Monday 15 February 2021

First flat; first job.



I was recently reminded of my first flat (bed-sit) in London's Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, and my working life that surrounded it. My flat was dingy, basic, and soul-less; and it cost 4 guineas a week.

After school I really didn't know what to do. I'd turned down an offer to study architecture, so plumped for The Stock Exchange instead. It seemed like a respectable alternative.

The main requirements for a young prospective broker (in those days) was dress and maths. Dress code was very important; pinstriped suit, striped shirt with white loose collar, navy tie with white spots, bowler, brolly, and pink newspaper under one arm. In the maths dep't, one had to be able to add and subtract.

I began my City work by commuting daily from the South Coast, but that soon became a nightmare, so I took the flat in Bayswater to cut about 3 hours from my daily travel.

I hated almost every minute of my time in The City, even though I did my job pretty well. The only bits I really enjoyed were when out of the office, strutting down to either Throgmorton or Threadneedle Streets, wearing a freshly brushed silk topper. It was a pleasant part of my City life, not being behind some horrible desk, or running around between brokers and jobbers. I always took my time.

After a very healthy, and totally unexpected, bonus, I happily quit my job, spent a couple of very pleasant lazy weeks in Paris, then was offered a job managing a small West End Gallery in Devonshire St W1. 

My life changed completely, and every day became a pleasure rather than a chore. I became instantly relaxed, and stress-free. Work-wise, I started to make my own decisions, and not live by those of others.

Since those days I have never taken any job that I didn't enjoy; other than a Summer student job doing house removals; but as a student, you do anything.


23 comments:

  1. There's nothing worse than being in a job you can't stand, all that stress is just not worth whatever money you earn. Glad you made it to happiness in the gallery.

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    Replies
    1. They were shocked when I took the money and ran; my bosses thought I was there for life!

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  2. I was always lucky with holiday jobs. My one regret is that none of them involved Dogging.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, dog walking is a pleasant outdoor activity (ahem).

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  3. The post I read by someone else before this said that Threadneedle Street used to be called Three Needle Street. Just a bit of trivia.
    Regardless of the condition of your digs, you chose a good area to live in Bayswater.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Inverness Terrace was just behind Queensway; perfectly positioned.

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  4. Amazing to think how much things have changed in a relatively short time. Just look at that photo.

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    Replies
    1. This photo was taken when I was still there. The Stock Exchange has totally changed since those days. I do see one silk hatted person in the foreground, although I don't think it was me. Silk hats (toppers) were worn by Government stock traders, of which my firm was one.

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    2. My focus wasn’t the hat....it was the fact that they are all male and white

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    3. Women were yet to be seen on 'the floor', and I'm afraid to say, I don't remember a single black face anywhere in The City.

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  5. You took the road better traveled. It is good you found out early that contentment with life is more important than the money that can be earned in a life sucking profession.

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    Replies
    1. It was a soul-less occupation, solely focused on money. Not my cup of tea; although I've never been against the idea of making money.

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  6. Life is too short to be stuck in a job that you don't enjoy. There is nothing worse than getting out of bed in the morning and dreading the day ahead.

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    Replies
    1. That's exactly what is was like. I didn't like the people I worked with (other than a few), my office was airless, and every two weeks I was expected to work past midnight. I really hated it.

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  7. Lovely description of your dress, right up to umbrella and the correct newspaper. Sounds so old fashioned now but it wasn't that long ago.
    Hurray you found and followed your passion

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    Replies
    1. On my very first day I was sent home. My new suit wasn't ready, so I wore a school suit. It wasn't right, so I was told to report the following day dressed correctly; which I did.

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  8. That is an amazing thing to be able to say: 'I have never taken a job I didn't enjoy.' You are a blessed man.

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  9. My first bed/sit (I forget what we called them), had a wonderful kitchen/eating area and a dressing room adjacent to the bathroom, large enough for the bed. It was a wonderful place.

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    Replies
    1. The only time I've ever been 'mugged' in my life was outside my Bayswater flat. I doesn't help my bad memories.

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  10. Hi Cro, You discovered you need to like what you're doing and it won't feel like work. Regards Jo

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  11. I think especially in those days Cro you were dexpeted to 'choose' a career, find a job and stick at it. Now it always seems to me that things are much freer.

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