Blog for Jaimie
well why not? I've tried blogging from Morocco but as yet, I've not tried one from home. So I thought I'd start one to chat about life to you our love as it unravels over the coming months. I won't write daily, unless something exciting happens !! but I thought a few pictures along with some text might be a good way of letting you know what's happening here with your ma nd Pa.
I thought I would open the picture gallery with a rather dull shot! But there's a long story behind it that is any thing but dull. It's the whole of my life really, from when I was just about to turn 17 years old. In fact, it is 40 years ago almost to the day. I was 16 and already pushing out into the world. It was my first trip abroad, no parents in sight and an adventure was about to unravel that I could never have imagined. I know you know the story but it seems like a good place to start.
Lafetenia, near Geuthary. Biarritz.
To return here 40 years later was quite moving, to say the least. This, as you know, was where life almost ended for me in August 1972. Although there are no waves to speak of in the photo, this is a quality point break any young surf dude would ''die'' to surf at. I'm outside the point on the right, well outside and yep, that's where something decides i am to become an epileptic!! My first fit is to happen face down in the water and unless one of my surf mates, a one Andrew Denison, had not missed his wave, I would needless to say be just a memory in a few peoples minds. Remember that bloke Ted Beynon? The one who drowned in Biarritz !!!! But it wasn't to be because Andrew pulled my face out of the water and kept me above water long enough for the other three lads to come to the rescue. Dai Wills, Pixie Hurne and Peter Jones. We had literally arrived that early morning after driving all the way, non stop from Wales. Our first day of a one month surf trip!
And epilepsy was to direct my life, thank you epilepsy because without you, non of the things and people that have come my way, would have come as they did!! I believe that and yet I know that at the time I was, well, oblivious of the illness, until it had happened for a second time! Which was the time i drove my little mini car into the side of a pub as i crossed Sketty cross, blanking out half way and waking up to the smiles of a policeman!! But that's another story and only complicates what i'm trying to get at.
When the implications of what was happening to me became clearer a year or so later, I was devastated. I'm an epileptic and i didn't like the word or it's effects on my life. I was to loose my driving license, my job and my self esteem. But not for long. My job was shit anyway, I carried on driving illegally whenever anyone would let me near the wheel and i was about to leave my self esteem behind and fall into your mothers arms and things were never the same again.
Already my tale has covered several years and i know, our Jaimie, that your journey with that nasty worded illness has only just begun. So I am not in any way trying to belittle the overwhelming sadness, anger, frustration etc that you must have been going through from day to day. As well as the joy you are already experiencing since you were diagnosed. Bali sounds amazing. Storm is a sweet, darling of a man. You are a very courageous, talented, beautiful young woman. Nothing can take that away from you as long as you shine from inside with all the dreams and aspirations you have.
Believe me, I have been in a place like you. And I have had and am still having a brilliant life. In spite of all the mishaps, of being abused, Asthma, Epilepsy, Hepatitis C. In spite of our Jon having died, he lived for 11 years and I wouldn't have missed that for anything. And I wouldn't have missed having spent all these years with you and watching you grow up, through hardship and happy times. For all the tea in china!!! As they say.
So the last picture of this 'start of a blog to you', is a picture of your mum, feeling completely at ease with herself, at the very spot from where our lives could have been so different if I had not survived and embraced epilepsy.
I get knocked down and I get up again. You're never gonna keep me down
sounds familiar?
All our love
Dad n Mum xxxxxxxxxx
And epilepsy was to direct my life, thank you epilepsy because without you, non of the things and people that have come my way, would have come as they did!! I believe that and yet I know that at the time I was, well, oblivious of the illness, until it had happened for a second time! Which was the time i drove my little mini car into the side of a pub as i crossed Sketty cross, blanking out half way and waking up to the smiles of a policeman!! But that's another story and only complicates what i'm trying to get at.
When the implications of what was happening to me became clearer a year or so later, I was devastated. I'm an epileptic and i didn't like the word or it's effects on my life. I was to loose my driving license, my job and my self esteem. But not for long. My job was shit anyway, I carried on driving illegally whenever anyone would let me near the wheel and i was about to leave my self esteem behind and fall into your mothers arms and things were never the same again.
Already my tale has covered several years and i know, our Jaimie, that your journey with that nasty worded illness has only just begun. So I am not in any way trying to belittle the overwhelming sadness, anger, frustration etc that you must have been going through from day to day. As well as the joy you are already experiencing since you were diagnosed. Bali sounds amazing. Storm is a sweet, darling of a man. You are a very courageous, talented, beautiful young woman. Nothing can take that away from you as long as you shine from inside with all the dreams and aspirations you have.
Believe me, I have been in a place like you. And I have had and am still having a brilliant life. In spite of all the mishaps, of being abused, Asthma, Epilepsy, Hepatitis C. In spite of our Jon having died, he lived for 11 years and I wouldn't have missed that for anything. And I wouldn't have missed having spent all these years with you and watching you grow up, through hardship and happy times. For all the tea in china!!! As they say.
So the last picture of this 'start of a blog to you', is a picture of your mum, feeling completely at ease with herself, at the very spot from where our lives could have been so different if I had not survived and embraced epilepsy.
I get knocked down and I get up again. You're never gonna keep me down
sounds familiar?
All our love
Dad n Mum xxxxxxxxxx
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