So what have been the primary themes and occurrences of my life?
School Days - These were largely happy. I can't remember ever not wanting to go to school or suffering serious problems. At junior school I loved learning and that is something that has re-surfaced in later life. I was very grateful to have gone to the Norwich School, although I didn't really appreciate it at the time but going to school in the Cathedral Close was marvellous. The school is very much a community rather than a building. In my days it was still emerging from a feeling of Victoriana - boys only, Saturday morning school, cane and slipper for discipline etc. Now all that has changed. So my school days were largely happy. I wasn't bullied in any shape or form and I am always grateful for that. So I look back on my schooldays with fondness.
Journalism College - Possibly the happiest months of my life - finding out new things and how to be independent and making new friends (some of which I am still in contact with 50 years later). It was a lot of fun.
Employment - I have enjoyed the majority of my work over the years but still wonder whether teaching would have been a better decision that journalism. If I had gone into teaching I would at this point probably be saying I wonder whether journalism would have been a better decision. Nevertheless I loved my periods of working in Lowestoft, Norwich, Cromer and Beccles and subsequently as a sub editor and then sports editor. Would gloss over a year in the Midlands which I hated. Also enjoyed most of my time working for Norfolk Police and then an emergency media company. So overall my working life was a happy one.
Community Involvement - I have always been a key supporter of community involvement and have loved the voluntary work I have undertaken in a number of areas from being in Round Table to being a parish councillor, from being a chair of governors to being chair of a number of sports clubs including sports associations, football and cricket clubs. I guess my involvement over the years owes much to a feeling of wanting to prove my worth as well as a slight feeling of inadequacy which I have needed to make up for.
Sport - Sport has been a great love of my life. Football, cricket, tennis and a few others have paid a major part. Sport gave me a career for a while as a sports editor and untold hours of pleasure as a participant and fan. It has led to a considerable amount of voluntary work over half a century.
Music - Music has been a passion from an early love of Cliff Richard and rock music through to an understanding of classical music. Music can change a mood just like a click of the fingers. I love listening, I love writing about it (for many years I wrote a rock music column in the local newspaper and also was a reviewer) and I love playing it with my very limited ability on the piano/keyboards.
Family - This goes without saying. A pride in my two sons and grandchildren and a marriage that has lasted for 45 years in July. There have been hard times and difficult times but we have got through them all.
Photography - I love nothing more than going into towns and the countryside with my camera and putting slide shows on Facebook and You Tube has helped me to develop this part of my life.
Writing - I write and I write and I write. I write about anything and everything whether it be blogs, fiction, non fiction, diaries. And when I've finished writing, I write some more. I always find I can express myself much better in the written rather than spoken word.
Technology - I have embraced technology as much as possible with web sites, You Tube channels, blogs and podcasts. Always looking for ways to promote the things I believe in.
History - The older I get the more I enjoy reflecting on the past. I did achieve an A level in history and now find it both soothing and instructive.
Quizzes - I love picking up useless knowledge and using it in quizzes.
Travel - We have travelled all over the Globe. There's nothing like finding out about new places and meeting new people and learning about history.
Literature - Reading has been another passion. I am currently reading my way through the works of Charles Dickens (some for the second and third times). Then I will work my way through Thomas Hardy (some for the second and third times) and the Brontes. In amongst that lot I will be listening to some audio books and some more up to date stuff.
Garden - As I get older I enjoy spending time in the garden - usually whilst I'm listening to music.
Fitness - Lockdown has helped me to get back on the fitness trail, walking over 1,100 miles in the year.
The above are just some of my interests/influences. I'm sure I will think of many others.
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I hope you enjoy my gallery of photographs taken yesterday during a walk across the fields at Caistor St Edmund and through Dunston Woods.