Eons ago, as a young draughtsman, I joined an elite team working for HM. I felt out of my depth, surrounded by all these highly qualified people. Across the office was an immaculatly turned out 'go-getter', always seemed to be sneering at me, neatly groomed hair, too many teeth, confident, crisp shining white draffy's coat, ( why did mine always have ink and tea stains all over it? ), new Morris 1000 car, a right Mr. R. Slicker. Peeping up from my tiny drawing of a small bolt, I saw that he had a huge full-size model of the tail-section of a 'thing' on his desk, cast in amber epoxy resin, which he was self-importantly measuring with great bravura. This was to be painted in 'crackle paint', covered in strain-gauges and put in a press to get stress levels on the surfaces. Suddenly there was an almighty crash, and the $100,000 casting was 'flying'- but all over the office floor in bits! You could have heard a pin drop. And, Oh Joy! he'd taken the model out of the Chief Engineer's office without permission! Suddenly the Chief walked into the D.O. Told of the accident, he just shrugged and said "We'll have to make another one." $100,000, and not an eyelid was batted!- It was the Cold War, and budgets were infinite. At that time, I took home the equivalent of just $120.00 a month, with a wife and new baby at home.
Alan
