Here I am trying to explain how life twists its way like a vine and I explain my
wifes life Hannah (My Soulmate) at the same time as mine.
GROWING UP? We never grow up, we just grow older
1963
I was born in a year of madness and mayhem with the great train robbery on the 8th of August me born
on the 11th and the death of JFK in the November with a severe snowy winter to end the year. A bag of crisps would set
you back 3d in old money a Fab Ice lolly was 6d.
1964
Cassius Clay was crowned Boxing World Champion while I was still learning to crawl.
The French and English agree on the decision to build a channel tunnel. Nelson Mandela is jailed for life, and the Sun newspaper
is born. Small gangs of Scooter boys spring up in London wearing Ex-Army Parka coats.
1965
I could walk, lots going on in space in these days, Winston
Churchill dies and the Kray twins are arrested. In America Doctor Martin Luthor King is busy changing history. The
Man from U.N.C.L.E films were released with Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin.
1966
America and Russia land a probe on the moon, the moors murderers
are jailed and England win the world cup. I am busy watching the Apollo missions and 'Watch With Mother' around midday.
Action Man the toy hits the streets of Britain
The boys go wild.
1967
I
am eager to get to school, I was even more eager to leave 12 years later. The little airfield in Stansted, Essex is chosen
for major expansion to become Londons third airport. Horse racing is cancelled indefinitely until the foot and mouth
crisis can be solved. Beatles Manager Brian Epstein dies. Christmas is white and freezing, we lick at decorations to stick
them together for around the home.
1968
Dad drops me off at St Teresasa school on the crossbar of his bike, I learn how to tie my laces.
Martin Luthor King is shot dead, and up in space humans are in orbit around the moon. In Britain the first heart transplant
takes place.
1969
Concorde
has its first flight, mum and dad get married without telling us, man steps onto the moon and the Kray Twins are sentenced
to life. My sister Bernadette is born.
1970
With seventies and glam rock, life is very colourful - people are walking around in shoes with
6 inch soles and heels, even men. Jimmy Hendrix dies. Christmas is cosy. Black and white televisions are still in most homes.
1971
Charles
Manson goes to the gas chamber and Jim Morrison of The Doors dies. I am busy preparing my father for decimalisation.
We get our first Colour TV.
1972
I was nearly killed in an accident, I ruptured my spleen. I learned to drive a 360 excavator
whilst off school as I went to work on a construction site with my dad.
I sat in the dark with the rest of the country whilst the miners went on strike.
1973
I
remember life was never better, mum and dad were not happy but I was. Princess Anne got married, this was the seventies
- it was colourful. We joined the EEC and I met Karen my girlfriend when she moved in next door.
1974
I
left junior school and went to senior school, I met Brother Mark our headmaster, my mum left home. The house was repossessed
and I found myself in Ireland. Bombs are all the news at the moment. The Bionic Man arrives on TV, boy can he run.
1975
My
brother Mick and I arrive back in England and we are reunited with Dad and Bernadette. We set up home in the
Greenstead. Arthur Ash wins Wimbledon. The girl destined one day to be my soulmate is born in Southend on Sea, Essex.
The Sex Pistols are formed and Muhammed Ali wins the Thrilla in Manilla.
1976
Life is proving strangely difficult, school is not as important
as it used to be. I smoke, stay out late and am living with no electricity. Agatha Christie dies, Howard Hughes dies,
Lester Piggot wins his seventh Derby. My soulmate
Hannah is shuffling around the furniture and learning to crawl; we won't meet until 1995.
1977
The
Queen and our country are celebrating her Silver Jubilee. We are desperately poor without money, gas or electricity.
Elvis Presley dies 5 days after my birthday, I spend Jubilee day at a street party at Ravensfield, Basildon, Essex.
Hannah is walking now. Gary Gilmore is executed, Star Wars mania hits the cinema as Charles Chaplin dies. Saturday Night Fever
grips the world.
1978
I leave the Waxworks, our home. This was the nickname given to our home by the locals. I go
to live in Roodegate near the town, I start work at weekends and also go away with the fair in the summer to work. Jim Jones
convinces 914 humans to kill themselves. The first test tube baby is born, Pope John Paul dies and Sid Vicious is arrested
for murder. Hannah was attending pre-school - she was three. Grease is released another Triumph for John Travolta. And
I begin to keep a diary of my life.
1979
I leave home, leave shool, start work and live with my girlfriend. The Yorkshire Ripper is at large,
Sid Vicious dies, and up in space Skylab tumbles back to earth. Hannah is at nursery school in Southend on Sea, Essex.
1980
Working
at Warley Construction I arrive home one day to find my long term girlfriend's mother crying - she tells me
that John Lennon has died, the world is mortified, I spend a summer holiday in St Osyths at Clacton Essex. Hannah is
in the infants. A newspaper would cost 10p.
1981
I meet a Greek family on the island of Corfu, Sammy and Yanni Paizanoe and
their family, pictured above is Konstandina, one of their children; she was 6 years old when I
met her, she is now 33. I become a futurist and by the end of the year I am a Punk Rocker. The Queen is shot at, and
the Pope is actually shot. Prince Charles marries his new love, Diana. I keep a daily diary of the year.
1982
The time of my life is upon me as I live life as a punk travelling
to London and many other places. I am now single as I have split with my long time girlfriend. I
spend time going on tour watching bands, I don't make it back to Corfu this year as too much fun is happening in
music for me. I keep a daily diary of the year.
1983
I go back to Moraitika Corfu, I get out of the taxi and I am pinned down by the Greeks and come
under attack with water pistols filled with brandy. This will be my home from home now, I love it and begin to act
like a Greek. Back home with my spiked hair, I spend my time at home in England seeing bands like Bauhaus, Souxie and
the Banshees, The Cult, Theatre of Hate, The Birthday Party, Yazoo and so many more, life is so much fun its unbelievable.
My soulmate Hannah was in the first year juniors. Morning TV is launched. I keep a daily diary of the year.
1984
I was working in London at Blackfriars, life was fun, fun, fun I
didn't know how much at the time but I know it now. The song was out called 19, it went to number 1. Torville
and Dean win the gold medal. Hannah is now 9 years old.
I meet and fall in love with Helga from Belgium. I visit Belgium for a holiday.
I visit Corfu again with my friends. I keep a daily diary of the year.
1985
I split from Helga and meet my second long term girlfriend, I am
working back at Warley Construction and still visiting Corfu, going on beanos to Margate in the summer. Zola Bud wins
the 5000m barefooted and Boris Becker wins Wimbledon.
1986
My wonderful daughter Neola was born, my girlfriend and I were finding life difficult living
together. Hannah was participating in piano and horseriding lessons, she was 11. Prince Andrew marries Sarah. Sammy's
wife gives birth within a day of my girlfriend to Joanna. I keep a daily diary of the year.
1987
The Hurricane hits England, Mum dies in Basildon hospital - she
has been unwell for years and ill for the last 4 months. My girlfriend and I split up, I worry over not living with
Neola. Women can now become priests, a tragedy occurs when a ferry capsizes at Zeebrugge. Hannah holidays on the Cornish coast.
I visit Corfu. I begin to write a story about the reasons for being me.
1988
The Egg scare and Lockerbie air disaster happen this year, I am living at my brother's flat, and working
in groundworks. I visit Corfu, see my daughter at weekends -we always go somewhere special every weekend together.
1989
The Voyager 2 spacecraft reaches Neptune, I have set up home
with a new girlfriend now, we are close, we disco a lot and have a lot of friends. Neola is 3 years old. Hannah
is 14. my ex-girlfriend, Neola's mum and I are friends.
1990
I visit Disney world Florida, I visit Corfu again, I am still
a groundworker, Dad is happy in Luton. The Poll Tax is making people angry, Nelson Mandela is released. My girlfriend is working
for a company based in Docklands whose main workload is in Kuwait, Iraq invades Kuwait, our beautiful daughter Jade is born.
1991
We
visit Corfu, we settle down. Neola is 5 and Hannah is 16. Interest rates are rising out of control and work dries up. Freddy
Mercury dies, the Gulf war begins and my girlfriend loses her job through an act of war, .
1992
The
recession is hitting the country hard, I find work at Elsmere Port near Liverpool. I have lost my home due to interest
rate rises, Jade and her mother are homeless whilst I stay in a bedsit. Princess Diana publishes her book and Andrew
and Sarah split. Rave music takes hold of the discos. I keep a daily diary of work. MTV make a show called Real World, this
is probably the beginning of reality TV.
1993
I holiday in Corfu, we had a good time. Bernadette my sister became unwell. The World Trade
Centre is bombed, The Bulger murder takes place. I keep a daily diary of work.
1994
I return to Corfu for a lads holiday - it wasn't easy
as I was practically one of the family on the island and I had to behave myself, I would never be mad on holiday
again but it was fun. I am working in Hoddesdon and The National Lottery is launched. Hannah starts working at the same company
as me as receptionist. I keep a daily diary of work.
1995
I holiday in Corfu with my girlfriend and another couple, I work in the city and get promotion from
Foreman to Contracts Manager. I speak to my soulmate over the phone for the first time ever, she is the new girl in the company.
Leah Betts dies after taking ecstasy. Ronnie Kray dies. Diana admits adultry, the Queen suggests they divorce the earlier
the better
1996
My
wonderful daughter Jessica is born, I travel to Corfu alone with just a passport in my back pocket. I am working in the
city in Hackney and also by the Limehouse Link Tunnel, I meet my soulmate face to face for the first time. A massive
bomb blast blows apart Manchester shopping centre.
1997
This year is a milestone in my life as I decide to finally set a plan to sort my life out and
leave my home town to save myself and my family from the reasons for being me. I holiday in Corfu with Hannah. Diana is killed
in a car crash and the world is shattered, I take Jade and Neola to Westminster Abbey to lay some flowers. I begin to
type a book about my life drafted from a journal I have kept since mum died in 1987. The Teletubbies take england by storm
1998
I
settled down with my soulmate and we holidayed in Corfu, I worked as Senior Contracts Manager for a company in Groundworks.
I have achieved the layout and story of my book.
1999
I stood on the quay in Maldon on my birthday with Hannah and watched the eclipse - not as exciting
as the media made out. I began work for a new company. We had a holiday in Corfu - Hannah, Jade, Neola and me.
2000
I
was quickly promoted with this new company, looking after 50% of their workload which had a value of 20 million. Hannah
and I left Maldon and moved to Southminster. The world marvelled at the end of the last millenium. The Queen Mother turns
a hundred.
2001
I
became Area Construction Manager and set up a satellite office in East London to manage many projects in the city. Harold
Shipman is thought to may have murdered hundreds. Diana's Butler arrested, and the world cries as they watch the
World Trade Centre collapse. Pop Idol hits our TV screens.
2002
I married my soulmate Hannah, it was the greatest day ever, Sammy
was best man and he flew in from Corfu with his family. I was Area Construction Manager for the Eastern Region of a very busy
groundworks and civil engineering company. Hannah was my secretary. Later in the year we moved to the house we live in now.
The Euro hits the streets in Europe, The Queen Mother dies. American Idol is launched.
2003
Our lovely daughter Milly was born, we had a holiday in Cornwall.
I was very busy in the city building the basement below the Grosvenor Dock that is now the Grosvenor Waterside development,
next to the Lister Hospital. End of an era for Concord, England win the Rugby World Cup and the Soham murders take place.
2004
I
left Grosvenor Waterside, and became Construction Director for a new company. We had a holiday in Corfu with all the kids
and the grandparents. Harold Shipman was found hanged and thousands die in the Boxing Day Tsunami. Xfactor hits the TV
screens.
2005
Our
lovely daughter Evie was born, we never went to Corfu she was too young for the journey, we had a holiday in Cornwall instead.
Work took me to the Excel centre in London. Pubs open 24 hours, the Pope dies, Charles is to marry Camilla. I finally complete
my book and put it in a safe place for proofreading.
2006
Hannah, Milly , Evie and myself visit Corfu. Work is very satisfying - I build a swimming pool
in a basement in london, part of a Health and Fitness centre for one of Richard Bransons companies, and also
I build a bridge across to the front door of a house for the Rolex watch family.
2007
I discover the full extent of living my life with Psoriasis and
what may or may not happen to me. Madeline McCann is kidnapped in Portugal, I help build the concrete structure which will
be the Audi Regional offices on the great west road A4, M4 Brentford. Hannah and I take my father back to Corfu while we go
house hunting on the island.
2008
Started working with Toureen Mangan a very well established London based Groundworks and RC Frame
contractor. I design a website called Twistedchimneys.com We are still looking for Madeline McCann, construction works on
the Olympics is about to take off - a little late I believe. Charlton Heston dies, he was once my hero. We are now in
a time where fatal stabbings in england are 1 a week and mostly in London. I visit the Notting Grill for a nice meal
with work colleagues and Hannah starts a business called Twisted Chimneys Ltd and a creates her own website called Twistedchimneys.co.uk.
I resurrect my book, The reasons for being me, and give it the well deserved title Twisted Chimneys.
2009
Twisted Chimneys Published in New York, The Life Journal Published
in the UK.
Michael Jackson dies, Skinners Academy finished, Facebook is all the rage.
It Snows before xmas and
the country feel the chill.
Working on the Athletes Village, building the Chobham Academy at
the Olympics, a complete success
Have a family holiday in Corfu.
Twisted Chimneys becomes a business.
Later
in the year I am sent to Luton to build an Olympic Pool
Olympic Pool completed by June, off to Cambridge to build a 5 storey
structure.
In September after 2 holidays in Corfu so far we head off to Italy for Warren and Dawns wedding
Whilst
siting around the pool at the hotel a phone call is taken.
An opportunity arises to join Anderson Construction and I
take the job.
Keep you posted
