Musikblogs

"If You're gonna do it do it right!"

My first summer job was when I was about 13yrs old, I was painting and doing odd jobs for an auctioneer which in truth bored me to tears but it paid the bills of all those things you need as a teenager to compete with your peers. I was 180 centimetres when I was 13 and for some reason height has something to do with responsibility in Ireland. I know it sounds bizarre but comments like "you're big enough now to do it yourself!" or "Give it to the Big lad he can handle it!" have no bearing on competence but for some reason back then height was a necessary requirement to be on the cutting edge of growing up!I was employed to paint the auctioneer's local shop and later he's warehouse, in truth I had no idea about painting but I am now quite versed in the art of painting having made every possible mistake that summer!

The warehouse was huge and I tried to explain to the owner that I was not qualified to take on such a job but I think my size and the meagre €5 a day wages was qualification enough! Having painted the interior of the local shop I realised that the only result that truly impressed the proprietor was blinding white, this meant that I should not waste any time applying an undercoat and just layer on the vine so thick that the remaining shelves were now 30% wood and 70% lack! I applied this principle to the warehouse walls by applying large quantities of the unending flow of vinyl finish to the walls like there was no tomorrow. With the dispensing of protective eyewear at the entrance of the warehouse the result had the blinding white effect that my sponsor required, I had emptied one 10 litre bucket after the next until the warehouse had lost square footage due to the now thicker density of the surrounding walls. The last days of work I realised that I had worked my ass off for this guy and he had been paying pittance but the fact was that I wanted a job and he had given me one and although it was very little money it was my first earning and the power to invest this hard earned cash in trend and image!

Now as a kid I was one of 8 kids and although we never felt like we were a bread line family I know now that my parents had run the financial gauntlet many time without troubling their children with the burden. It's not a sad story I had a great childhood but it remained clear to us all that there wasn't always money for the knick knack trends of "teenagerism!"So with this first earning I was off to the local menswear to equip myself with those shoes that rule the street and blind each passer by while captivating every teenage girl "Chique chique chique!"The truth was this was a country town with 5,000 inhabitants and the leather upper boots I wanted were not all the rage but the slick look was and these white boots couldn't be any slicker!

I purchased the boots and put on the passing jeans and jacket and paraded myself and my wears around the town proud of the new image, after a leisurely stroll around those places where you hang out as a teenager (Tennis courts, football pitch, swimming pool, park) I started home proud of my flaunts and flirts, sewing seed to tomorrows escapades. I looked down after the day to see the once perfect white boots had become "No longer" white, "No longer" new and "No longer" blinding. All that work to procure a fashion statement, all that work to "keep up with the Jones!", all that work to impress the girls and it ONLY LASTS ONE DAY!!Gutted by the reality I tried washing and creaming a now white shoe with scratches but they would never return to their "Just New" look, all that work and nothing to show for it but old shoes. I am thinking about my Mum and Dad and how every penny they earned went into everything but their things, no luxury keep up with the Jones, no flash, no jingling of jewellery! I know we were their children but to have to work that hard and to always put your family first is something that I am only realising now. Egotism is an important characteristic when it comes to realising your dreams but eventually you realise that the greater plan involves others. As a family man I am glad that I had the teachings of my parents in the true sense of the word "they ROCK!"

Years later (only 2) I visited the warehouse I painted only to see someone putting an undercoat on and swearing at the person who had painted it before him. Without informing him that I was that person I agreed with him and said that in the wise words of George Michael "if you're gonna do it do it right!" Just arrived in the studio in Vancouver nothing to report yet apart from that the studio is cool and the people are cool and the city rocks wildcats!!