Synopses of Sections - An Engineer’s 89-Year Journey of Memories
This page presents a brief synopsis of each section of An Engineer’s 89-Year Journey of Memories.
Section 1 – Early Life - Including chapters 1-5
These chapters tell of the years before WWII, during WWII, after WWII, and of a teenager's social life.
Section 2 – Education – Chapter 6.
This chapter covers the education, through high school, and forward to night school for seven years to gain the Higher National Certificate. This certificate gained Alex the title of Professional Engineer, which, of course, allowed Alex to advance through the different industries as he did.
Section 3 – Apprenticeship – Chapter 7.
This chapter details the apprenticeship course through a manufacturing company that produced Rock drills and Compressors. His apprenticeship mandates experience across all manufacturing departments, in the Tool Design Office, and eventually in the head office for product design.
Section 4 – First Marriage – Chapter 8
This chapter tells of the courtship and, eventually, a traditional wedding, and two years later, two baby boys were born in Scotland, named Steve and Lar. At the time, there were very few opportunities for a young engineer, so the couple decided to move to Canada to bring up their family and advance Alex’s career. In Canada, two girls were born, Trish and Lesley.
Section 5 – Fishing in the North Sea - Chapter 9.
This chapter explains several fishing endeavours for local fishermen. All of Alex’s forefathers were fishermen. A career in fishing back then did not provide a lot of cash for the family. The family was very poor, but the children had no idea of that. They had a wonderful life playing and fishing along the rocky shoreline on the north-east shore of the North Sea.
Section 6 – Career – Including Chapters, 10-12,14,15,17-24
After four years of a five-year apprenticeship had been completed, Alex was interviewed by a new Personnel Manager. The manager described the two best career strategies for a career. First, join a reputable company like Rolls-Royce or General Electric; you will move up the hierarchy as you’ve done here, earn more as you move up, and, in the end, have a good pension. A good life. But, he said, I think you should change Industries every five years. You will learn all you need to know about any industry in five years, and life will become mundane if you stay any longer. Alex chose this last course and worked in fourteen industries during his career. In his retirement, he writes books.
Section 7 – Life in Montreal – Chapter 13
Read about the tragedies that took place when they lived in Montreal.
Section 8 - Life in Kitchener – Chapter 16
Life was good for the family in Kitchener, but the family experienced more tragedies there. You read about the young lives of the four children.
Section 9 – 2nd Marriage – Chapter 25
When Alex’s first wife died after 53 years of marriage, he became friendly with the widow of a distant relation, and they eventually got married. He is so happy to have such a special, perfect companion as they age together.
Section 10 – Vacationing – Chapter 26
Alex’s vacation brought him to numerous places, all with a magic of their own. He travelled all across Canada from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island. He also travelled to India, China, most of the United States, Germany, Britain, Israel, Italy, Barbados, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and the Bahamas.
Section 11 - Mysterious Happenings’ - Chapter 27
There were three mysterious, or fortuitous, happenings. First: When Alex was thirteen years old, his father was out fishing, and his mother was glued to the short-wave radio all fisher wives had. She told Alex someone had died, and she thought it might be her Dad, or her husband, Alex’s dad. She stayed by the radio until noon, when a friend came over and told her an elderly man in the village had died. She was then at peace. Second: The day after he arrived in Canada, his friend had arranged for a job interview the next day, where he was told he could start on Friday, February 20th, 1959. This was the day Diefenbaker scrapped the Arrow aircraft. On Monday, hundreds of engineers were looking for a job. Third: After one project he managed, the company decided that the project was finished, and he could leave on Wednesday. This was ten days before Christmas, and he had no prospects of another job. His wife was upset and went for a walk after lunch. At 2pm, he got a phone call from an old friend who was looking for an engineer like Alex. Alex visited him and was hired on the spot. His wife was home when he got home and was so relieved when things had turned out well.
Section 12 – Health Issues - Chapter 28
Alex has experienced many health issues in his life. The most noticeable are his knee problem when he was six years old, he had asthma, a cancer removed from his right cheek, he has had two separate serious thrombosis (blood clots), one in each leg, the latest one gave Alex a drop foot (completely useless left foot). In his nineties, he still plays golf twice every week of the golf season.
Section 13 – Lessons Learned- Chapter 29
In manufacturing management, there are only two things: managing people and managing things. There are simple processes for both. He believes keeping things simple is important at work and in life.
Section 14 - Life Philosophies - Including chapters 30-36
Alex’s philosophy is to get involved. Never give up and enjoy every moment of your life. Halfway through his life, Alex learned of his spiritual side. He spends the first 25 minutes of his day doing physical exercises and spends a few hours each day doing things that keep his mind active. He has found that doing things for others is far more satisfying than doing things for himself.