What is or was your Occupation?

[roger]

Caite's post reminded me of the first job I ever had. I was about 14 at the time.

There was a small shop at school where ice cream was sold. Our customers, who all happened to be scruffy little schoolboys(!), lined up at the edge of the playground as we served them through the hatch. We were not salaried but received a commission in the form of a free ice cream per day and a few shillings at the end of each term.

One day, the school secretary burst in as we were eating the profits... er, I mean , selling ice creams. She had lost an emerald from her engagement ring and was in the process of searching the entire school! The chances of it being in this tiny room were almost nil. After she had gone, I said to Robert (my ice creem-selling partner), that we should have a closer look. We emptied the refrigerator, lifted it out from the wall, and while he tipped it up, I was on my knees looking underneath.

A few minutes later, he was concerned that we were already late for maths! I informed him that we would be forgiven. When he asked why, I held out my hand... and showed him a tiny emerald!!!

We got ten shilling each for that!

Roger

[grant]

Lovely story Roger. Moments like that can be very rewarding in more ways than one

Best wishes
Grant

[petertong]

roger said:

We got ten shilling each for that!
Roger

Hi Roger,

Thats a really great story!

My only question is how did the emerald get there?!

Peter

[mariannek]

Gosh, this is going back a long time !!
I was 15 when I applied for a paper run...and I did that for one year. Went on a holiday with school and handed the run over to my younger brothers who forgot to pick up the papers from the newsagency...there went my paper run !
Not long after I heard about making a bit of money as a golf caddy.
I promptly applied and soon gathered a loyal following of golfers to hire me to pull their caddies, hand them their golf sticks bur most importantly find their stray golf balls...eye as sharp as an eagle..I was known for. I absolutely loved it and never missed a day traveling to the golf course by train. The money was generous and supplied much needed food.
I left school to work as a Kindergarten Aid for 6 months then began my Nursing Career on my 18th birthday !
I absolutely adored my job. Had so much fun relating to the patients!
My job for the last 32 years has been as a mother...the best job of all and any job !!! In between mothering I also taught Scripture for 20 years...loved the kids !
Mustn't forget... I am still doing the job of a wife as well ! The other best job !!!
Love, Marianne

[mariannek]

caite said:

Some very interesting professions here.

Let's see, what have I done? I've been a Lemonade, Koolaid and Popsicle Stand Worker, Nanny, and Hostess. From time to time I've co-taught dance classes, and been paid for a performance I have been in.
My jobs haven't been very interesting, but they've all been fun!

<3 Caite

Hi Caite,
Jobs should always be about fun !!! Of course not everyone will be that fortunate. To get to do what you are passionate about is the secret, right ?!
Love, Marianne

[roger]

petertong said:

My only question is how did the emerald get there?!

Peter

Hi Peter,

Presumably, it fell from the ring, possibly as a result of it being accidentally knocked against something. It's owner had been retacing her steps which apparently included our little ice cream parlour. She failed to find it as it must have rolled beneath the fridge. The real mystery is why Robert and I searched so thoroughly when the chances of it being right there were so unlikely.

Roger

[Ross]

My first job, apart from working on my fathers farm, was working on different pest destruction boards around New Zealand. The main role was to kill as many rabbits, possums as possible as they are major pests in NZ. This involved shooting from motorbikes, poisoning by planes. helicopters, vehicles and even by walking around our mountains.
My current job in Christchurch is helping grow mushrooms on a farm just outside the city.

[petertong]

mariannek said:

My job for the last 32 years has been as a mother...the best job of all and any job !!! In between mothering I also taught Scripture for 20 years...loved the kids !
Mustn't forget... I am still doing the job of a wife as well ! The other best job !!!
Love, Marianne

Hi Marianne,

I love kids too... sometimes I think I like talking to them more than adults As long as they are having fun right now... not a worry in this world! And of course most of them rather like ice cream too - good excuse for me

blessings, Peter

[petertong]

roger said:

petertong said:

My only question is how did the emerald get there?!

Peter

Hi Peter,

Presumably, it fell from the ring, possibly as a result of it being accidentally knocked against something. It's owner had been retacing her steps which apparently included our little ice cream parlour. She failed to find it as it must have rolled beneath the fridge. The real mystery is why Robert and I searched so thoroughly when the chances of it being right there were so unlikely.

Roger

Hi Roger,

You must have been meant to search for it - no telling what could have come to be if you had not found it for her But we shall never know!

best regards,
Peter T.

[Stephany]

Roger, I loved your emerald story!!
It was definitely worth-it: 10 shilling, recognition and...no maths!

Marianne, I didn't know you were a golf caddy!! It must have been a lot of fun. Did you ever want to try golf after that experience?

My first job was in a student accommodation company three years ago. I was in charge of a market survey for 30 residences. Basically, I had to ask the students what they liked or disliked and report everything to the "top management".

I also worked in a life insurance company where I had to open the mail, enter data about new contracts in computers and contact the client when the information was insufficient. Nothing really difficult - however interesting.

Last summer, I worked in the American bookstore of Paris. At the beginning, I was helping other booksellers in the English & French litterature section, but after a week they were impressed by my knowing of Fantasy&Science Fiction litterature so they told me to replace the chief of section. I had my own store section so it was really great.

I'm currently working in a bank. Opening bank accounts, receiving cheques, changing credit cards, etc.
Easy work and well-paid. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best wishes,
Stephany

[postscript]

Hi Stephany. It was great reading about your business interests. The thought in my mind was, have you thought of financial journalism? You write so well here, add to that your rapidly developing business knowledge... seems like a foregone conclusion.
Peter S.

[postscript]

caite said:

Some very interesting professions here.

Let's see, what have I done? I've been a Lemonade, Koolaid and Popsicle Stand Worker, Nanny, and Hostess. From time to time I've co-taught dance classes, and been paid for a performance I have been in.
My jobs haven't been very interesting, but they've all been fun!

<3 Caite

And very varied Caite--the spice of life!
Peter S.

[Stephany]

Hi Peter,
Funny that you mention journalism.
In fact, when I was 15, I said to my parents I wanted to be a journalist. I changed my mind just before entering University because I met a few reporters and they all told me it was a very tough job, not very recognized in France and on top of that not very well paid. It would indeed be interesting to mix two of my interests...journalism and finance. I shall see.

Thank you Peter for arounsing the idea.

[postscript]

I suppose your being paid ten shillings for finding that emerald Roger, allows me to bring into this post what was quoted as an aside under the thread dealing with 'Celebreties You Have Met'. There I regaled my meeting with Nubar Gilbenkian who handed me a one pound tip for merely helping his wife into her thousand guinea mink stole and him into his torn ninety-nine pence plastic Woolworth pacamac!

My main excuse for posting is the tale of how I didn't get my first job. I got confused between 'Jobs Wanted' and 'Jobs Vacant'. Since I wanted the particular job (fruit-picking, cherries I think) I rang a chap under the 'Jobs Wanted' to find he wanted the job too! It was then I realised I had spent my money on an ad under the Jobs Vacant pointlessly. I had assumed, as I was available 'to do', that was where I announced the fact I was looking for a job.

Before Richard chimes in (he's at Liverpool Street station with Fiona at the moment), no, I was not seeking the end product as a right 'fruit and nut case'. [For the benefit of overseas readers 'Fruit and Nut' was the name of a Cadbury's chocolate bar.]

Considering that when I did gain my first job I was noted by promptly tripping over my future boss's carpet, as I was announced for my interview, it is really amazing anyone ever employed me at all.

Peter S.

[Martin]

Roger’s schoolday story has reminded me of my (mostly) happy times at school. (Perhaps we should start a new thread entitled “Childhood memories”.)

But on the theme of this thread then I always seemed to be appointed as some kind of monitor at school. Milk monitor, dinner monitor, and book monitor to name but a few.

Dinner monitor was my favourite as this entailed fetching and serving the food from the servery for my table of twelve pretty horrible (including me) boys!! The bonus though was that I was able to give myself the biggest portions and equally important be first for “seconds”. I should point out that in those days (a few years ago!) all kids got a hot lunch unless they opted for sandwiches.

Ah those days! ( and before Roger asks - No, it wasn’t gruel I was serving).

Martin