. AI can probably do a much better job — but then what's the point. I spent perhaps two months writing my NatureVerse poems in 2023, which I published on Amazon. It may have sold five copies. I'm putting a couple on this site — let's see if we can break a hundred.
I think poems are a good way of consolidating your thoughts in a poignant and lucid manner, as well as sending up anyone who takes themselves too seriously. Go on — click the link and read about Frank the Seven Legged Octopus.
Read the poems →
05 — Family Archive
I'm nostalgic for the past. Can't resist looking at black and white photographs of yesteryear. Since joining a WhatsApp group with some of my cousins we started sharing photos — and I'm inspired to curate them here with some anecdotal stories to illustrate our life's journey.
Sue, John and Ann — Plymouth, early 1960s. That's Ann on the left, already with plenty to say about something.
Explore the archive →