Martin & Jackie Goodman

[JustAGirlFromHoe]

We’re currently rewatching Friday Night Dinner (bitter-sweet) and have realised that Martin & Jackie’s jobs are never mentioned.

What do you imagine them doing? I see Jackie as a secretary/PA or doctor’s receptionist and Martin as some sort of engineer although my DH thinks he’d be an accountant.

Any other suggestions?

I always thought Martin might be a surveyor or work in building control, he wouldn’t want to work for the council though. Alternatively he might be a biologist for the water board.

I thought Jackie could have been a teacher, early years or like everyone else, a medical secretary.

I’d have thought Jim inherited the house, but he can’t have grown up there. He’s far too unfamiliar with Jews for a north London boy. Maybe a spinster aunt or something.

I thought in the recent programme about FND the writer said Martin is a scientist, but I could have misheard.

Martin is an HE professor. Probably in a scientific field such as physics or engineering. Something very abstract and theoretical with little practical application. I used to work with (and still know quite a few) physics academics and they were just like him! Jackie was a SAHM but with a side line in those selling parties. My DM reminded me that back in the 80’s all the ‘posh’ Hertfordshire mummies used to throw a lot of ‘weekenders’ parties. Maybe by the 00’s she’s progressed to that fancy cookware (I can’t remember the name of it though cos I’m not posh

I see Jackie making curtains, lots of pelmets and swagging.

Aunt Val definitely owns a cruise wear store full of crusty gowns.

Jim inherited that house from his late mother. He stores the local papers for the paper rounds.

Martin definitely in stem. Middle management.

@jendifer it's set in North London

I imagine Aunty Val working at The Jewish Chronicle, maybe an editor or senior PA that or she does the accounts for an estate agents. She would love to be agony aunt at the JC but can be hyper critical. She hopes to retire to Radlett.

@callingon

Jim I always imagine as someone who lives off benefits but whose parents bought a house in North London for £20 in 1962 (or something...) and he lives in it for free and is probably a hoarder.

Yes I agree for Jim

Martin I think an engineer too and Jackie does a few hours on the tills in Sainsbury’s just for pocket money

Jackie is a school secretary and Jim is a draughtsman

I mean Martin is a draughtsman.

Wonder what the writer's father did, I think that's who Martin Goodman was based off (unsure if Jackie was based on his mum.)

Jim of probably a professor of philosophy...

Isn’t Val a hairdresser? Which is why she gets invited round to do the grandmas’ hair at various points.

Martin is a quantity surveyor. Jackie used to do nails, but stopped doing that a few years back. She dabbled as a Body Shop party rep for a bit.

Jackie works part time in as a HR administrator in the Civil Service.

Martin is an IT consultant, but doesn’t get much work anymore- he didn’t keep up to date with CPD.

He gets the odd bit of work from people he ( or Jackie) built relationships with years ago who feel sorry for him, and from people who don’t know anything about IT.

SpringChickPea, the White horse thing from the article on RP's Dad:

"– According to him – a white horse would pop into his work every day for a chat. "The White Horse came by the office this morning," he'd tell me."

I now keep wondering if that meant someone from the Vale of the White Horse (there's a Council of that description)?

I dont think think martin is an engineer, he's too out there. Do many engineers read the new scientist? He reminds me of my grandpa who was a surveyor, or I agree maybe a biologist for the waterboard. I think people are just confusing him with his character in chernobyl! think he is retired now though

Jackie will have tried her hand at many things but never really settled.

Jim will have worked over the years, but I reckon he's been let go from several jobs. Maybe a lollypop man? Or maybe a soft play or swimming pool receptionist. Or maybe he works at a museum

Martin is as weird as a local bloke I know - he grows scientific crystals (and earns ££££) and works from home mostly.

Jackie used to sell stuff on QVC or model stuff for JML and similar brands. Maybe even modelled prizes on 80s game shows (look at what you could've won). Gibby aupaired while Jackie was on contract touring the UK promoting the National Lottery when it started.

Jim writes the dialogue for sex/sci fi comics.

Jackie is definitely a doctors receptionist or a medical secretary.
Martin tests samples for the water board.
Jim inherited the house and is a major hoarder. He'd never go out to work and leave Wilson/Milson all day.

To be honest I once worked in a North London accountancy practice in which nearly all of the senior partners were Jewish, and Martin wouldn't have looked out of place there. In fact he'd have been one of the saner ones.

However they all drove brand new luxury cars and had big houses, their kids were in private schools. I reckon Martin probably ran his own company but has now retired. Probably something strangely normal, but not IT related due to his fear of the internet.

I thought Martin was a scientist of some sort; I always imagined he worked with PhD students.

Jackie? Actually I assumed she was a stay at home mum until the au pair episode. Surely a doctor's receptionist wouldn't have an au pair? And the house is amazing for a London property.... I just don't know about Jackie! Works in HR? PR?

Hmm - the house isn't that amazing! It looks like a lot of houses in the Hendon/Finchley area, and if they bought it when Johnny and Adam were small I think they'd have been able to buy it for a much more reasonable price.

Although I do think Jackie might have been or is a GP. She just has a very good listening face

I don't think Martins that weird, he's just a man who knows what he likes and what makes him comfortable

At work I think he'd sit in the corner reading the paper hurumphing every now and then but I think he'd pass for normal. I'm a dentist and could easily see him working in that roll, lots of men like him. Maybe an oral surgeon or a prosthodontist.

Martin is definitely something in STEM - maybe a 6th form college or poly. Or obvs a nuclear physicist

Jackie maybe a social worker? I think something public sector / vocational.

Jim could be pretty much anything and probably something totally random like a neurosurgeon

I think Jackie started a career in film and television maybe a booking agent or something behind the scenes, had a great starting out job and did brilliantly for a few years.

Then SAHM while the boys were at school. At least until they were bar mitzvahed.
Then she worked part time in John Lewis (as Brent Cross) just for a few hours a week to 'get back in to it'. And now she has her own line of crockery and catering wears that she designs and sells to small shops and all her friends.

Martin = Head of Science at a secondary. They can't get rid of him.

Jim = Benefits. Occasional charity clip board person

I love this thread..strangely touching ..sigh ..Shalom