Wednesday 21 August 2024

A tiny autobiography.

 

I'm proud to say that I've lived parallel to, if not in any contact with, Winston Churchill, Queen Elisabeth II (my Queen), and Sir David Attenborough. All giants of the 20th and 21st C's.

However, I have met a few notables including Paul McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, David Hockney, Igor Stravinsky, and Twiggy, to name but a few; and Marianne Faithful came to my 50th birthday party. None of this is really surprising as I lived in central London during the second half of the 60's; when London was 'swinging'. Celebs, from A to Z, were ten-a-penny, and bumping into them was almost obligatory.

I've been extremely privileged to have lived through a long period of relative 'peacetime'. I had some basic military officer training, but have never been asked to enlist; and at my advanced age I doubt if I now ever will. There were not many Englishman of my age, previously, who had NOT been asked to go and kill Johnny-Foreigner.

I have never experienced poverty, and any very rare medical needs have been met without too much difficulty, and without payment. I've lived through an era of post-war Rationing, Heath's three day week, the Falklands war, the Miners strike, Computers, Covid, the Internet, and even Mini Skirts. None of which has really had any truly negative effect on my life.

I somehow managed to be awarded a Classics Scholarship (bursary) at the age of 14, a 1st class Hons degree at 23, and I was offered a couple of prestigious teaching positions before moving to France at the age of 25. France has proved a total delight over the past 50 years; which is slightly fading at the moment. And, of course, my greatest pleasures is that I have three wonderfully inspiring, intelligent, and charming children, thanks to their lovely Mama (Lady M). 

I cannot claim to have been a great success in my chosen profession, but that was probably my own silly fault. Two of my closest school friends became very well known, whilst I remained a nobody, but that was only to be expected having turned down a provisional place at the RCA, then moving out to the wilds of S W France.

I do admit to being a bit of a hermit. I'm not over-keen on crowds, and I keep my circle of friends to a select few. 

I sadly became an orphan in the mid 80's, and my sister and I now live at opposite ends of the earth. I have very few other family members; just a couple of male cousins that I never see.

It ain't over quite yet, but it's been a pretty good life. Not a lot has happened, and I haven't achieved all that I'd intended, but overall we've had a lot of fun, and I hope that I've passed-on my love of 'good things' to my children; it does seem so! I certainly intend that the fun continues for as long as possible.

I'm writing this just out of view to the left of the room in the photo above, in our rather primitive 300 year old stone cottage. This is probably the most friendly, and smallest, home I've ever owned. All our dogs and the cat have lived here and (like us) have loved every minute. It has a very special place in my heart.

I shall finish by repeating that some of my mobility has recently gone, and how that will pan-out for the future remains to be seen.

So, there we are; I've been banging my own very small drum. I promise I won't do it again.


37 comments:

  1. Drum on, drum away and blow your own trumpet.... because a lot more people ought to realise that life should be enjoyed!!
    We're only here the once....

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    Replies
    1. Quite right. I've been a tad reflective recently.

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  2. I too have lived through the same times, though not met McCartney etc, though I did once nod to and say hello in passing to Eric Morecambe in Harpenden! (I also spent a pleasant half hour with his wife at a kid's football match..she had arrived as President of the Colts for a special match and been left on her own by the organisers, so I went and kept her company. )

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    1. How would you have known it was EM's wife? Unless, of course, she had a 'I'm Eric Morcombe's wife' badge!

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    2. She was fairly well known locally..they lived in Harpenden...and I had met her very briefly a few weeks before at a mutual friend's house.

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  3. I have lived a similar life ...... working in London, meeting many celebrities and really enjoyed the 60's/70's. It really was a good time to be young. I am not worried that I wasn't overly successful and don't think that it's imperative that we have to over achieve ...... as long as we have had a mostly happy life, tried to be kind and enjoying all that this life can give then that's enough for me. Apparently, pleasure, engagement and meaning are the 3 keys to a happy life. XXXX

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    1. I would have liked to be a bit more successful with my work, but I have sold a lot, and am still being approached.

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  4. Yes, there are certain similarities that I can relate to, too Cro.
    Sorry to hear that you are having mobility problems, I hope they are only temporary.

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    1. As far as I can see, it's probably Sciatica. I'll get something done about it next month when I'm back in Brighton.

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  5. A good life, well lived. Long may that last too.

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    1. Well, it's certainly been a lot of fun, and very active. I can't complain.

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  6. I have been 5 feet away from the Queen and Prince William. I've met Linda McCartney and have been lucky to see Adele, Bob Dylan, Sting, Rod Stewart, Michael Buble, Nick Cave, Crowded House, Van Morrison, The Cranberries and many others in concert.
    I'm lucky to be able to eat, drink, travel and spend time with friends and family. I too am grateful.

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    1. These only one on your list that I've seen is Van Morrison (twice). Yes, as long as one can still enjoy the good things in life, all is OK.

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  7. It's your blog and if you feel like giving us a potted biography then that's absolutely fine. Clearly, the physical issues you have alluded to before have knocked you back and given you "Pause for Thought" which I offer as the title for your fully developed 500 page autobiography.

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    1. Yes, I've been feeling a bit miserable recently. But all should be fine again soon.

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  8. When you write it all down it's a life full of interest, variety and colour. Your greatest achievement must be your children. They seem quite amazing too.
    I hope you can keep on enjoying life to the end

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    1. My children have been a real blessing; we've been very lucky. Yes, I hope all goes well for a while yet.

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  9. Always feel free to tell the stories of your life, a life well lived, we read with eager anticipation.

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  10. I love your stories...and the cottage...drum On, please!
    Hope you haven't lost all mobility...old age literally sucks.
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. No, I'm still hobbling about. I'm sure it's curable, it's just a matter of finding-out what's causing it.

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  11. I hope you can get your mobility restored. Sciatica can be very painful but everyone I've known has recovered fully. Hopefully, you will do the same. Consider seeing an Osteopathic Medicine practitioner. They look at the whole body and believe everything is connected. They determine the root cause of a health issue and then provide treatment.

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    1. Thanks for that. Others have also mentioned Osteopaths, so that is certainly an option. I shall see my Doc' first, and see what he recommends. I'm sure there's treatment out there.

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  12. Oh my dearest , sit with me on one of your lovely comfortable couches and let me stroke your forehead as you lay your head in my lap. Hugs to you. We all have those days, we need those days , to make the rest of life easier.

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    1. That is so tempting at the moment Gemma. I'm feeling better this morning.

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  13. In a nutshell, you have had an interesting life. I enjoyed reading about it. I hope you get your mobility problems sorted out.

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    1. Hopping on here again. Re your mobility problems. I am watching Dr Goobie, he was a back and neck surgeon specialising in trapped nerves. He recommends a plant based diet. He talks about how the body can heal itself by eating less meat and salt.

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    2. M, I have yet to meet a doctor who doesn't advise to stop drinking, stop smoking, stop eating nice things, stop enjoying life, etc, for every ailment imaginable.

      Of course, they may all be right.

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  14. I am a bit younger than you but if I had to write a potted autobiography it would not have much about my first 25 years and certainly wouldn’t focus on the celebrities I had met. Perhaps as one gets older one’s memories return to the more distant past.

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    1. The celebs were very much a part of my time spent living in London. I was just out of school, and meeting so many famous people was simply amazing. I could hardly believe it was happening; especially meeting Stravinsky.

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  15. Loved the life story, Cro. And don't think much about what 'might have been'... for if it had been, perhaps you wouldn't have what you have now. At least that's the way I look at it.

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    1. I don't actually regret anything. Some things I should have done better, but in general it's all been OK.

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  16. Replies
    1. I think this may be the last time. We'll see.

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  17. Please write again of your Life is so very interesting. I always wanted to visit London in the 60"
    cheers

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    1. 60's London really was as much fun as people said. There was a genuine feeling of excitement around.

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  18. Increasing age and decreasing health tends to lead to reflection. It has recently dawned on me that most of my life has already been lived!

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