One of my favourite childhood memories revolves around trying to find my way into this secret box that my great granddad made. It’s a wooden box that’s designed (in the most cliché of fashions) to appear like your average hardback book, but if you slide out certain panels in the right order it reveals a hidden compartment perfect for storing stuff in. Naturally, as a kid I therefore assumed some great treasure lay within, and yes, the reality was less spectacular than what I’d imagined.
Boxes like this were quite popular during a period of history that people my age simply refer to as 'the olden days', as they allowed people with valuables somewhere concealed yet convenient to keep them; more affordable and portable than a safe. This was especially useful at a time where money in the bank wasn't quite as easy to get instant access to and burglars were harder to prevent or even catch. Now, my family aren’t exactly in need of such dastardly means to ward off thieves, but my great granddad was clearly a talented craftsman and wanted leave something with a personal touch that could be passed down through the family. Given it's still in good condition some seventy years later, you'd have to say that he succeeded.
The reason for that self-indulgent intro is because I've been reminded of my childhood afternoons spent trying to crack the secrets of that box recently while playing Fireproof Games' 'The Room' on my Galaxy S III.
