| | |
| | Children Learned at school |
|---|
Who'd er thowt it?
The police sergeant clipped me round the ear, saying "I suppose you were involved in this an' all".
All because my school mate and neighbour Peter, had taken a handful of hay from the 'big house' at the end of the street. I didn't even know that his pet rabbits ate hay. The thought never entered my head.
This, an introduction to the English Bobby. It convinced me that the only career in which timid old me could be safe would be that of a bobby. I couldn't ride a bike though I thought I might learn to do just that.
" I might own one when I grow up"
Quite unlike the first time, and some years later; I took "six of the best" from the Head for pinching a handful of biscuits from the teachers biscuit rations.
That Mrs Ellis had eyes like a hawk. And I was twice as tall as she, and 'the head' - both laid end to end.
Both incidents, which taught me respect, injuring only my self esteem. But probably mostly because the two influencers subsequently demonstrated their respect for me. Seemingly coincidental but more likely to have been planned, I was given additional responsibilities in school. This caused me to consider being a politician.
Don't laugh. I was serious enough at the time.
Then, some years later, one Saturday morning, during a lecture on politics, I was shocked to hear a contradiction from a tutor. I discovered that Britain's MP's, voted into parliament as their constituents' representatives, weren't in such a powerful position after all.
They had Whips who bullied them into supporting into law principles and practice contrary to their beliefs and those of their constituents.
That was enough to set me off tracking down why these folk said one thing and then practised another.
Not grammatically correct - but you'll know what I mean.
Don't laugh. I was serious enough at the time.
The point is that I had learned worthwhile lessons which could, and in my case, did influence my lifetime.
For example, way back in time my first day at infants school was a revelation. The new class of 5 year olds were seated on the floor listening to a motherly teacher reading Toad of Toad Hall. The second day it was some other stupid story that we were supposed to fall in love with.
I tell you now that my attitude was to learn to read as fast as possible and never encounter such silly stuff ever again.
Having moved to the next school I quickly mastered reading though I still remember having difficulty when reading aloud to the class and coming to the word pneumatic. That raised a laugh from the teacher and one or two others. But I was best in subject in that class and throughout the rest of my academic career.
A lifetime trait?
Putting all that aside, I remained a lover of books to the point where I have so many yet to read that I'm thinking of having someone read and record my pile of unread ones. I'll be able to find time to listen to them - cut out chunks of the useless chatter of background noise to life.
Meantime, we now have Audio Books.
There's no doubt that they are easier to listen to than read. Audio books win. Hands - down in some cases. Ask anyone who uses them.
I think I'll ask some of the younger family members to volunteer to record my unread books.
Now there's a thought. ... two birds with one stone? Or is it three birds?
Who'd er thowt that?
PS '
Come back Just William'
|
| |
| | |
