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Tomorrow is my 30th brithday and over the last couple of days I've been thinking about how I've spent my life so far. I'm not a very good writer so I apologise if this is boring and if I babble on with no point at the end.
Up until I was about 7 or so was the usual childhood thing - falling off bikes, getting muddy at every opportunity and having rabbits as pets. When I was 8 years old my dad was diagnosed with menieres' disease and mum was under the impression that he was gonna kick the bucket at some point in the near future so we all went on a big 3 week holiday of California and it's neighbouring states (Utah, Arizona etc.). The year after we spent 2 weeks soaking up the sun in France where I spent most of my time counting the topless women on the beach (I was 9 at the time). And in 1983, when I was 10, we did Canada for 3 weeks - went up the CN tower, saw Niagra Falls and nearly hit a moose with the car. Then mum discovered that dad wasn't gonna die, just go deaf, and so the big holidays stopped. Still, at an early age I'd gotten to see some great things.
When I was 11 I started a new school and the bullying started. Now, I'm not gonna give you some big sob story about how unhappy and depressed I was because most people have been bullied at some point in their life and the good things in my life outside of school far outweighed the bad things at school. I was lucky enough to have two elder brothers and three male cousins who lived nextdoor and we all lived in the country so most of our time was spent jumping (and crashing) our BMX's, playing footie or, later on, driving petrol go karts around.
Also, when I was 11, I was diagnosed with FSH muscular dystrophy - a muscle wasting disease. At the time I didn't think much of it - I'd always had thin arms and could never keep up with the other kids at school. Still, it got me out of playing rugby in the rain and doing cross country runs in the summer - I got to sit in the pavilion doing my homework so when I got home I could just get on with the good stuff. By the time I was 20 I couldn't get up stairs anymore; by 25 I couldn't walk without leaning on something for balance (someone's shoulder or a Zimmer frame); and now, at 29, I can just about walk from the bedroom (where I use my hoist to stand myself up) to my car in the garage before I get too tired and my knees give way. Still, this is something I've had the advantage of growing up with - it's not like I was athletic one day and in a wheelchair the next - so I consider myself lucky and my friends and family make life perfectly liveable for me.
Back to things I've done: when I was 16 I left the 'bullying' school and went to college and failed all my A levels. Why? Because I passed my driving test and spent most of my time exploring the country with other mates who were skiving, too.
At 20 I started work in a museum, running their artefact loan system and converting it from little cards on a notice board to their computer. I worked there for nearly two years before I was head hunted and went to work at a printing company.
When I was 24 I won £500 worth of holiday vouchers so me, mum, dad and a mate went ot Florida for 2 weeks; me and my mate sent mum and dad off on varoius guided tours while we cruised the country, taking in the Florida Keys, Miami, numerous Hard Rock Cafés and oogling all the women on Cocoa Beach. Me and my mate enjoyed it so much that when we got home we spent 6 months saving like mad and went back again, this time taking two girls with us and hiring a convertible. Then we saved for 12 months and did it a third time and hired a house in Key West - unfortunately, a week before we were due to fly the house got wrecked by hurricane George so we had to do Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Clear Water again ... what a tragedy!
And now I'm 29 years and 364 days, living in a rented bungalow with my girlfriend of 4 years and our cocker spaniel, working from home and earning enough cash for a perfectly comfortable living. I've had 5 different cars; 3 girlfriends; 6 tattoos; been to 9 different countries; been a best man once; gotten drunk enough to passout, vomit and forget the previous evening; done 2 types of illegal drug; been in 2 major car crashes; have donated 11 pints of blood; and have only ever broken one bone in my entire body (a rib).
I have the overwhelming feeling that I have enjoyed my life thoroughly so far and I intend to keep doing so. Thank you for listening.
Up until I was about 7 or so was the usual childhood thing - falling off bikes, getting muddy at every opportunity and having rabbits as pets. When I was 8 years old my dad was diagnosed with menieres' disease and mum was under the impression that he was gonna kick the bucket at some point in the near future so we all went on a big 3 week holiday of California and it's neighbouring states (Utah, Arizona etc.). The year after we spent 2 weeks soaking up the sun in France where I spent most of my time counting the topless women on the beach (I was 9 at the time). And in 1983, when I was 10, we did Canada for 3 weeks - went up the CN tower, saw Niagra Falls and nearly hit a moose with the car. Then mum discovered that dad wasn't gonna die, just go deaf, and so the big holidays stopped. Still, at an early age I'd gotten to see some great things.
When I was 11 I started a new school and the bullying started. Now, I'm not gonna give you some big sob story about how unhappy and depressed I was because most people have been bullied at some point in their life and the good things in my life outside of school far outweighed the bad things at school. I was lucky enough to have two elder brothers and three male cousins who lived nextdoor and we all lived in the country so most of our time was spent jumping (and crashing) our BMX's, playing footie or, later on, driving petrol go karts around.
Also, when I was 11, I was diagnosed with FSH muscular dystrophy - a muscle wasting disease. At the time I didn't think much of it - I'd always had thin arms and could never keep up with the other kids at school. Still, it got me out of playing rugby in the rain and doing cross country runs in the summer - I got to sit in the pavilion doing my homework so when I got home I could just get on with the good stuff. By the time I was 20 I couldn't get up stairs anymore; by 25 I couldn't walk without leaning on something for balance (someone's shoulder or a Zimmer frame); and now, at 29, I can just about walk from the bedroom (where I use my hoist to stand myself up) to my car in the garage before I get too tired and my knees give way. Still, this is something I've had the advantage of growing up with - it's not like I was athletic one day and in a wheelchair the next - so I consider myself lucky and my friends and family make life perfectly liveable for me.
Back to things I've done: when I was 16 I left the 'bullying' school and went to college and failed all my A levels. Why? Because I passed my driving test and spent most of my time exploring the country with other mates who were skiving, too.
At 20 I started work in a museum, running their artefact loan system and converting it from little cards on a notice board to their computer. I worked there for nearly two years before I was head hunted and went to work at a printing company.
When I was 24 I won £500 worth of holiday vouchers so me, mum, dad and a mate went ot Florida for 2 weeks; me and my mate sent mum and dad off on varoius guided tours while we cruised the country, taking in the Florida Keys, Miami, numerous Hard Rock Cafés and oogling all the women on Cocoa Beach. Me and my mate enjoyed it so much that when we got home we spent 6 months saving like mad and went back again, this time taking two girls with us and hiring a convertible. Then we saved for 12 months and did it a third time and hired a house in Key West - unfortunately, a week before we were due to fly the house got wrecked by hurricane George so we had to do Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Clear Water again ... what a tragedy!
And now I'm 29 years and 364 days, living in a rented bungalow with my girlfriend of 4 years and our cocker spaniel, working from home and earning enough cash for a perfectly comfortable living. I've had 5 different cars; 3 girlfriends; 6 tattoos; been to 9 different countries; been a best man once; gotten drunk enough to passout, vomit and forget the previous evening; done 2 types of illegal drug; been in 2 major car crashes; have donated 11 pints of blood; and have only ever broken one bone in my entire body (a rib).
I have the overwhelming feeling that I have enjoyed my life thoroughly so far and I intend to keep doing so. Thank you for listening.
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34 family and friends? Ouch, I'm glad I don't have to pick up the bill...
You should tell 4 to get lost so you can somebody for every year of you're life
hehe
hehe
I didn't expact hardly any replies let alone any positive ones - thanks, guys.
Tomorrow I'll be baby sitting the missus' 3 year old niece, then out to lunch with the parents, then an afternoon of playing with my new toys until my mates turn up at 7 o'clock to get well and truly plastered.
Then, on Friday night, it's out for a meal with the missus and 34 family and friends.
Looking forward to it ...
Tomorrow I'll be baby sitting the missus' 3 year old niece, then out to lunch with the parents, then an afternoon of playing with my new toys until my mates turn up at 7 o'clock to get well and truly plastered.
Then, on Friday night, it's out for a meal with the missus and 34 family and friends.
Looking forward to it ...
A very, very happy birthday for tomorrow. I'll raise a glass for you.
Nice to read one of these things that isn't depressing :^)
I think I may have to start looking at actually doing good stuff, need stuff to reflect back on...
Happy birthday dude
I think I may have to start looking at actually doing good stuff, need stuff to reflect back on...
Happy birthday dude
Cool
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
From all the staff at SR (in this room at the moment, ie. me) Happy Birthday dude!
Seems like you've got a good outlook to life mate.
Have a happy birthday, not that it seems you need me to tell you too...
:-)
Have a happy birthday, not that it seems you need me to tell you too...
:-)
What a fantastic post, and what a fantastic outlook. :0) All the wishes in the world, happy birthday for tomorrow.
*feels very young*
Good post there mate.
Good post there mate.
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