Archives for January 29, 2005

Full Circle

by Bryan Strawser · Jan 29, 2005

I’ve often said that all things come full circle – and indeed they do.

It was six years ago when I sat in this hotel lobby in Cambridge along with a peer to screen and select our first managers for our team here in Boston:

And last night, I stayed at this same hotel after the going-away party last night at a nearby restaurant. How things change.. how they remain the same.

On the way home, I realized it was likely one of the last time I’d drive through Boston’s BIG DIG – so here’s a picture of that portion of my ride home from work, for the last time in this position.

I report Monday to my new position. Strap in!

Handwriting

by Bryan Strawser · Jan 29, 2005

Tim Bray wrote recently about the decline in his handwriting:

I think the fine art of handwriting is about done for

My handwriting is so bad I have trouble reading it any more. It’s not rocket science, I’ve been sitting in front of a computer for two and a half decades, what do you expect? It’s gotten to the point that I no longer apologize for popping open the laptop to take notes in meetings, even with people in suits. And I frequently find that I’m not carrying a pen when I have to fill out the customs forms.

It’s even worse for me. I’ve had horrible handwriting since I learned to write in cursive – for which I received “Cs” in school, mind you. Oh, that was in 1st grade. And it never got better.

With the advent of technology, my handwriting has simply gotten worse. I type most notes nowadays, I use email for many things, but I still take notes on my Tablet PC and sometime on paper – but I guarantee you that no one else can read them.

English Cut: A Look At How Things Should Be

by Bryan Strawser · Jan 29, 2005

Over at English Cut, a blog by an English Bespoke Tailor, you can read a fascinating look into the world of a bespoke tailor:

I was Mr. Hallberry’s striker (undercutter), and my future partner, Edwin was striker for Mr Harvey. Although this was comparatively only a few years ago, the company was still very much old school. Ed & I had to address the cutters as ‘Sir’ or ‘Mr.’ ….. The use of first names was far too informal.

It may look as if I’m painting a very austere atmosphere of the company, but although it was quite Dickensian at times, it was a great environment to be part of. Mr. Hallberry was every bit your Swedish expat cutter, silver hair & steel blue eyes. His attitude to the profession was as sharp as his shears, he didn’t suffer fools gladly; neither staff or customer.

On a red hot August day in early 1990, I sneaked out of the side door of Anderson’s to a cafe, no more than 50 yards away, for a sandwich to go. Unknown to me I had been spotted by Mr. Hallberry.

To go out at lunchtime was not a crime, however I had committed a cardinal sin. Not only was I without a jacket, but I was wearing braces (suspenders). For this I was summoned and duly berated for my sloppiness. As Mr. Hallberry said, cutters of A&S do not go out in there shirt sleeves, let alone their underwear.

When I write of my time with A&S it feels as if I worked there in the 50s , not the 90s. But you got used to such a formal atmosphere- no idle conversation, no whistling, no music or anything that could distract.

You remember how unique it was to just hear the clipping of shears into endless privileged clients’ clothes (Royalty, movie stars, that kind of thing) and the soft drone of the overhead fans. We had no air conditioning, and the fans were kept slow or they’d blow the patterns off the boards, if they were turned up to any worthwhile level. Comical really, but who’s complaining, we would’t have dared.