Ink Monitor

   Seeing the photo that Adele posted reminded me of being an ink monitor...surely a precarious task that 'Health and Safety ' would quite frown upon today. Then there were the pens with nibs that scratched on the paper...and the paper with printed parallel lines in which one's writing had to fit. The exercise books that were taken home to be covered , uniquely in the lounge wallpaper or brown paper. Each day one wrote the date in the margin,,what were margins for ? I expect for teachers' corrections and comments ? The use of fountain pens was obligatory and all exam work had to be done with one- so the use of cartridge pens was so beneficial as it saved you from having to take a bottle of ink into the room ( risking the accidental breaking or leaking of the bottle all over items in your briefcase ).
   Letter writing was an art form. Learning the correct layout and format..addressing people, offering a final salutation correctly. Addressing the envelope with the proper spacing. All these things and more.
   As a holiday job, whilst a student, I worked at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and at one time I took over from the secretary of the engineer's department whilst she was on holiday. My first typing task was to right a job reference for a departing exchange worker. Now my typing skills were ( still are ) minimal  , having been 'taught' at the admissions department. I rather think I took most of the morning. By the end of two weeks I'd really got into the swing of things and in fact I was offered a job ! So I expect all that time spent learning the correct procedures held me in good stead.
   When I was a student I was in charge of 'Stationery'..I had a locked cupboard from which I sold items of necessities to my fellow students .Reams  of foolscap paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, rubbers and other assorted sundries.
   Then the ability to write as much as possible in an airmail letter. The writing minute, the sentiments deep felt. Writing on the pages-- along the edges--never wasting a space to write loving words to a friend or relative so far away.
  When I was teaching, at the beginning of the academic year, we teachers could have a limited supply of stationery items that the school secretary closely monitored.
   Brings me neatly back to monitoring. The joy of being chosen as ink monitor for a week...then you could be milk monitor....then in charge of the pencil sharpener that was screwed to the teacher's desk ( overuse led to punishment ...as we mostly wanted to stand at the front and make that grinding noise), Jotter monitor, text book monitor, dinner table monitor...the list goes on- making us responsible for trivial tasks that, nevertheless, made us feel important.
  I am much afraid that I don't have a poem for today's blog , but I do hope I've provided some nostalgic memories for some of us !!
   Picture is the result of ' Googling '   INK MONITOR .......

Thanks for reading.....Kath
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