Today I have lived 6 decades, not such an achievement as it once was when life spans were not so long but hey it is my lifespan so far, so i am damn well going to celebrate!
When I was born it was only 7 years after the second world war, rationing was still in place, there was hardly a TV in existence and not every home had a telephone, we still had smog and fog, coal was the main fuel and rock and roll was embryonic beginnings at best. I am eldest child of three (a brother Julian 5 years younger and a sister Alison 14 years my junior) and my first home was shared with my maternal grandparents, we had the upstairs they had the down. Like all children, of my generation, I went to primary school and then on to Secondary Modern (failed the eleven plus no grammar school for me), by which time we had our own house, which was in a culdisack and had a big green in the middle, which was ideal for football, cricket and many more games, whilst the outer circuit was ideal for bike racing!
I was uninspired at school, not really good at education, always "could do better", was the constant theme of my report card and I was apparently badly behaved or at least a a cheeky git who could not help making comments (I haven't changed!). Like many children, I experienced bullying and some prejudice but it was just the way it was in those days, it did not have the prominence it rightly gets today! I don't believe it really had any lasting effect and I did deal eventually, deal with one persistent tormentor, in a satisfying and somewhat violent manner!
I left school at 16 with no real qualifications, I think I passed some exams but have never looked at the results. I remember I had fractured my hand at the time and writing was literally a pain!
I stumbled into adulthood and through a number of uninspiring jobs, I partook of most things that adolescents do, smoked (didn't drink till much later), had fumbled sex, played football, learnt to drive and attempted to tinker with cars (poorly), went out with girls and was a dumper and a dumpee, took drugs (it was the late sixties!), drove my parents mad and generally tried to sample as much as one could,went to watch many of the bands and performers of the day as possible, I had some good friends and a circle of acquaintances, as everyone does, none of whom I have seen or heard of for more than 30 years.
Music has sustained me throughout my life and whilst I cannot play a note on any instrument ( I have tried but do not have the perseverance or talent). I love all sorts of music and have listened to as much as possible, since my early years of trawling through my parents record collection (not inspiring but a few gems) and like many thousands of teenagers being thrilled by The Beatles and the whole sixties music scene. my love has increased over the years and my taste expanded, especially with the advent of the internet.
I met my future wife Wendy, when I was 20 and she was 14, it was a brief but memorable meeting, though it would be a few years before we got together. She had dalliances with two of my friends first before she finally realised that I was the best choice( I had a brief dalliance with her best mate)! We were by that time friends and I had always fancied her, when we eventually went out together, I just knew she was the one for me (you'll have to ask her if she felt the same). Oh and by the way for the record she initiated it.
Time past and at 27 for me and 22 for her, we got married in Harrow registry office and moved out of London (too expensive) and into our first terrace house in Northampton (April 29th 1980).
I believe it cost £5500 and the mortgage was £52 per month, oh happy days.
I had a job which caused me to have travel back to London most days and Wendy, cause she is clever and has a gazillion qualifications, worked as a Lab technician in the local general hospital. We got a couple of cats, eventually burgeoning to five (we have had over 20 cats in our married life and whole piece could be written just on those characters alone! We also had a wonderful Red Setter for almost 13 years, as well as other assorted pets as family life went on!) and life went on. We move to a bigger house, after three yeas and Adam our first son was born. We were happy and unremarkable. I now worked in Milton Keynes in computer company and would do for the next 12 years, the longest I have ever worked for any single employer. Along the way we met our best friends Peter and Carol and we have remained close families eve since, they have enriched our lives and I hope we have enriched theirs.Peter is my closest friend and a remarkable man, we have a closeness that I would be devastated if it ever was lost and I know he feels the same way.
We moved once more to a typical three bed-roomed semi-detached ( where we have lived for the last 26 years) and our second son Andrew came along, 2 years after his brother. They are now 28 and 26 respectively and I have said previously, we must have done something right in bring them up because they are both well adjusted adults ( yes they have their quirks but hey who doesn't, I've got so many that I have given up trying to smooth them out!)
Well I have just read this missive and it is humorless and about as exciting as watching paint dry and I assure you that I can be very funny and it is humour that has sustained me throughout my life., Humour in my opinion is the best medicine and alongside positive thinking and an optimistic nature, have always sustained me.
Wendy and I have now been married for 32 years are we happy together, yes, do we have to work at maintaining our relationship, yes, do we get down and angry with each other, yes, are there things (many) that irritate us about each other, yes, do we love each other, yes more than ever! That is what marriage is all about and the younger generation would do well to realise that, it is not about spending a vast fortune because it is fashionable to have a big ceremony!
Have we faced trauma in our life yes of course, Wendy accumulated a number of wear and tear injuries as she has been a Fitness Consultant for many years and it does take it's toll (currently waiting for a knee cleaning opp). Me well I have had a fairly trouble free exsistance but in true style when in 1999 I managed to contract leukemia ( try an avoid it, if you can) had 15 chemo therapies and at one point had a 50/50 chance of survival but survive I did and am still here to talk about it over 10 years later.
I am a very lucky man with a wonderful family and good friends some of whom I have only met in recent years. Boring really, grumpy, eccentric (according to my sons), kind (occasionally), sarcastic (a lot), generous (when required), unemployed (temporarily), a son (dads still with us, mum died years ago), a son-in-law (mother-in-law is delightful if not a little scatty, like mother like daughter!), a father and a friend.
So that's me now sixty and still going strong (I hope!) with many more years ahead. I will I am sure continue to report on them!
My lovely wife with her "baby" (she hates having her photo taken)
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