Good morning, afternoon, or evening, depending of course on when your eyes fall upon my first Sub-stack entry. Firstly, thank you for giving in to your curiosity by clicking, or tapping on whatever it is you clicked or tapped on to get thus far. To be honest I’m not even sure if anyone will find anything I have to say, well, you know, interesting.
Let me explain.
I’m a man, 50 years of age, in fact, nearer 51 come to think of it. I was diagnosed with depression many moons ago. It’s a condition I have lived with since my 20’s. I had been living with undiagnosed PTSD since the age of 11, although throughout my life I did have a tiny inkling all was not well at times. However, in true British styley I got my broom out, lifted the carpet and swept the emotional car crash well and truly under it! I then proceeded to board the Bimble Bus, take a seat, put my head down, put the ear pods in, and well…bimble.
At least that’s how it feels. Sure there have been some life milestones along the way. I met the love of my life at the age of 24 in 1997, starting “going out” with her in 1999, was engaged by the year 2000 (there’s a song in there somewhere!) and was married by 2001. We are still very much together in 2024. Despite some mahoosive potholes, up’s and downs, round the corners, up the bend, stuck in the bend and stalls along the way!
I had lived in the South East of England all of my life, Essex to be precise. All of my immediate family bar me were from London. The East End. My mum’s mum, who we called Nanna was from Bow East London. Born within the sound of the Bow Bells, traditionally this meant, she was a true Cockney! I’m not ‘Avin a bubble, honest guv, just look it up if you don’t ‘Adam & Eve’ it. The rest of the family were from assorted areas across the East End. The common move for families who could afford to get out of London seeking a ‘better life’ in the 70’s was to move to Essex, Kent, or the surrounding counties. They became overflow counties I guess for the more aspiring and slightly more adventurous. Hence during 1973, I arrived at the gaff! Essex!
And there I stayed, living in various areas of Essex until 2004 when we decided it was time for a change. A 240 mile change it turned out. Devon in the South West of the UK. Why Devon you might ask? Just in case the thought had occurred to you. And here in, enter the demons of any writer. Why would you be interested? You don’t know me. I’m not a celebrity. (Don’t get me started on celebrity culture in our society!) I’m not famous, (I couldn’t think of anything worse!) I’m not even what you’d call attractive. Not in the traditional sense. “In any sense”! shout the voices from the back of the room! This isn’t a cheap shot at inducing pity or a backhanded way of trying to receive compliments. I’m not good at taking them anyway! It’s just fact. And I’m OK with it. My wife at one point thought I was attractive enough to talk to, and I’ve always thought I was punching above my weight anyway!
I digress. If there is one thing I am particularly good at in this life. It’s digressing. Going around the houses. Taking unnecessary diversions when there is no need to. Taking the long route, when the shorter route is more than adequate. It’s a family trait I have discovered over the years, and one I am happy to say my off spring are developing quite the knack for! I’m so proud!
Why Devon you asked! Well, I like to think you did.
And I’ll say this now, whilst I have no subscribers, so the no subscribers can unsubscribe now! I have a faith in God. I am a Christian and have been since I was in my late teens. Does this fact make me better than anyone else? No. Does the fact I have a faith mean I have all of the answers to life’s mysteries, and why so many atrocious and heinous acts are played out on our TV screens on the daily news? Absolutely not. If anything, I have more questions than answers most of the time! Is my life any easier because of my faith? Most definitely not. Does it mean that I judge you if you do not have any faith at all, or believe in a different faith? An un-resounding no. Only God can be my judge.
In the book of Matthew Chapter 7 Versed 1 to 5 it says:
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
And in the book of Luke Chapter 6 Verse 37 it says:
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Powerful verses I think. Anyway, that’s the God bit out of the way…for now. I told you I was a professional at digressing! So yes. Why Devon?
If you’re interested. I’ll tell you next time!