A Tough Choice for a Young Boy.

.

When I was at junior school, probably aged nine or ten, we were quizzed as to what we thought we would do for a living when we finally left school.

At that age it was not really a career decision, but I remember all the girls wanting to be nurses and secretaries, and most of the boys wanted to be engine drivers and things like that.

I remembered all this, because the class laughed

when I said I wanted to be a chef!

Well, it never came to pass.

At Grammar school, there were again discussions with career advisors, and being good at Art, I thought I would get into ‘Stage set design’ or maybe ‘Book illustration.

“There’s no demand” they said,

and “Certainly no money to be made.“

“ The future in in technology and especially electronics.“

I enjoyed the art classes. You always enjoy things that you are good at.

Whilst sorting out old photographs from my Grandmother’s house, I found a sketch that I had done when I was nine.

.

.

Granny had kept it all those years.

It was done in ’ball-point’ pen and for a nine year old, not bad, considering that you could not rub out any mistakes, as with pencil.

At Grammar school, we had proper art classes, and guess what?

I was always coming ’top of the class’.

I still have many of my drawings and illustrations from those days.

.

.

Bernard - class 5 a1

Here's a few. I hope I don't bore you.

.

.

And for 'Grey Fergie' lovers -

(complete with rusty staples, at the top.)

.

.

And for any up a Welsh Mountain?

.

.

Moel-y-Myddfa or is it Molly Mithfa?

But my favourite subject was birds.

(in those days - only the feathered ones!)

.

.

Sorry, there are no chickens.

.

.

Close up of the above, Golden Eagle.

.

.

A page of Tits.

(this is not 'page three' by the way!)

.

.

A Peregrine Falcon.

And finally - the dreaded exams!

.

.

Illustration Paper I - Art O Level - 1959 Wed 24th.

Object Drawing Paper III - Art O Level - 1959 Thur 2 July.

Guess what? I passed.

I was torn between what I enjoyed

and what seemed at the time,

the sensible subjects to study.

I opted for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Well, that choice got me to university and into a well paid job, but I often wonder what would have happened had I decided to take the ‘arty’ route?

In 1968 I ended up here at Taplow Court,

a 'stately home' next door to Cliveden.

It was the home of

'British Telecommunications Research Ltd.'

.

.

Of course I had to do a picture.

A 'scraperboard' from 1968.

I was there for nearly 20 years.

Perhaps I'll write up about them one day.

.

Searching for a subject.

.

This last week or so,

I have been stuck for a subject to write about.

.

.

So I went digging through my piles and

heaps of sheet music for ideas.

I found this one.

.

.

.....but I expect I moaned about fireworks

upsetting animals last year, and the year before.

And, as last year, and the year before,

I have been making Tomato soup.

.

.

Hey Tom, I think we're in the soup!

And talking of 'being in the soup',

I notice that all the european leaders are

re-arranging the deck-chairs, yet again!

.

.

...and making plans!

.

.

And whilst on the subject of

being in 'hot water'.

Here's a 'clean' song -

"Singing in the Bathtub".

.

.

And would you believe it,

here's a lady who takes her hen

into her bath with her!

Looks more like a cock bird to me.

.

.

A soapy cock.

And this chap, has got one up on

the old rubber duck he had as a kid!

.

.

A soapy duck.

And, still on the subject of soap,

I found this.....

.

.

And this......

.

.

Every bloody week I lose a sock!

And so after all this searching,

for something to write about,

I found these.

And I remembered.

.

.

Where are the boys of the old Brigade,

Who fought for us side by side?

Shoulder to shoulder, and blade by blade,

Fought till they fell and died!

Who so ready and undismayed?

Who so merry and true?

Where are the boys of the old Brigade?

Where are the lads we knew?

Over the sea far away they lie,

Far from the land of their love;

Nations alter, the years go by,

But Heav’n is still Heav’n above,

Not in the Abbey proudly laid

Find they a place or part;

The gallant boys of the old Brigade,

They sleep in old England’s heart.

Words..... F. E. Weatherly (1848-1929)

The words are from a song "The Old Brigade".

I have the music, but only in a book of 'Parlour Songs'.

.

.

One of my interests,

is digging out these old songs and tunes.....

....many of course, long forgotten.

But let us not ever forget the many who died

fighting for our freedom.

We will remember them.

.