I only remember one occasion when I actually stated what I would like for Christmas. Every other year I simply said ‘I’d like a surprise’. I was generally quite happy with whatever I had at the time. Having only one TV channel and no toyshop catalogues meant that I wasn’t too aware of what else was out there. Most of my play was outdoors building forts, making things, cutting up the new lino (sorry Ma) and generally getting up to mischief. Don’t worry I’m not going to go into an Angela’s Ashes<\/a> or Bill Cullen<\/a> ‘we were so poor…’ kind of a tale.<\/p>\n I only remember a handful of the Christmas presents I received as a young boy (not too long ago :)). One of the surprise presents I received one Christmas morning when I was 14 was a Prince August<\/a> Soldier Making Kit. There were four moulds in the kit. Two for infantry, one for cavalry and one for a cannon. To make the pieces you melted lead and poured into the rubber moulds which were clamped together.<\/p>\n It didn’t take me long to use up the lead that was supplied. Luckily at the time my Father had a roll of lead that would have been used in construction work. Having an endless free supply of raw material I decided to go into business for myself. I don’t know if it was my idea or if someone suggested it, but I began my first self employed venture.<\/p>\n