Page 233 - Michael Frost-Voyages to Maturity-23531.indd

West Star Glacier Bay

8 Leadenhall Street, Canada,

West Star & CPR

s I had not been asked to apply for the job of assistant nautical
Ainspector, it was my assumption that somebody in authority (perhaps
Dunkley!) knew that I could do the job, simply because I had never heard of such a
position and had no idea what it entailed. Working in the City of London to many
would mean dark suit and bowler, but I had seen enough of the London work-
world to know that such an image was by then outdated. To Father, my getting a
job in the city, especially at the Head Office of such a prestigious company, was
like a dream come true; to me it gave unparalleled opportunity to explore new
fields, not at all necessarily associated with ships and the sea.

More significantly, my relationship with Judith blossomed. I had invited her
home for a few days’ respite from the rigours of London, though by this time
her family had departed, and she, I am glad to say, quite took to the hardship of
Sussex country life. I had decided that she was what I desired for my significant
other, but the more distant future I had to regard with less certainty; not only was
she ‘pinned’ to the orthopaedic surgeon, but there was a worrisome gynaecologist
residing in Vancouver who was ardent but with some odd reservations about
marriage (for example, spouses had to take separate vacations). To cement our
relationship, I thought it a good idea for us to take a little trip, and what could be
better than a trip to Shakespeare country and to Stratford-upon-Avon, she having
her (appropriate) degree in English?

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