The wooden battens/planks kept on the bricks and the piles of sand and gravel often remind me of the past (a bygone era). When I was little (a kid), I would (used to) often see my father doing wages. Even if/though he was a daily wage laborer, but/yet/still he always forced/insisted me to study and inspired/motivated me to become rich. Whatever I am today, all credit goes to him.