think of our weight continually. We were expected not to go off into cafés during our time off, indulging ourselves with burgers, chips and sugary drinks. The food policy at the school would have suited my grandparents, with its emphasis on lean meat and fresh vegetables.
We also had regular schooling, of course. I was still way behind in terms of reading and writing, but the otherstudents helped me, particularly with slang words and how to spell the wide variety of curses used about the place! Our teacher, Mrs Byrne, did all she could to help me catch up with the rest of the class. I would have to improve my English drastically in order to read form books and breeding manuals, and to keep up with the Irish Field and Racing Post . It was not all grind, though. We also had drama, art, swimming and sports classes, so as to give us a break from ‘the nags’ – the horses.
Not long before the end of the eight months, two of our class left the school – they weren’t cut out for ‘the life’. But I loved it, and looked forward to the next stage of my apprenticeship. Through the school I met a Mrs Harris of Killantubber Stud. Getting a place with Mrs Harris depended on my graduation, my first race and passing an interview with the Turf Club, the organisation that oversees the racing industry.
The day of my interview was a little scary. Grandad wore his good suit for the occasion and Grandma was also in her best clothes, wearing her hat with a pheasant feather sticking out of it. We had bought my suit in Naas, and Grandad tucked a handkerchief into the top pocket. ‘Now you look the part,’ he said. He drove us down to the Turf Club office, at the back of the Curragh racecourse . Grandma insisted on spreading clean polythene over the seats of the Landrover, so as not to get our suits dirty.
I waited with Grandad and Grandma outside theinterview room, fidgeting and looking at pictures in a magazine. Then my name was called. ‘Good luck, lad,’ said Grandad, putting a hand on my shoulder. I went into the interview room, where three stern-looking officials sat behind a long desk.
They asked me all sorts of questions about myself, nodding and giving me a good look over as I spoke. When they asked about Colombia, I did not say anything about AGRA or the commune. I just told them that I used to ride bareback through the jungle. They were pleased that I knew Spanish.
‘Do you know, lad,’ said one of the officials, ‘I sometimes hear the roar of the jungle on race days beyond.’ He pointed with one of those grand gestures that seem to be a feature of people who love horses. ‘That is the whole world to us,’ he said. ‘And now, if you will leave us to our deliberations, young man?’ I nodded and left the room, carefully closing the door behind me.
Grandad and Grandma seemed as nervous as I was as we waited in the hallway. None of us could finish our sentences. This was it. I was either in or out, and I would soon know. When the door opened, the three of us froze. The man who had asked me most of the questions at the interview looked at us seriously, then he reached out and shook my hand. He told me I had the approval of the Turf Club, and congratulated me on gaining a place with Mrs Harris at Killantubber Stud. ‘It all depends on your end-of-year exam results,’ he said,looking me in the eye. ‘Pass your exams and you are in with us. Good luck.’
Grandad and Grandma nearly smothered me when he left, but then they stopped and considered the situation. ‘Of course he will pass the exams,’ said Grandad.
‘Of course,’ said Grandma.
‘Of course,’ I said weakly, echoing their voices.
Chapter 21
Well, to cut a long story short, I did pass the exams, one of only fifteen in the class to get through. The Chairperson of the Licensing Committee made a long speech at our graduation ceremony and presented us with certificates . I went up with Liam Deveraux, Susan Holmes and Johnny Walsh. It was a proud moment
We also had regular schooling, of course. I was still way behind in terms of reading and writing, but the otherstudents helped me, particularly with slang words and how to spell the wide variety of curses used about the place! Our teacher, Mrs Byrne, did all she could to help me catch up with the rest of the class. I would have to improve my English drastically in order to read form books and breeding manuals, and to keep up with the Irish Field and Racing Post . It was not all grind, though. We also had drama, art, swimming and sports classes, so as to give us a break from ‘the nags’ – the horses.
Not long before the end of the eight months, two of our class left the school – they weren’t cut out for ‘the life’. But I loved it, and looked forward to the next stage of my apprenticeship. Through the school I met a Mrs Harris of Killantubber Stud. Getting a place with Mrs Harris depended on my graduation, my first race and passing an interview with the Turf Club, the organisation that oversees the racing industry.
The day of my interview was a little scary. Grandad wore his good suit for the occasion and Grandma was also in her best clothes, wearing her hat with a pheasant feather sticking out of it. We had bought my suit in Naas, and Grandad tucked a handkerchief into the top pocket. ‘Now you look the part,’ he said. He drove us down to the Turf Club office, at the back of the Curragh racecourse . Grandma insisted on spreading clean polythene over the seats of the Landrover, so as not to get our suits dirty.
I waited with Grandad and Grandma outside theinterview room, fidgeting and looking at pictures in a magazine. Then my name was called. ‘Good luck, lad,’ said Grandad, putting a hand on my shoulder. I went into the interview room, where three stern-looking officials sat behind a long desk.
They asked me all sorts of questions about myself, nodding and giving me a good look over as I spoke. When they asked about Colombia, I did not say anything about AGRA or the commune. I just told them that I used to ride bareback through the jungle. They were pleased that I knew Spanish.
‘Do you know, lad,’ said one of the officials, ‘I sometimes hear the roar of the jungle on race days beyond.’ He pointed with one of those grand gestures that seem to be a feature of people who love horses. ‘That is the whole world to us,’ he said. ‘And now, if you will leave us to our deliberations, young man?’ I nodded and left the room, carefully closing the door behind me.
Grandad and Grandma seemed as nervous as I was as we waited in the hallway. None of us could finish our sentences. This was it. I was either in or out, and I would soon know. When the door opened, the three of us froze. The man who had asked me most of the questions at the interview looked at us seriously, then he reached out and shook my hand. He told me I had the approval of the Turf Club, and congratulated me on gaining a place with Mrs Harris at Killantubber Stud. ‘It all depends on your end-of-year exam results,’ he said,looking me in the eye. ‘Pass your exams and you are in with us. Good luck.’
Grandad and Grandma nearly smothered me when he left, but then they stopped and considered the situation. ‘Of course he will pass the exams,’ said Grandad.
‘Of course,’ said Grandma.
‘Of course,’ I said weakly, echoing their voices.
Chapter 21
Well, to cut a long story short, I did pass the exams, one of only fifteen in the class to get through. The Chairperson of the Licensing Committee made a long speech at our graduation ceremony and presented us with certificates . I went up with Liam Deveraux, Susan Holmes and Johnny Walsh. It was a proud moment
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