This is grandfather‘s book. My mother’s father. I knew him as ‘grandpa’. He was born in a small coal exporting town in the south of Wales. I remember him talking about his childhood there when I asked him to answer some interview questions for grade school class on audio tape. He never actually answered one of my questions for the project but told stories of his life and work. I wish I could find those tapes. So now I have this book.
Grandpa was knighted by the Queen of England as he aided in crafting safe air travel through his research of noise and engineering.
This book was first published in 1968 and captures his life’s work. If only I understood half of what I am trying to read. It is, however, fun to thumb through and entertains his brain whether I understand him or not. Being British I often never understood him when his accent would get thick and fast. Oh well.
Today I am pondering work & how one’s work can lead places. This is not about a job, though that may be the outlet, it is the vocational work that God puts into your soul. My grandpa loved his vocation. He loved a good gin and smoke on his pipe as well (as any good Englishman did then). His work took him (and his family) around the world, a meeting with royalty, university campuses, the big towns and the small towns, and numerous cruises around the Caribbean (loved those during retirement).
It is remarkable really to reflect on it.
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