A lifetime of experience
I've served in the British Military, stood post in the rain, marched up and down high streets, run around in fields, forests, beaches and swamps; I've brewed tea on a beach, climbed tall mountains, crawled deep underground. and lived for a week in a bog.
I've worked in locations all over the world - Texas, to Hong Kong to Paris to Taiwan, London and South-West Wales and every where I've been, they all have fried fish.
I've swum with seals and in the Southern Atlantic ocean and been chased down a beach by a group of them, I've been "pooed" on by a penguin, stood iceberg watch on a ship and, on that same bridge, seen the sea so calm it looked like a mirror and, later that same day, waves that looked like mountains.
I've raced motor cars and ridden motor bikes, I've crashed a couple too, and yes, it did hurt, all four times!
I've performed on stage, worn womans clothes (just for fun, honest...!!!) and am equally at home in a suit in the boardroom or caked in mud on a rugby pitch.
I've shaken the hands of royalty, met politicians and celebrity, been moved by the innocence of a child, the courage of a wounded veteran and the selflessness of others.
I've fine dined on cordon bleu and munched a hot dog in the rain, and enjoyed both equally - ketchup is a great equaliser!
I’ve read some of the classics, philosophers and scientific journals but cant claim to understand any of them. I've been both a student and a teacher, sometimes both at the same time!
I've been in a choir, sung songs on stage, on a bus, in church and in a bar, or two. I even managed to be in key occasionally
I've never been married but have stood as Best Man 3 times, and I still get nervous giving the speech!
I've cried at a birth and wept over death, I've laughed with friends and been there when it mattered. I have a family that I love, and that loves me in return (I know this because my 6 year old niece declared it with great authority), and I count myself lucky to have friends I can trust, and rely on, to embarrass me.
I have had some incredible successes, and some spectacular failures and come through them stronger and more determined, but perhaps not wiser!
I've lived; I've loved; I've won some; I've lost more, I've been afraid and I've faced those fears.
My constant companion throughout these adventures has been my camera! This has allowed me to capture some amazing scenes, meaning that I have some amazing images, some for public consumption, some for private memories, some fresh and new, some faded and old, some remembered but, sadly, lost; some hanging on a wall and some hidden away in drawers and boxes and whenever I find one of these, I smile.
I've shared my heart, lived my life and fed my soul and am so much happier and richer for it.
I plan to do a lot more.
