Mike curates

Country children often embarked on long journeys to the market, setting off very early. This small boy, accompanied by his dog, has fallen asleep on the carrier’s cart that will take him home at the end of the day. Ralph Hedley noted that the painting was meant to depict the Bigg Market in Newcastle. However, he painted it in his studio on Blackett Street rather than in situ.

Into my teenage years, my dad’s business crumbled, and our family hit rock bottom. Despite the financial hardships, we were reluctant to part with our pets. Although I had little money, my life abounded with fullness and joy. After school and on public holidays, I helped out at my parents’ bistro alongside my cat, transporting fresh food, vegetables, and condiments from the wet market using a shopping cart. During this time, I came to realise that these challenges had made me stronger. I developed greater patience and prudence, both in my studies and at work.

鄉村孩子經常要很早就出門，長途跋涉去市場。這幅畫描繪著一天的結束，一個小男孩正在時搭乘運輸車在回家的途中。路上，他在車裡睡著了。拉爾夫·赫德利表示，這幅畫原本是為了描繪紐卡斯爾的比格市場。然而，他是在布萊克特街的工作室中完成這幅畫的，而不是在市場現場作畫。

在我十幾歲的時候，父親的生意失敗了，而我家的經濟也陷入了困境。不過，我仍然捨不得離開我的寵物。雖然當時我並不富有，但我的生活很充實，在放學後和公眾假期時，我和我家小貓會一起在父母的小酒館幫忙，我用購物車把從菜市場買來的新鮮食物、蔬菜和調味品運送到小酒館。在此期間，我開始意識到這些挑戰，讓我變得更堅強。無論是在學習或工作中，我都變得更有耐心和謹慎。