17-04-2012, 06:15 PM
I have for long suspected that the desire and the ability to be analytical runs in the genes. My father was a professional gardener, and considering the abysmal education that he had (left school at 14 years of age - such was 'schooling' in those days), it used to amaze me how he mastered all the subtle sciences and arts involved in the many aspects of horticulture, especially as he could recite and refer to whole types of plants by their Latin names 
. If anyone here has ever visited Folkestone in Kent, the ornamental gardens (Kingsnorth Gardens) that is near the main railway station in that town is 99% of his creation. And his French was just about adequate, too. So clearly he had a flair for languages as well, which he seems to have passed on to me. He was also a bit of a dab hand at mending things and was no slouch when it came to basic mathematics & logical reasoning. He also taught me how to play chess: we spent many a challenging hour battling it out over the chess board!
Thanks Dad - now long since passed away.
Al.
. If anyone here has ever visited Folkestone in Kent, the ornamental gardens (Kingsnorth Gardens) that is near the main railway station in that town is 99% of his creation. And his French was just about adequate, too. So clearly he had a flair for languages as well, which he seems to have passed on to me. He was also a bit of a dab hand at mending things and was no slouch when it came to basic mathematics & logical reasoning. He also taught me how to play chess: we spent many a challenging hour battling it out over the chess board! Thanks Dad - now long since passed away.
Al.
