- Dyslexia
I have recently discovered I am dyslexic. This maybe explains my trouble reading (I think my brain tries to guess words too quickly and guesses the wrong one), difficulty spelling – I’s and E’s especially. Apparently dyslexics have super powers (like other neurodiverse people) like creative thinking, problem solving, pattern recognition, spatial awareness, imagination, empathy, big-picture thinking and narrative reasoning. I’ll take all of them…well maybe not spatial awareness – definitely not great at that.
2. Ironman
I did an Ironman in 2016 with my nephew Mark. We started doing triathlon’s one year then we went swimming and spotted a man with red M dot on his calf. I’d. always wanted a tattoo but new knew what to get – it was all dragons and stuff when i was legally old enough to have one – so thought this would be cool. Mark somehow took us from sprint distance (400 metre swim, 13 mile bike, 5k run) to full Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 112mile bike and 26.2mile run) in a year.
3. Typical 70’s upbringing
We used to ride our bikes on the garage roof, jump off the garage roof (not on the bikes!) and land by doing a judo roll – our dad was a judo teacher. We didn’t have Lego (which i loved when i went to Keith’s house) but we had a digger and a dump truck (used as toys) in the back garden when our dad decided to convert a barn with 1.5 acres into our house. We used to either put our friends in the front bucket, lift it up and drive around, or drive to a spot in the garden and dig a hole in it with the back-actor.
4. 3 Bands
I’ve been in 3 bands.. the first was “Stonecutter” – we played a gig in someone’s house – i don’t think it went well. Apart from that Stonecutter did lots of jamming and practicing (every Friday evening until about 4am for many 🤷♂️ years). Then it was Dry Til Friday – we did that for many years – won a competition, played on the telly and lots of gigs. After that I was the singer in a covers band called Kickstart doing 60’s , new wave, ska, punk, etc – did it for about 8 years. – really enjoyed it but it took up too much time- which I wanted to get back to original’s again.
5. Raynauds
I’ve got this thing where when it gets cold my body switches off the blood supply to my fingers and toes so the go white. I think quite a few people have it – i didn’t realise until i was really old – i wonder how many more have it but haven’t realised yet?
6. TV engineer.
I used to fix TV’s and video’s for Radio Rentals (yes – you should have gone there!). I loved fixing things. Unfortunately, they all became replacent items with the advent of flat screens and cheap manufacturing costs. I went on to fix computer equipment then worked my way up to management until i was spat out the other end – redundant again – didn’t feel great at the time but it was the best thing that could ever happen to me.
6. Everesting
in 2017, the year after the Ironman i decided to cycle the equivalent of Everest – 29029 feet or 8048 metres in one day. They call is “everesting” in the cycling world. I started before the sun came up then cycled up Bow Brickhill hill 136 times – i think i finished around around 9pm. My brother cycled with me for a few, as did my neighbour. I did it just for fun – not sure why i feel the need to prove something – maybe low self-esteem?
7. Best gig
the best gig I’ve been to was Green Day. They were doing their American Idiot tour and played in Milton Keynes Bowl. They opened with American Idiot, then straight into Jesus of Suburbia – a song that has 5 parts. When they finished that – well that was it – my mind was blown – bloody fantastic. Weirdest gig was Pink Floyd after having magic mushrooms.
8. Moped crash
When I was 16, my dad bought me a moped. It went 32 miles per hour. We all used CB radio’s at the time and we (my friends and me) went for an “eyeball” – to meet someone face-to-face. I was very nearly there – i saw the girl waving whom i was meant to meet but in my distraction the girl’s mum came driving round the corner when we collided – i ended up under the front of the car but luckily the local butcher saw it happen a lifted the car off me – nice man! That may have been what did my knee in – I’ve had two operations on cartilage tears and now i can no longer run 😢.
9. Quadzilla
My crazy nephew had already completed this mental feat – running 4 marathons on 4 days. I wanted to do something for the MIND charity since losing my bother Guy two years before. As the sponsorship amount went past £1000 i realised there was no backing out. Day1 was ok – just under 5 hours (‘used to do sub-4) but probably a bit too fast in hindsight. Day 2 wasn’t too band either – i think we ran out of things to talk about – although i always love talking about food. Day three warm-up seemed to go well – even jogged a bit…when i took the first step of the race there were shooting pains down my back and down the backs of my legs – it was like fire going up my back every step. This was the most painful day i can remember. The pain killers started working a bit around mile 20. A horrible day but one i can draw on should i need to again. Day 4 was painkillers all the way – fancy dress and the thought of finishing got us through. Even got interviewed by the BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64599502
10. Fighting
I always loved fighting – i used to fight with my brothers even though i knew i was going to lose. My dad was a judo instructor so we all went along. I eventually got my black belt in 2006 but on the day i got the belt a bit guy (at judo) tried to throw my over his leg. I bent my knees as the standard defence for this attack but he was so powerful he bike my ankle socket. Driving home was a bit tricky. When my ankle heeled i decided to try karate..my daughters had been doing it so i thought it would be a good fit to become a mixed martial artist. It took until 2011 to get my karate black belt and now i teach it as half of my job (teaching guitar being the other half).
11. I bake sourdough
12 I’m notoriously bad at counting.
