I guess that those who read the classics will know this quotation. It is of course from "A Tale of Two Cities" and by this phrase Dickens hit on the duality of human experience, suggesting that periods of joy and prosperity can exist with times of immense suffering and hardship.
I heard this phrase again in my favourite series which has enraptured me recently to watch and now being on series 20, it is almost at an end. But the phrase comes in the NCIS episode that I am referring to, when Jimmy Palmer shares a moving reflection inspired by A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. The dialogue happens during an emotional moment where Jimmy is trying to help Kasie process the loss of someone in the series, (no spoiler alert here); whose sudden death shocked fans of the longest running TV series ever.
Here’s the key part of the dialogue:
Jimmy says:
"It's like what Dickens wrote, you know? 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' I have experienced a lot of loss in my life, but I've also experienced a lot of wonderful moments of joy and togetherness. Those are the memories that I'm going to hold on to."
This reflection helps Kasie see that even in the face of tragedy, there is value in remembering and cherishing the good times. Kasie is moved by Jimmy's perspective, leading her to say, "Now I know how you talked that guy off the ledge. "This line is her way of acknowledging how Jimmy's hopeful and balanced outlook on life can provide comfort and guidance during difficult times.
Getting through life is not all plain sailing. There are going to be times when something will cause you pain, tears and grief. There will be other times when the ship will be on a steady course. My advice, for what it is worth, is be prepared to get through those times and don’t let the darkness fall over your spirit.
Some people you meet may seem to have lovely lives, great relationships and you might shout out "wow, look what they are doing now!". Facebook and social media give these snapshots life and engender hope for those who are not having such a good time.
If life was like that, that is, pure joy, Charles Dickens would have written “it was the best of times it was absolutely fantastic times”. So remember that, life can deal out the worst of times. The line which starts ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ speaks to the idea that life is rarely all good or all bad—it's often a mix of both.
When you are young you want to achieve something, maybe drive a train (wow what a salary that would be now), or be a doctor, a nurse or lawyer then you realise something...
A Journey Through My Time: 1959–2024
1959–1977: The Early Years and the Royal Navy - or memories I hold on to!
Born in the heart of post-war Britain, I grew up during a period of immense change. The 1960s brought with it the spirit of rebellion, new music, and the winds of social change. But for me, it was a time of preparation. At the age of 16, I made a bold decision to join the Royal Navy, stepping into a world that demanded discipline, sacrifice, and a strength of character beyond my years. HMS Ganges was a mix of uncertainty and resolve. I arrived with other youngsters and after a haircut was issued my kit and shown my bed which when made had to have a coin bounce off to about 2 feet in height when inspected for something called “rounds”. One of us, an older guy was commissioned as the mess leader and drew up a cleaning roster each day and we learned about “drill” and seamanship throughout six weeks of hard work. On the first day, I accidentally walked across the parade ground, (how would I know one doesn't do this ?) and encountered the Chief GI in my face, looking at the name tally, I had just sewn on to my No.8s (working dress) shirt that “Taylor, you won’t go very far in this man’s navy” as he then bellowed in that awesome voice “now double!!”
During my time at HMS Ganges from January to March 1976, I underwent rigorous physical training that included daily exercises, sports, and the iconic 143-foot mast climb—a rite of passage for every recruit. The training was not just about endurance; it honed essential naval skills like seamanship, navigation, and gunnery. The Chief Gunnery Instructor certainly remembered me, which at first felt like a setback, but I quickly turned it into motivation. After a grueling six weeks of basic training, I successfully passed out to airmanship school, having spent countless hours doubling around in my parade boots—later replaced by 'steaming bats' as my career progressed. Practical sessions on boats and simulators further solidified my skills. Discipline was deeply ingrained through regular drills, parades, and inspections, while academic education in mathematics, science, and English ensured we were well-rounded. More than anything, this experience was about building character, resilience, and leadership. It was a journey that taught me the true meaning of teamwork, duty, and responsibility. I quickly learned that the Navy was not just about following orders but about proving your worth every step of the way.
After six week at Ganges I spent a further 14 weeks as the Air Engineering Training School, HMS Daedalus. It was here that the times were better for me, earning the ‘top tech’ award for a specially selected aircraft mechanic— called ‘Super SAM” OR SSAM, and I suppose it was a testament to my early skill, determination, and refusal to be defined by the doubts of others.
Yet, even that the journey was not without its challenges. Being held back from my new friends who were on their way to the so called “field”. Daedalus staff saw something in me that decided my future and having a basic educational status of no real O’ levels, (which if gained a higher Maths and English result would make me qualify for a promotion) of which I need a higher grade to benefit from the “24 weeks accelerated advancement”, I gained from this awarded status and in order to gain Petty Officer rank as a “Mechanician” ; the equivalent of an Artificer.
On joining, the Navy in 1976, and taking the Naval Maths and English Test, (NAMET) you scored 0-0, if f you had a General Certificate of Education, (GCE’s, A, B or C), you know, those things Del Boy, (from Only Fools and Horses), gushed about his brother. "He's got a GCE in art. And a couple of them in maths. You know, the boy's a genius!" I had simple CSE’s, not quite the O'level status when I left school at 16 and so when I took the NAMET, upon joining, I got 6 in Maths and 3 in English. NAMET 9-9 would have been the worst of times.
So to keep my SSAM status, I had to redo my Maths and English and it kept me at Daedalus for two weeks to retake the tests, whilst my classmates went out into the next phase of training in that 'field'. It felt like a setback, but it was just another hurdle for me to overcome, but I needed a good score in order to climb the promotion ladder. Getting a result of 3-2 (I needed 3-3 to keep the status); in a week of study and a retake in each subject, I just scraped through, I guess, proving that persistence and a willingness to improve can open doors to greater achievements to come and I got to do this in my steaming bats😄
To be continued...…
MY POEM
A time of change, where dreams were written.
At sixteen, who knew what I would become?
I chose a sailor’s life, with 'steaming bats'.
It was the best of times, second to none.
Then at Daedalus, I was made aware
That I had something, not learned at school.
Evidenced by my eagerness to succeed,
Improved my Maths and English, for the Mechanician’s pool.
Top of the table, with steaming bats.
Not even Spurs had got that far!
I was now a “Super Sam,” my promotion was issued.
This was 1976; good times would be continued…
