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My dad had nothing, couldn’t read or write, no roots because parents were immigrants. His father died of polio related problems and mother worked endless shifts as a nurse to keep her many kids (catholics!) alive. He was told by every adult he met that he would amount to nothing.
Dyslexic, no parents around, he was written off. But he had a brilliant brain that other people didn’t understand.
He got a job working with questionable London types (the kind of 70s men who all claimed a connection to the Krays) learning how to make and install blinds.
He got a job working with questionable London types (the kind of 70s men who all claimed a connection to the Krays) learning how to make and install blinds.
He set up a small business making Venetian blinds. That’s the kind that leave moody, striped shadows in your room so that you can pretend you are a Femme fatale in a noir scene.
Eventually he started making them for other firms. He had a knack for getting better results out of a system than anyone else. He started to make bigger and bigger blinds. Then more complicated electric models. It’s like he can see the matrix when it comes to window shadings!
As a result he became the “go to guy” with important work. His customers would call him up asking for him to work on their high risk installations. He’s not an installer, but he’s just the best at blinds.
Some examples of the jobs:
One time when admiring the house of a customer he asked, “Nice place you have here, what do you do?”
The man hesitated, “Erm...I play football.”
Classic dad response: “Are you any good?”
“Well...I’m a striker for Chelsea.”
One time when admiring the house of a customer he asked, “Nice place you have here, what do you do?”
The man hesitated, “Erm...I play football.”
Classic dad response: “Are you any good?”
“Well...I’m a striker for Chelsea.”
Another time my dad fitted blinds in the house of “a twat that wears glasses indoors.”
Turns out it was a member of the Beatles.
Turns out it was a member of the Beatles.
Oh and on one occasion he was called in to to fit blinds for some, “scruffy looking northerners and their girlfriends.”
Sigh. It was Oasis and All Saints.
Sigh. It was Oasis and All Saints.
These are classic examples of my dad. He doesn’t care about music, football or fame, he just cares about blinds!
(Honestly as a creative daughter desperate for parental validation it really does a number on me!)
(Honestly as a creative daughter desperate for parental validation it really does a number on me!)
Today my dad owes two businesses. He employs over 40 people from all different backgrounds. He is creating some of the best, biggest electrical solutions on the market and his plans for the future are wild. I’m never not impressed by the projects he pulls out of his head.