Saturday 18 July 2020

That dreaded day!


Monday's post (Don't worry, be happy) reminded me of that dramatic day when I left school and was suddenly thrust out into the big wide world.

It was the day after the end of term, and about five of us had to catch the early train to London.


I remember, as if it was yesterday, walking out through the impressive 14th C entrance 'Porta' building, above, and thinking that from here-on life was going to be very different; I was totally unprepared for it. I also remember standing and looking back at The Porta for the final time. I stood there probably for far longer than was necessary; feeling very emotional. I was leaving a well loved home for ever.

Once in London, four of us went to a small Italian restaurant near Victoria station where we regularly ate (Spaghetti Bolognese) at the beginning and end of each term. The restaurant knew us well, and made a big fuss of us at each visit. Once we had explained that this would be our final group visit, the manager offered us a free bottle of Chianti, and there was genuine sadness all round as we took our boaters from the hat rack for the final time.

I had already acquired a good job in The City, but first I left for a two week holiday before starting my serious life.

I'd had no preparation for life outside school, but fell into the rhythm of daily grind without difficulty. I've always been a disciplined person, so early rising and time-keeping came easily to me. What I didn't like was my job as a Stock Exchange 'Blue Button' (trainee broker).  After receiving my first full year's bonus, I handed in my notice, ran away to Paris, and instantly felt the true feeling of freedom.

For a couple of years before Art College I had a wonderful time firstly managing a small Art Gallery in Marylebone, then running my own antiques business in Chelsea. London was 'swinging' at the time, and life was very good.

During those years between school and college, I had a terrible feeling of separation, or even divorce; of having been cast adrift. This soon changed when I found my true vocation, and my studies began in earnest.

I still find it surprising how long it really took for me to break away.

24 comments:

  1. It must have been such a good school for you to have regrets and feel sad about leaving. My last day at school was, thank goodness that is over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leaving somewhere that you'd lived for four years, and knowing that you'd never see 95% of your friends ever again, was quite a shock to the system. Yes, I loved my school.

      Delete
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  2. Although I enjoyed school I was very happy to be leaving and did not miss it at all. On seeing some of my old school friends who had stayed on a few months later it reinforced that I had made the right decision to leave when I did. I did many things when I left, none of which I regret.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't exactly 'regret' my time on the SE; it's just that I didn't really enjoy it. Of course, if I had enjoyed it, I probably wouldn't have gone to Art College!

      Delete
    2. I wasn't suggesting that you regretted anything when I wrote that. I was thinking back to my time, and like Weaver, I probably benefitted more from going to university a bit later.

      Delete
  3. Regrets? I don't really think I have any that I can think of Cro. I would have liked to stay on at school after sixteen but my family just couldn't afford to keep me there any longer. But on the whole life has turned out well for me and I probably got more out of going to University a few years later when I had a bit more experience of life

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly felt that going to college after a few years out of school was the best thing I could have done, so many of my fellow students knew nothing of life, and seemed very 'young'.

      Delete
  4. It is a strange time, leaving school and having to be grown up !!! I quite liked school but was ready to go when the time came. I think there are lots of things that I would do differently if I had the time again but I don’t regret anything .... life’s too short for regrets and there’s nothing you can do about it now anyway ! XXXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think I would do anything differently either. Even my time in The City meant that I had a large amount of spending money (my bonus) to play with when I quit.

      Delete
  5. I was a free man in Paris, I was unfettered and alive, no one calling me up for favours, no one's future to decide.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't stay in Paris for long; just enough to spread my wings a bit, before getting back to London to earn a living.

      Delete
    2. But you did it. I wish I had. Too much listening to Joni Mitchell and reading Victor Pritchett.

      Delete
  6. There is always some sadness in endings. Moving on is a constant in life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wise words. I always loved my new horizons, but I was late to appreciate some of them.

      Delete
  7. You had an art attack. Better than continuing in that temple to money in The City - pursuing a career you didn't really believe in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was quite good at it, but felt no affinity towards it. My 'bonus' was the best bit. Very few make money in the art biz.

      Delete
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