was to have

[spenser]

"When I was as old as seventeen I've sat up late at night with my tongue hanging out of my mouth, practising copperplate by the little oil-lamp on the bedroom table."

Hello, everyone. In the above sentence, why was there a switch from the past tense (was) to the present (have)?

[Naamplao]

Originally Posted by spenser

"When I was as old as seventeen I've sat up late at night with my tongue hanging out of my mouth, practising copperplate by the little oil-lamp on the bedroom table."

Hello, everyone. In the above sentence, why was there a switch from the past tense (was) to the present (have)?

I don't particularly like this sentence either but then who am I to criticize George Orwell's book "Coming up for Air".