Bored retiree creates supersized household objects
Bored Retiree Crafts Oversized Household Objects
Steve Wainwright, a retired engineer from Peterborough, England, has transformed his post-retirement boredom into a creative project. Instead of settling for routine tasks, he now builds massive replicas of everyday items, like a giant pencil, oversized clothes peg, and a 13-amp plug, giving them a whimsical twist reminiscent of the 1980s film *Honey, I Shrunk the Kids*.
“Once retired, you can only cook and clean for so many hours,” Wainwright said, reflecting on his career in engineering and electrics. “Men often praise my creations, but women typically ask, ‘Where does your wife store everything?'”
Retiring from his role at the East of England Ambulance Service in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, in 2020, Wainwright initially resisted becoming a full-time househusband. “I simply got bored and needed a project,” he explained, describing his shift from professional work to a hobby of scaling up mundane objects.
His idea to create items ten times their usual size came from a playful calculation. “I thought 10 times the size would be more manageable, as I’m not great with maths,” he added. Some of these oversized designs have even been repurposed into practical furniture, such as a giant tape measure turned into a coffee table or a large plug transformed into a cupboard.
DIY Haven in the Garage
Wainwright’s workshop, a self-built space in his backyard, serves as the hub for all his crafting. The materials, including wood, metal, and plastic, have cost him around £2,500, with each piece taking up to two weeks to complete. While some have been sold locally through word of mouth, he prioritizes the hobby aspect over commercial success.
A Wife’s Support for the Hobby
His wife, Cat Thompson, 53, enjoys the way his creativity keeps him engaged. “He keeps most of his creations on the garage wall, and the summer room holds additional items—it’s all under control. The plug, in particular, brought sheer delight,” she said.
Wainwright has also shared his work at charity events, where he noticed that blind attendees especially appreciated the tactile experience of exploring his large-scale items alongside standard-sized objects. Among his 20 or so creations, the five-foot HB 2 pencil has become the public’s favorite.
People can view these giant items at the Feel the Force Day comic book convention in Peterborough Cathedral this September, where their colossal size will make visitors feel unusually small. For more stories from Peterborough, contact the BBC directly. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
