F block

F block was a centre of creation. Biology classrooms on the first floor combined with home economics classrooms on the upper storey. It was connected to L block via a rickety partitioned staircase.

Biology could sometimes turn stomachs. Maggots and bull’s eye balls were used , and it could also make the eyes water with the mounting of an onion epidermis slide to look under the microscope. In the wider world, photosynthesis, enzymes, lipids, and a whole host of other obscure words connected to plant life and the human body were learnt about , as was every major organ.

Home Economics was strangely connected to biology in many respects- perhaps that’s why the subjects were lumped together in the same block. Food groups were learnt, E numbers, convenience foods- these were theoretical concepts, but it was the practical lessons ,(white aprons on), that were the most fun. Along with the other home economics room in L block creations such as bread and butter pudding, pizzas, cheese and potato pie were the stuff of first year legend. Cooking smells, and sometimes burning would permeate F block from above.

This was perhaps the most useful subject to be applied for future life and who could forget those perfectly ordered white draws comprising a checklist of kitchen utensils- round bladed knife, egg whisk, potato peeler- a generation game type quiz I would fail to remember now, but might if I thought long enough.

 

The view between F block on the left, E block on the right, with D block straight ahead. This area always reminded me of some New York back alley. Papers and crisp packets blew fervently around and downward into the descending staircase to E block. Who knows where those steps went down to , but the upper steps led to D block.