The Nutshell w/e 23rd January

Dear Parents

On Sunday, during my weekly long run, I was listening to a podcast when an old fable was shared. I found myself smiling as I ran, because it reminded me that a good run often gives me far more than just fresh air and fitness, and in that moment, my Monday assembly was planned for me. I shared the story below with the children in assembly this week, and I thought it would be a lovely one to pass on to you too, as it offers a simple but powerful reminder about perspective, problem-solving, and the value of finding a different way forward when things feel stuck.

There is an old story about a father who left his three children a very unusual inheritance: 17 camels.

In his will, he wrote:

• To my eldest child, I leave half of my camels
• To my middle child, I leave a third
• To my youngest child, I leave a ninth

The three children stood in the sand, staring at the herd.

Half of 17? A third of 17? A ninth of 17?

They tried everything. They argued. They calculated. They accused one another of being unfair. And the longer they stood there, the more impossible it felt.

Eventually, they went to see a wise person in the village.

The wise person listened quietly, nodded, and then said something unexpected:

“I will lend you one camel.”

So now there were 18 camels.

And suddenly everything became simple:

• Half of 18 is 9
• A third of 18 is 6
• A ninth of 18 is 2

And when they added it up, they realised:

9 + 6 + 2 = 17

The three children each received exactly what their father had intended.

And the wise person calmly took back the extra camel and led it away.

The children were left looking at one another, almost embarrassed.

Nothing about the will had changed.

The numbers had not changed. The camels had not changed.

What had changed was the thinking.

The wise person had not “fixed” the problem by fighting over the 17.

They solved it by adding something small, temporary, and clever, which made everything work.

And that is the point of the story.

Sometimes the best solution is not to push harder on the problem you already have.

It is to find the “extra camel”.

Wishing everyone a brilliant weekend ahead. Wellies on and out for a walk, perhaps?

Best wishes,

Lindie

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