Civilion life and Marriage | ||
| After release from the army was it was back to civilian life. Were I consider myself to short to return to the police force but still with public service. I found myself for a job with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAFF). There was a local office in Oxford, which suited me very well. The workers of the clerical nature but, since there were a number of different departments it gave me scope to learn more about several different semi-professional occupations. Estate management, land drainage and a number of other, different aspects of agriculture. I use my interest in photography and my pictures were displayed the Royal Agricultural show. I drew plans of agricultural buildings. At weekends I would carry out drainage schemes for people with large gardens. I met my first wife whilst working here. This was when we both worked in the wages department. This was at the a time of acute housing shortage. Whilst we were were able to get a building permit, my wages would not support a mortgage for a small semi-detached house on an estate. This seemed to be an insurmountable problem at the time it gave me the incentive to build for myself. I devised a number of schemes to further my aims. I suspect were at weekends hedging, ditching and land drainage. I bought a large caravan and a rented it out. I was finally able to buy at a piece of land. This used all the money that was available to me. I constructed a small trailer with a canvas top and added it shelving. I cut a hole in the hedge row and sold sweets and fizzy drinks at weekends to passers-by. I could not afford professional building with the building of the house so I decided to do all this myself. I drew the plans and supervised the tradesmen. The site in Old Road Headington, Oxford had a building on it which had been used as a holiday chalet. This consisted of a round room with the steeple roof and was known as the Round House. I demolished this because it was not habitable. It did however provide the name for my new house. | Lessons were to be learnt as I went along. The first person I employed asked for money in advance and failed to carry out his contract. I was then lucky to find a Jan who was a Polish bricklayer who employed a number of men. I came and went to an agreement with him when that all but bricklaying should be completed within two months. I made him aware that there will be no money available unless this condition was met. I arrangements had been made for a mortgage from the local authority. The payments to were to be made in three tranches, the first of which was when the brickwork had been completed up to roof level. I could stave off payment for these bricks and mortar for the two months required for the bricklaying. Luck was with me, the weather fine and Jan honoured the agreement. From this point onword the was always money in hand for the next stage of building. Carpenters, electricians and a plasterers plus their materials could be paid. my calculations at the time proved that the cost of my chalet bungalow was almost half that of which would have had to be paid to a builder. I realise during the process of building that it will be possible to include a separate flat. I installed an extra bathroom and kitchen on the upper floor. By financial worries were solved. my income from the flat paid for my mortgage through and I had money in hand to pay for a new van. We had been patient but now Eileen and I who could live together in our new home. We married and to held a reception in the lounge. I continued to work for the Ministry of Agriculture and Eileen found a new job with the Ministry of Social Security.
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