Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.
I had always been a fit and active individual, taking in part in any challenge that came my way. I used to set myself physical challenges that I’d always throw myself into without any fear or concern for injury. However come the mid fifties of my life and aspects of my health changed immensely. I began feeling pains and symptoms I’d never felt before and have had to accept since then that my mind is issuing cheques that my body can no longer cash.
Yes my mind is active but age has meant I am now having to say good bye to the health I once enjoyed.
It’s like being asked to leave a party when you are just starting to enjoy it…
Stay young if you can, enjoy life. Peace to you all.
What experiences in life helped you grow the most?
My father was a demon. Consumed with jealousy towards my mother she couldn’t speak to anyone without being questioned about her motives. Most of my formative years were spent as a youngster protecting her and my younger sister from his rage. Going to bed at night as a young teenager with a metal bar under the covers to be ready to go at him should he fly into another of his rage’s leaves a scar on my memory to this day, almost 40 years later.
I always stated that I would never be like him, and all these years later I think I’ve done ok. My life is better than his, I have achieved more than him and I have never raised my hand to anyone especially a female in my entire life, so in theory I think I have won.
He still haunts me in my dreams though and it is as if I am still being challenged by him even though he is no longer here.
I’ve grown from this experience, no child should ever have to suffer this amount of emotional abuse, no female should ever have to live through that constant fear of an abusive partner. No man should ever be capable of such coercion.
But it happens.
Just not in my life anymore… I’ve grown.
Stay smiling, you are a beautiful person who deserves happiness.
I believe you shape your destiny and fate. Nothing too complex, don’t read too much into it, if you are nice and polite to people, you will get the same in return. Opportunities will surface due to your attitude so take what is presented to you as a result.
What makes me laugh? Really, I try to laugh at most of what I see and do partly because it cheers me up and partly because if I can’t see a sensible logic to something, laughing helps me get through the situation. Not perfect or suitable in many a situation and to some people I guess I might come across as quite inappropriate however it’s a coping mechanism for me. My dog Alf makes me laugh, he’s been a comfort to me throughout his short life and now as he’s starting to slow down and enter senior life he can still do it, he’s a beautiful soul.
My dog – Alfie
Humour has allowed me 32 wonderful years of marriage with my lovely wife who also has a wonderful sense of humour, it’s gotten us through some really tough times, and it works for us.
My sense of humour was inherited from my father, one of the good things he gave me. It’s kind of very low rate humour at times laughing at some quite crass things but hey, you’ve just gotta laugh. I’m laughing as I write this piece because a rude text has just popped up on my phone from a friend 🤦♂️. And that’s it I guess, you can use it as a measure to how someone is feeling, he’s told me without saying anything that he’s fine because I know his sense of humour, if he’d been more serious I’d be asking myself and him questions.
There is a time and a place I guess, but laughing makes you feel good and happy, and I believe the world needs a lot more of that.
Not just teacher but probably the most influential person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in my life was Mr.Michael Twelftree my Junior school tutor in the two years prior to moving up to secondary school.
I was at Little Reddings Junior school in Bushey Hertfordshire circa 1976/7 our class was in free fall as previous teachers had lost control of us, Mr.Twelftree stepped in for our final two years and boy was he strict. Strict but fair, he had a stack of canes in the corner that he gave you the choice of when it was your turn to receive a wack for some reason. Very rarely administered however just the thought of it made you stay in line.
He taught me and others to sail, something I still try to do to this day, we learnt so much from him, he taught the lot English, Maths, Geography, Science and all sports and made us competitors and despite his strict ethic he taught us respect and he brought out the best in everyone he taught.
We learnt all about different knots as part of our sailing training, this resulted in us having a noose hanging from the classroom ceiling as a demonstration of a knot, you wouldn’t find that in a modern day classroom.
He taught me to be a better person, shaped me up well for my future and prepared me and my fellow students well for the next move in our academic advancement.
I respected this man better than my own father, I know this sounds terrible but he shaped my life and I like to think I didn’t turn out too bad as a result. My own father unfortunately didn’t step up to his role in my life but the less said about that the better.
I would have loved to meet Mr.Twelftree again and shake his hand and say just two small words
If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?
The word Impossible.
Though we all use it on a regular basis, is anything really impossible? If we just look at things in a different way and from a different point of view you can see that absolutely everything is the polar opposite…..it is possible.
Foxes Den 
You must be logged in to post a comment.