I come from a very close knit family my mum, dad and two sisters. Quite a strict upbringing but it taught me to respect others and installed in me good manners. I suppose in my teens I was seen as a bit of a handful,but that was only to people I didnt like. Brought up on one of the most toughest and troublesome estates in London means you have to be like that sometimes, much to my parents dismay. But I turned out alright and finally married my first love and am settled down and more than happy now. Strict catholic background but only a bit really stuck with me, though my mum and dad still attend church every sunday without fail. They are good people, hardworking and honest and I am thankful to have had that influence in my life. I think it has made me very respectful of others, and what they believe, and so my upbringing may have been tough and strict, but on all counts I am better off for it. My interest in the paranormal is thanks to wife, who was my girlfriend back then over 20 years ago thats when it began. We had our own ghostly visitor in our home when I was growing up, and I suppose I have always been curious to what really is out there.
Friday 22 August 2008
Background
I come from a very close knit family my mum, dad and two sisters. Quite a strict upbringing but it taught me to respect others and installed in me good manners. I suppose in my teens I was seen as a bit of a handful,but that was only to people I didnt like. Brought up on one of the most toughest and troublesome estates in London means you have to be like that sometimes, much to my parents dismay. But I turned out alright and finally married my first love and am settled down and more than happy now. Strict catholic background but only a bit really stuck with me, though my mum and dad still attend church every sunday without fail. They are good people, hardworking and honest and I am thankful to have had that influence in my life. I think it has made me very respectful of others, and what they believe, and so my upbringing may have been tough and strict, but on all counts I am better off for it. My interest in the paranormal is thanks to wife, who was my girlfriend back then over 20 years ago thats when it began. We had our own ghostly visitor in our home when I was growing up, and I suppose I have always been curious to what really is out there.
Personality
I supose it would depend upon who you ask...Someone who has crossed my path on the wrongside would say something different about my personality than someone who has not. In general I am probably seen as the live wire, energetic and zany type of person. Happy go lucky, generally happy enough to go along with the crowd and get stuck in with others. I am a people person I think, I do like my family and friends around me, but with my artwork etc I find my solitude, then a whole different personlaity can be seen I suppose. Then I am quiet, distant, absorbed and so on. But generally, I am just me!
Hobbies
Getting back into my Martial Arts. A couple of years ago I used to Train and Teach others as I am qualified to Sensei level, so really enjoying that. Apart form that the usual stuff really I suppose, Reading, Drawing, Painting, Landscape model making, Candle making, Music, Settleing down infront of the TV with a good DVD. Walking with my wife and son in the wilderness, countryside and so on. My wife is only starting to get into it as she prefers to drive everywehere, but I have convinced her that it is fun...my son and I love it, so she hasnt much choice but to be dragged along!
Likes
My likes, things that make me happy....Simple really.. my family, friends and pets. Little things they do, silly faces pulled, expressions, nice things they do I like. I like seeing other people happy, I like so many things really, way too many to list! Oh and I like the freedom of the open road and the adrenaline rush when I am on my superbike.
Dislikes
What do I dislike? I suppose its certain traits in people that I dislike, some more than others. I hate cowardice, disloyalty, greed, jealousy, whether its jealous of others achievments and triumphs, some who go out of the way to ruin others lives because they can never have, or be bothered to work as hard to gain what another has. I hate the nastiness and backbiting that so many relish and indulge in constantly. Its all cowardice to me, if you cant say something to someones face, or treat another in a certain way that you couldnt do infront of them....If you havent the balls to do that, then dont do it at all.
Latest news
My career in teaching has just taken a whole new path, opportunities have opened up to me that I never dreamed were possible. Really looking forward to putting my experience, skills and knowledge into a different direction, still teaching but with a company that is lets say, one of the biggest in the country!
I am not really into quotes as such, but I once read a story from ancient china that has always stuck with me and I tend to treat people and view people the same way as the moral of the following story means..The Old lady and the cracked pot
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
“I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”
The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?
That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.”
“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.”
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
Each of us has our own unique flaw…
But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
“I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”
The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?
That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.”
“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.”
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
Each of us has our own unique flaw…
But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
This is how I see all the cracked pots in my life, my wife, my son, family, and my friends..no one is perfect, but they are perfect to me in their own way!
Inspiration
I gain inspiration from things like sunrises, mountains, colours, shapes and the power of nature. It really is awe inspiring the power the natural world has, and how little and insignificant we really are in comparison.My wife sees things very simplistically, and my eyes have probably opened wider because of her. I have always enjoyed nature and natural scenery, I suppose she has helped me see things outside the box, or rather take notice of smaller details that are all around us. My son also inspires me, he allows me to make contact with the child within myself and laugh, play and run around the adventure playground without looking bloody silly. After all I am just following him around the adventure playground, of course I am not enjoying it and going back many moons to my childhood!
Thursday 21 August 2008
How will people remember me?
What a hard question, I would say my craziness, hypoactivity but most probably.....that guy with the big grin!
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