New life
It was around September 1981 I was 16 and the world was my oyster, I was waiting on my inter cert results and looking forward to going back to school.
Results came 4 A’s 4 B’s and 1 C , Ireland was in the grip of a major recession/depression and I was listening to this amazing band called Depeche Mode with New Life running through my head.
I had worked after school and summer holidays with a friend of my dads in his butchers shop and with things being so bad my parents decided I should get a “trade” as it was probably the only way to make sure I had a job, so on my sixteen birthday I signed my papers and became an apprentice butcher after getting my results
Looking back now it was the last thing I wanted but my parents done what they thought was best.
Its been a huge insane road to get to here and that post would take a book but why do I write like this today?
My son Andrew is finished college tomorrow and hopefully will have a degree in electronic engineering.
Here’s hoping he doesn’t have to become a butcher.
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Well done Pat – I remember the time and you were lucky to get the chance to become an apprentice butcher back then.
Graduating after more than 15 years in education is a big deal for anyone. Here’s hoping there’s a rainbow outside for your son.
Wow, colleagues then! I’m electronic engineer too (but when I took the degree, courses were not shorter than 5-6 years… now you can finish after three). Good luck!
G’wan Andrew! Great achievement, congrats to him and fingers crossed he gets a job he likes as soon as he’s ready.
Twitter: johnmryan
4th June, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Nothing at all wrong with being a butcher, best of luck to him with the degree *fingers crossed*
a sense of empathy with the trade/ get a job/ parents best gig………
…….but feels like patting pat on the back for being so proud of his son……
…..and of course [and naturally] for the Andrew who did the achieving and the actual hard work!!
bulaidh bós for all generations of Phelans