Gorilla Sucking the last few drops of a mcdonalds milkshake.Two bricks in a tumble dryer. Next, a Helicopter landing beside me, then repeated banging of two stix…

What we do in life echoes in eternity. So said the gladiator. He’s right.

John Lundy pointed out to me in passing the other day that teaching is in the genes in my family. His remark was apropos something else entirely but it struck a chord. How many influenced and better people thanks to Angie, my mum, my dad, Patsy? And the rest.

Around the same time a work contact told me he had been talking to an old friend of my dad’s. My father certainly influenced many, most for the better, few for the worst. I have even come to terms with reading the words of a former pupil who slated him online. For him I am saving a special revenge but that’s for again.

Reflecting on all of this, it occurs to me that number one we don’t tell people what we think of them when we have the opportunity because, well, it discomfits them; two it embarrasses us and three we think perhaps we can put it off until another time. By then it can be too late.

In writing this I am thinking of a small number of people that have given me much more than I have ever given them.

It is time to do that, and perhaps it would be a better reason for a day off work than the faux Oirish celebration of the day that’s in it.

I may have dreamt this, all of it. Or maybe not. Anyhow I lived to tell the tale, and learned how not to treat people.

When you start working up there you won’t be starting on the starting line, you will be starting well behind it. Such was the ringing endorsement my first boss gave me when I resigned and told him I was leaving my job.

He was referring to the University of Ulster at Coleraine where I had just been appointed Editor. In truth he was happy to see me go.

A year or so before a book I had worked on with him and a rather pompous academic of Yorkshire stock went into print with a word missing as a result of a layout mistake. He went ballistic and verbally abused me in front of the whole office telling me the sooner I left the better. It was a sentiment I agreed with but he would have to wait another while and so would I.

As an example of how not to treat people I found my time in that Place of Employment illuminating. Public dressings down, bollocking and downright dogs abuse were common enough from a man who used an honorific title, not having achieved a doctorate. There was no doubt he was a very accomplished historian, and though charming to strangers, Americans and those for whom he did research, he was pig ignorant to his staff.

And he was also wrong about the University.

Today it rained, rained and rained. The roof’s leaking somewhere gonna have to get that checked out. It shouldn’t be but that’s another story. The living room needs painted and the leylandii need cut. The trampoline’s FUBAR thanks to Peter. My mothers car clutch has gone again. Amidst all that disintegration and disrepair life goes on.

At least Soda’s back in decent shape. Happy chasing the cat arthritis permitting. If I can do the same at her age I’ll be happy enough.