Marion (of the previous post) had the best times of her life during World War Two. Stationed on the South Coast of England as a meteorologist, she spent the whole war standing by the sea, looking up at the sky. I often tell Sarah Toa that I would like her job as a fire watcher - sitting in a high tower on a hill looking for smoke - but I would prefer Marion's.
It was Marion who gave the go-ahead (in terms of weather) for the D-Day landings. That's quite a responsibility. In later life she became a skilful painter of clouds. Clouds were her speciality.
One of the good things about a job like that is that it hardly ever involves night-shifts. The other good things need no description. I once had a brief notion that being a lighthouse keeper would be a good way to make a living, but then I discovered that no lighthouse keeper ever worked on their own. You might find yourself trapped in a stone tower for months on end with a complete idiot, and I am not very good at keeping my thoughts to myself, especially when bored.
Due to some stupid work-ethic which I developed at quite an early age, my chosen career has not made my life easy on any level. My job description is the closest thing I can think of which fits the old adage about banging your head against the wall, and the effect on your state of mind also fits - it's nice when you stop.
I just looked out of the window and saw this. What do I do next, Sarah?
My working life spanned 48 years and I had so many different jobs it feels impossible to say. My mind is blank in fact. I enjoyed bar work in an extremely rough pub here and my ability to break up fights was renowned as was my skill at emptying the pub at closing time.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine you being good at emptying pubs.
DeleteManaging a small West End Gallery. It was there that I met McCartney, Stravinsky, Brian Sewell, lots of famous cartoonists of the time, and so many others. It was a wonderful crazy time, and I was paid about £4 a week (with perks).
ReplyDeleteWhat, exactly, were the perqs?
DeleteAnd yes, it's spelled with a "Q".
Some were very odd, but otherwise I used to do a bit of dealing on my own; when I saw the opportunity. Perqs come in all forms!
DeleteShouldn't it be Perques? My spell-checker doesn't think so.
DeleteThirty eight years employed after school
ReplyDeleteMy favourite job?
Charge nurse on Osborn 1 Spinal injury Ward
A cracking group of people staff and patients alike
To be cracking on a spinal injuries ward sounds painful.
DeleteBeing a self-employed artisan. Selling at art shows, meeting hundreds and hundreds of "the public". The freedom of the road.
ReplyDeleteI always love driving to jobs. It is getting there I don't like.
DeleteThe one I have now and I don't get paid for it. I volunteer and it has opened my eyes to so much and gives me a purpose.
ReplyDeleteIn what area do you work?
DeleteThree years at Leicester Heavy Haulage, driving a 75 tonner, living in the cab, abnormal loads, police escorts, the lot. I loved that job.
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed driving 7.5 tonners - I have a grand-dad's licence which enables me to. I was always pleased to get out of them after a long trip though.
DeleteThe best position that I ever had was one that provided me with sixteen weeks holiday every year and also now of being Managing Director of Happily Retired.
ReplyDeleteWas it the holidays which made it a good job?
DeleteNo, it was the remuneration that paid for the holidays !
DeleteI led a team that planned a rapid transit line. The very best moment was riding it all by myself and listening to riders' comments about how much they liked it including public art in the stations which was criticized in the early approvals.
ReplyDeleteWe have given up on art for our transport systems. We are a lot poorer for it - and we are a lot poorer because of the fares too.
DeleteMuch as I enjoyed many happy years teaching I must say that retirement is the best job I ever had - that and just being a farmer's wife.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how people can enjoy teaching. Someone has to do it, but not me - or 95% of my lousy school teachers.
DeleteBringing up my children. I made them my work. They are all kind, compassionate and hard working.
ReplyDeleteThat's a job well done then. They are harder work than any other job, and it's 24/7 for 18 years or more.
DeleteI had the most fun tending bar at a raucous joint near UC Berkeley. Cal students got stupid drunk. I answered this question about a gazillion times over the 7 years I was there: 'But, no, what do you really do?' 'I tend bar, jackass.' The music was good and loud. The staff got on really well. We made good money and drank excessively while on shift.
ReplyDeleteTeaching was the most personally rewarding and, of course, less damaging to the body, however.
That sounds identical to my pub's staff behaviour. Those sort of pubs are the best.
DeleteWhat an interesting question. The best job that I ever had, when I worked for a predictable paycheck, was as the Faberge expert for Christie's auction house in New York City. Because I knew what I was doing, and because I was raised poor,and there I was, having dinner with George Soros and sitting in Frank Sinatra's house in Palm Springs all because I can spot quality from 5 yards away (I'm near sighted). I loved working for an English company (Christie's was English back in my day). The English, they respect eccentrics.
ReplyDeleteChristies respect money these days. Their London branch puts through dozens of really bad soft porn paintings for oligarchs. I wonder why...
DeleteSee my latest post on Sotherby's. I bet they don't respect Banksy's eccentric behaviour.
I was a local government road safety officer for over 30 years. I took early retirement at 58 and used the qualifications I had obtained in the job to set up my own bus and coach driver training facility. I loved driving those long, lovely beasts and the passengers I cared for. I also enjoyed training all the drivers I came into contact with and the satisfaction of seeing them go onto jobs in the industry. I made some good money during my "retirement". I eventually gave up my PCV licence at 75 after a stroke since I could no longer pass the yearly medical. But a good "second life".
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good. I do not have the courage to be a driving instructor - especially for PSVs.
DeletePS Tom:
ReplyDeleteI have come late to the party, only finding your blog a few months ago. What do you, actually do?
I call myself a sculptor, but not in the fine art sense. I make and restore/conserve anything in stone, marble, bronze, plaster for wealthy people. I am hoping that my work (and body) will see me through to death. I never made any plans for a comfortable retirement.
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