Have You Got a Start, Sir? by Ronald Mackay

10/7/2021

It is a pleasure to feature this fourth entry from Ronald Mackay in the 2021 Authors Showcase.

Enjoy reading Ronald's latest life-changing story Have You Got a Start, Sir? (HeffyougotashterrtSorr?) by clicking here.

Ronald Mackay

Ronald attended King’s College, Aberdeen University in the early ’60s. He financed his studies by working during the university vacations. He was fortunate in finding many memorable jobs. He helped to build the hydroelectric power station inside Ben Cruachan; he was an assistant skin-grader in Hudson Bay’s Beaver House in the City of London; a ‘postie’ at the post office in Exhibition Road; and a hod-carrier and general labourer on the construction of tall buildings at Swiss Cottage, South Acton and Ealing. He came to love London as much as his native Scotland.

22 Comments

Mike Croucher

10/7/2021 05:38:41 pm

Great read, Ron. Thoroughly enjoyed it. You had me when you said you loved London. So do I. Born there, and lived in North-West London until we moved to Canada.

Ronald

10/7/2021 08:05:59 pm

Thanks for enjoying the story, Mike. I'd no idea you were a Londoner! So we share a love for that great city!

Viviana Galleno

10/7/2021 10:26:01 pm

A great, enjoyable story! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Ronald Mackay

10/7/2021 10:35:40 pm

Thank you Viviana! Abrazos, Ron

MICHAEL MOHR-BELL

10/7/2021 11:24:01 pm

Excellent Ron! A most enjoyabe read, especially as I spent seven years in London during the 1960's. We may even have crossed roads in Swiss Cottage, where I went often! All the best, and I now look forward to Argentina.

Ronald Mackay

11/7/2021 11:55:27 am

It would have been fortunate indeed had our paths crossed earlier, Michael! Had they, we would have been friends for even longer! You will enjoy the next story that celebrates my debt to Damian Vinci. CALEDONIA would never have had the modest success that it enjoyed had it not been for Jorge Lopez at Angriman introducing Viviana and me to Damian Vinci.

Nigel Lindsay-Smith

11/7/2021 02:43:35 am

Excellent read Ronald. Shows how persistence pays off when you set a goal and strive forward despite being told you don’t have a chance. I’ve shared this with my son who is going to be in a similar boat soon!

Ronald Mackay

11/7/2021 12:04:59 pm

Thanks, Nigel. I'm so pleased that you found the story sufficiently inspiring to share with Bruno. You will find some of my earlier stories (available on Fred's Blog website and in Robert Fear's anthologies advertised on this page) equally inspiring for a young man like Bruno.Love to you both! Thanks for reading! Ronald

Euan Lindsay-Smith

11/7/2021 05:35:19 am

First class story, Ronald. A little bit of courage, inventiveness, perseverance with a wee bit of cheek and a fair bit of luck definitely pays off.

Ronald Mackay

11/7/2021 12:07:03 pm

Thanks, Euan. It was our very good fortune to have been brought up to develop and nurture these qualities! They have indeed paid off in both our cases! Ronald

Palmer Acheson

11/7/2021 05:51:53 am

Another fabulous gem of a short story, Ron! The dialogues all rang true. That Irishman did you a great favour in telling you how to obtain a job on a building site. I bought my first BSA motorcycle for a few pounds, earned in an off-license (liquor store). In the mid-60s I hitch-hiked all over the British Isles, from Kent to Scotland; from Wales to the Midlands; around the Ring of Kerry in Ireland, and later, from Calais to Naples, from Ostende to the Middle East, and Boulogne to Italy, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

Ronald Mackay

11/7/2021 03:56:46 pm

Palmer -- You should be writing your own stories for Authors Showcase on Fred's Blog. You have many fascinating tales to tell based on your world-wide experience. Sit down and write!
Thanks for enjoying my stories. Best wishes,
Ron

Christine Cameron

11/7/2021 01:24:25 pm

Really enjoyed this short story. Thank you Ron

Ronald Mackay

11/7/2021 02:09:46 pm

Glad to hear it, Christine. Thanks!

Jim Stewart

11/7/2021 02:06:25 pm

Thanks Ron for another great read

Ronald Mackay

11/7/2021 02:10:54 pm

Happy to know you enjoyed it, Jim!

Anne Marshall

12/7/2021 04:34:56 pm

Plucky Jock! Great story Ron. I like that your stories always feature a lesson learned from someone unexpected.

Ronald Mackay

12/7/2021 04:38:38 pm

Thanks for you comments, Anne! I've been fortunate to meet so many helpful people in my life! And I still do! Best wishes.

Nila Mendoza

15/7/2021 12:04:25 pm

As long as there are goals to be achieved, there will always be life in essence. An excellent writing and a profound lesson. You never disappoint, my dear friend Mackay. Big hug, Nila.

Ronald Mackay

15/7/2021 12:11:05 pm

I appreciate your confidence in me, NIla!
Abrazos,
Mackay

Jean-Yves Lebaudy

17/7/2021 04:57:16 pm

Truly a very inspiring story of the beginnings of your professional life. Thank you, Ron for sharing. I wish younger generation would learn from it. Un abrazo.

Ronald Mackay

22/7/2021 11:57:33 am

Glad you read and enjoyed it, Jean-Yves! You and I are of the same generation and so we know that that's just what we did then. You needed money, you worked. It was simple. You learned that effort was rewarded. You learned how to take responsibility for yourself. You learned to grow up and have consideration for others, as well. Abrazos!

Have You Got a Start, Sir? by Ronald Mackay

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