When A Lakeland Holiday Is Not What It Seems.
My Master's Degree's Practical Experience.
Expectations Can Be One Of Deception.
My name is Hamish, Hamish Macbeth, ok I have a weird name that people laugh at, I also have wild bushy red hair that's always untidy and needing cut, blue eyes which means I am in the one percent of the red haired population category, five foot eight maybe nine in height, weight ok but could lose a few pounds. Not very outwardly going, a dreamer always fantasising about where I would like to go and what I would like to do.
I have successfully completed my degree at a Glasgow University in generally what is referred to as engineering physics of materials. I am a bit of a maths buff and love doing maths that surround the physics of molecular fission, that's why I chose my subjects. Ok I am a geek too, it's what I am good at and it complements my social skills.
My tutor is also a bit of a geek, I think that is why we got on so well, and my work mentor who is the very opposite tutored me about life's options. Their contacts, arranged a work placement for me which would help me complete my Master's Degree Theses, due in early next year.
You don't actually get payment for this type of work placement from the sponsoring company, but you do get some freebies, in my case a complimentary canteen lunch each workday, use of their office facilities and a good quality laptop computer, which you get to, keep when you finish your work placement. However I also managed to get an education grant to contribute towards my accommodation and living expenses. When I did my spreadsheet calculations, which I love doing, I could, just about afford to do this placement.
I found affordable B&B accommodation within walking distance of the company in a southern Lake District town. It comprised of a single bedded attic room, with a small free standing wardrobe, small desk and chair, which doubled as my bedside table at night and two stick-on hooks on the back of the door, one of which keeps falling off. Yes and it also had a small skylight window that didn't open, no breakfast included as I couldn't afford it.
I started in the company one Monday morning, got my security pass and completed all the paperwork, that I had already completed but they had lost in their recent office move. In the afternoon attended a safety talk and had the grand tour of the company, which was actually quite interesting. The tour guide couldn't answer any of my questions as it was only his second week in HR. I felt sorry for him and didn't ask him any more questions, which I think he appreciated.
My second day was much more interesting, I was shown to my large open plan office and had the choice from twenty empty desks, I picked one near a window. I was also introduced to my first office colleague, who had only started the week before me, his name was John Smith, who was also doing his Masters Theses. I liked him because, he didn't have a crappy name and didn't comment on my name while trying not to laugh. Our job was simple, we were to get the office ready for the NSRP trials readiness and hand over teams.
We were to organise and accept the office, as whiteboards, pinboards, filing cabinets, coffee and tea machines arrived and were installed. It was fun to do, telling everyone where to put things, and make sure everything worked, there was an office plan but that was only for guidance purposes and did not need to be taken too seriously. Then the IT installation team arrived, I thought I was a geek, I was normal in comparison. John and I got on great, during those two weeks we became great friends.
On the last day we were handed a sign-off handover certificate, confirming receipt and acceptance of everything listed. Audits were my strength and John's too as it turned out. As soon as we found something missing, like magic it appeared including four large combination security cabinets, two fridges, a commanders safe weighing 250lbs and a Regulator's gun safe, I never found out who that was for. We didn't realise at the time how well this would set us up for what was expected of us over the next eight months.
We also found out our job titles for the first time, from the desk name labels supplied, mines was, Assistant to Chief NSRP Handover Engineer - Core Barrel Package, John's was, Assistant to Chief NSRP Handover Engineer - Steam Power Package.
John always seemed to have something on or to do at nights I just worked on my theses preparation. But, he invited me out the final night for a beer, although short of money I said yes. This turned out to be the start of a redefining moment in my life.
We went to a pub named after a ship that was sunk in the Falkland's, it had a band playing, bit rustic but ok. Wasn't long before John realised I was short of money and asked me how I was managing. Only just was my spontaneous reply. He said he was the same when he was a final year student at University in Plymouth but managed to get a local part time job as an Escort.
Innocently I asked escort for what, his reply almost decked me; lonely business men, I asked what did that entail. They take you out for a meal, whatever, you keep them company and get paid. I said is that all, yes unless you make other arrangements with them, which is entirely up to you. I didn't ask what other arrangements meant; I wasn't that geekish.
I didn't know what to say, he then bluntly asked me; interested? I said yes or at lease someone did. I was probably looking for a thrill, anything other than being a geek. He stood up and said let me make a call, I went to call him back as he walked away but hesitated and didn't.
He came back a few minutes later and said ok my Broker, that's what we call him, will see you tomorrow for lunch, he is staying in the Abbey House Hotel, which was a very nice, but expensive hotel for executives about a ten minute walk up Abbey road from my accommodation.
As I looked in amazement at him, John said he has a new assignment up here for me and is here to give me a brief on it tomorrow morning. I think he could see that I was questioning what I had let myself in for. He said, don't worry about it you will be great, let's go for a burger or a pizza, the Broker said he will pay for it. We got two very large pizzas and beers on this mythical Broker.
By the time I got back to my accommodation I was hyper, what had I done, but somehow I was also very excited by it and sort of relaxed about it too. I was awake most of that night just thinking about it, all I was doing was making myself more hyper. I got up early, borrowed an iron from my landlady and made myself as presentable as possible, then I walked up the hill to the hotel.
The Broker was waiting for me at the hotel reception, John had sent him my photograph, we had lunch, discussed what I was doing and what he wanted me to do. It was just as John had said, including about any other arrangements, he would arrange it all. The arrangement seemed to be based on mutual trust. The money on offer was very good and going to make a significant difference to me. Like having food at weekends when I wasn't working. We agreed that he would prepare a portfolio about me and see if he could get interest. I was actually a bit disappointed about his use of the word; could.
The following week John and I received all the new starts and got them settled into the office. Friday afternoon I got a call, I was to go to and see a photographer and makeup artist in Windermere for a photo shoot on Saturday afternoon. A package had been sent up there for me, all I had to do was go dressed smart casual. I used a local bus which took me right to their door. From the top deck the journey was quite scenic, which kept my mind off what would come next.
The studio was above a small convenience store. I met the owner Alex, the photographer, and his partner Chuck, the makeup artist and hair dresser. Who was wearing the smallest and tightest shorts and cropped top that I had ever seen on anyone. We went into his makeup studio, by now I was stripped off down to my underwear. Chuck did a fantastic job on my hair, then gave me a shave with an open razor, my first time. Being red haired I also had a faint reddish body hair, slowly he shaved it all off and then put waxed strips on me to remove any remaining hair stubble. It was a bit eye wateringly painful.
After it I felt fantastic, I was really hyper now, what an experience, Chuck then said take off your underwear so I can groom you down there too. Well I had gone this far, as I stood there naked with him looking at me, I was starting to show signs of being aroused, nothing to serious. He leaned over me and held my shaft in his hand, which instantly went rock hard, nobody had ever done that to me before with a razor in their other hand. I just stood their frozen in time.
In his other hand he had the open razor, I think he could see the terror in my eyes and said no, no, I am going to use a mini electric razor, this razor is far too sharp for that area. I heard myself sigh in relief. Slowly Chuck trimmed me back as far as he could, it actually was quite nice being held there with a mini electric razor vibrating away. I was starting to get really aroused by it and was beginning to think I was going to squirt. He then applied fine waxed strips, this time, as they removed the hair stubble, which felt like one at a time, was quite painful. As I had gone this far I persevered.
