Childhood
I remember that as a child I didn't have a care in the world. Summer evenings lasted for days and summer holidays lasted for ever, or so it seemed. Then as I moved to the 'big school' things changed. No longer could I spend my all my spare time doing as I wanted. Homework and exams began to dominate. The world seemed to accelerate. Pressure is applied.
Instead of the expected route of 'O' levels, 'A' levels and University, I left school aged sixteen after my first year of 'A' levels.
I went into the scary world of work, as an apprentice aircraft radio engineer. Finally, I would be away from the world of academia, and I would have my spare time back. Or so I thought. How wrong could I be? I had more studying, more exams, and the world turned faster still.
I gained my licence. Well, that would be that. No more studying for me, I'm qualified now. Wrong again. Each aircraft type I work on requires me to do a course, and an exam with a 75% pass mark. The world is spinning faster. Not content with this pressure, I added more of my own by enrolling in an Open University degree course, which lasted several years.
I have a few years to retirement and I am looking forward to my next childhood. Finally, I can see the world slowing. The summer evenings that last for days, and summers that last forever are on the horizon. Why on earth did I take up writing then? Deadlines, word targets, storylines and plots to take up my days. I do it because I love it. For me this is not pressure, it is doing what I want to do in my spare time. My childhood is returning
No comments:
Post a Comment