Have you ever been a clerk in an office?
You know, like Bob Cratchit.
I have.
It was 1978. I wuz 17. I'd just dropped out of college and I got a job with General Accident as a clerk in the claims department. I had hair down to my elbows and was fundamentally opposed to work but I needed the money for a Kawasaki 250 in order to impress a girl. The things we do for love!
I had one cheap suit, which I wore to death. I think my shoes were blue or maybe even desert boots. I had the book Lord of the Rings hidden in my desk's top drawer and read it in there whenever I could pretending to fill in the claims ledger. They called me Inri because of my long black hair and beard. On Saturdays I could wear what I wanted because it was overtime and the public counter was shut. Out came the denim flairs and cheescloth shirts and lashings of patchouli oil. I think there were beads too. Lots of beads.
I stayed for two years. I think I was paid £70 a week. I bought the Kawasaki, was promptly knocked off it, broke my ankle, bought an amplifier, formed a rock band, did some gigs, gave up being a clerk, split and became a bird reserve warden!
I wasn't much of a clerk!
Were you?
I worked in the offices of a finance company for one summer holiday whilst I was at uni. People were nice but I hated the work, so boring!
ReplyDeleteSounds awful Kevin. Despite all my best efforts to avoid them and studying Natural History I still ended up in offices later on in life!
DeleteIt was just the once for me. I had a Saturday job in a library but other than that, school science labs and prep rooms were my environment until retirement.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you do in the library Kev? I was a Museum Attendant once, the funniest job I ever had.
DeleteStandard librarian stuff. Staff the desk, shelve the books. I even got to fine one of my school's teachers!
DeleteNearest I got was being a petrol pump attendant on the Sunday shift.
ReplyDeleteJust me in a tiny office / shop. Dull and poorly paid.
Taught me to drink black coffee as the tea, milk and sugar had run out by the end of the week.
Did you fill 'em up too Mish?
DeleteWorked on the railways for a short time in the early 1970s- pretty dire experience, as the railways had been really run down, and we were still using inter-war equipment (teleprinters and switchboards) but cheap travel!
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting Andy! What did a teleprinter do?
DeleteYes, I did fill em up.
ReplyDeleteMost petrol stations were manned in those days. I even checked the oil occasionally.