The only thing thats real...

What was your own childhood like?

 

Mostly felt rather than thought nowadays. Very early years feel warm and comfortable with perhaps at tinge of jealousy over a soon born sibling. Traditional schooling went well with easy grasp of the 3R's, playing in the streets with friends and neighbours, rare traffic. All changed about the time of Secondary education, new school no-one known. Didn't ever settle with friends so had a pretty torid time meant I left schooling a couple of years prior to exams. Blundered a couple of passes.

Young days good, teens crap.

 

Were you ever bullied?

 

I did suffer a bit of name calling, I remember my mother gave me a dodgy haircut once and I was given the name Helmet which then transposed into the name of a German football manager Helmut Schone, onto just calling me Schone. Slightly amusing if you know a little bit of german.

Got pushed about a little but nothing too heavy, like a lot of people I imagine. The thing that was difficult and still lingers today was exclusion. It meant that I was unable to develop my people skills properly and I still struggle to this day in communicating in a manner that others find comfortable.

I have started to question the above conclusion over the last couple of years as I observe my eldest daughter also having difficulty in forming relationships with her piers, my father was also a poor comunicator, so I am now considering the likelehood of genetic predetermination.

 

I used to be quite shy and poor at communicating. For me that changed with a bit more confidence and self belief. Sometimes too much, perhaps as it was, at first, a barrier to hide the shyness, which I think, I've overcome now.

When did you become a 'hippy'?

 

Memories of young man. I had a cousin, say 6 years older than me who was an original.
I liked him then one day he said he was leaving to travel and left me a single to look after till his return, "White Rabbit", always looked up to him and so alligned myself to what I considered hippy principles, love, peace, compassion and environmental concerns.

He returned to London shortly after the break up of my first marriage, took me to a Grateful Dead concert and gave me my first acid. Investigated their philosophies, took a liking and wear the t-shirt.

So accepted the label twice in a way, once as a kid and then again in my twenties.

 

Have you seen Almost Famous? Your cousin leaving to travel and leaving you a single that changed the way you think reminds me of that....

 

Sorry Sal canna say I have, but perhaps I shall, cheers.

 

What, then, is your favourite film of all time? What film character is most like you?

 

Oh dear, "Films and TV", never a favourite in Trivial Pursuit.

Titles that come to mind are, "Lassie Come Home", "Color Purple" and "Harvey", most films are enjoyed only for the time spent in observing the story, they don't seem to carry any significance beyond that moment so don't linger.

Couldn't place myself as any character I'm afraid as suggested above, might like to be Forrest Gump maybe. My son did call me Yoda many moons ago, seemed to of liked that and repeat it.

 

How about any fictional character from any medium?

 

That got me thinking didn't it?

After a few weeks contemplation the answer is no.

I found that situation rather peculiar, the question then became why not, and the answer to that is hard to find.

 

What did you want to be when you grew up?

 

I always had plans to be a family man with children and am content with that choice.

Workwise I felt comfortable in my chosen career as a draughtsman/designer. It seemed the easiest way to use my pleasure at drawing as a means of earning a living. Still do the same trade now with design and detailing timber roof structures, though now it is all computer based, creating 3D design models for every different project still keeps me interested and.

Not the most taxing of realities but pleasurable nonetheless.

 

Sounds a lot like me, ever sinceI can remember I've dreamed of a family of my own, having a big house full of kids and friends and family...

When did you start drawing? Were you one of those kids like me who would constantly draw on their school folders and get yelled at for it? hehe...

 

I've always enjoyed pencil sketching from a young age, usually copying what I saw rather than random sguiggles. Painting was always a bit more tricky, putting paint over the drawings usually spoilt them.

 

Are you musical in any way?

 

Maybe. I've sang all my life and also been told to shut up all my life.

I've played a 12 string guitar now for 16 years. First picked a guitar up to learn when the ripe age of 28, something to do after the end of my first marriage, and learnt mainly on the street. Will perform an occaisional song round a fire.

I've played some percussion in a couple of short term bands as well.

 

Would you say you have noticed anything missing from your house recently?

 

Well I left my phone charger in Gravesend a week ago, apart from that I would say all is present.

Couple of things missing because I haven't done them yet, namely a work-surface for the utility room and the celtic knotwork to the front elevation I've told everyone I am painting.