Crikey! Here's what I can remember anyway. This is as frank as you'll probably ever find me in public...Ohhh Betty!
Born in Belfast, Jan 6th 1973. Parents split up when I was 5 and my mother took us to live in County Tyrone (her homeland) about 60 miles away.
I went to school in Omagh (left in 1991) and headed off to England for University (1st class honours: English Lang & Lit, that's enough of the bragging). I stumbled around in a few bands while at Uni and for a couple of years after but we weren't exactly wonderful. During holiday time I worked in a daycentre for adults with learning difficulties, still the most rewarding job I've done.
I met my future ex-wife in 1991 as well and we married soon after graduating (she was on my course) in '94. I got a job in the Motor Trade at this time which greatly disappointed my family who felt I should be 'doing something' with my degree, but where does an Arts degree take you anyway?
The first kid came along in '96 and it was then when I decided to follow my wife into teaching so I did a year's Post Grad course and qualified as a Primary School teacher in 1997. 18 months of crap pay and ballache later I was back selling cars, first for Land Rover then Ford. At this time I somehow managed to get roped into Victim Support counselling, though quite why crime victims would appreciate a car salesman offering them a shoulder to cry on is beyond me. My position was never abused, however, no matter what state of car they were driving and I want that to go down on record!
I love the motor trade - getting paid to talk to people is the easiest thing in the world to me.
The three of us moved to Ireland in 2002, back home for me but a complete change of culture for my Essex girl wife. The reasons for the move were twofold - I was desperate to set up my own business and we'd been having a few marriage problems and felt a fresh start was needed. It was then that my back problems started to get worse, but I paid them no mind and grafted on... (daft git
)
2003 was rough. The marriage wasn't going well and I was having to take longer and longer periods off work as the doctors had diagnosed 4 crumbling discs in my lumbar spine and a wearing hip joint. Chronic pain is what they call it, but I prefer to call it Gladys.
We had our second child in early 2004 which seemed to put a cap on the marriage. By the time he was born we were practically living seperate lives, just under the same (mortgaged to the hilt) roof. The whole thing fizzled out that summer as the constant arguing was doing none of us any good and she moved back to live with her folks in England (taking the kids with her) a few months later. The hardest part is my son and daughter living in another country but I try and see them as often as possible and it'll get easier when they're old enough to travel safely on their own.
By early 2005 my back was getting worse so I took the decision to get out of the motor trade, cut my losses by selling my stock (the house was already on the market as we'd agreed to split the profits and it held nothing but bad memories for me anyway) and going back into teaching, private tuition to be exact, which would be less of a strain on the old health. As luck would have it I'd already bought a little place in town with a view to renting it out so, instead of moving tenants in, I relocated there/here instead.
Downsizing, I think it's called.
The work doesn't pay as well but I have no mortgage to worry about and now drive a more economical motor.
This year's been a bit stop-start as I've had to take a few months complete rest but I hope to be taking on students again come September.
I've loved my life so far - there's been massive highs (in quite a few ways) and massive lows but I've had a whale of a time surfing the peaks and paddling out of the troughs. A couple of mates are even making noises about setting up a garage but I've got to decide whether it's worth my while sinking what's left of my savings into something which could very well go arse over the proverbial.
Chapter two should be interesting - I might even buy a new walking stick.
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Wait til Gladys hears this!
