Gary Simpson aka The Gazzman threw down the gauntlet and challenged members of Alex Jeffreys Coaching to reveal 25 things about themselves when tagged by another member. I have been tagged so here goes….
1) I come from S.Devon, England and I was a war baby.
I now live in the middle of Sweden with my Swedish wife.
I have recently lived and worked in the Middle East for more than 20 years in various countries there – some good, some not so good.
2) My mother was a widow at age 28 and was left with 3 children plus one on the way (my youngest sister).I am the eldest and was 7 years old at the time. Times were tough but overall life was better in many ways then.
3) I left home at the age of 16 and went to sea as a navigation cadet with a Liverpool shipping company. We went to the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and down the W. Coast of S. America and I continued with this route more or less for 4 years.
Tales to tell! Then I went to other places.
4) I became a Grandfather (Grandpa) for the first time last Thursday! A boy Tom, 6lbs.71/2 ozs.(about 3 kilos). Mixed feelings – and now I feel really grown up
)
Internet Marketing took a back seat lately.
5) I learned to scuba dive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and dived in the Red Sea – absolute magic and it can’t get much better than that. Not so magical above the water though.
6) I have flown many hours, in many different aircraft, both civilian and military BUT I have never flown in a helicopter. How weird is that? An ambition.
7) I like good English bitter beer but these days my intake is limited (however been there, done that ).
Now, my idea of entertainment is good company, good food and good wine.
I like photography, golf and sailing. I don’t do enough of any of them at the moment – different priorities
9) I was brought up alongside the sea, lived in it, lived on it, worked with it, have a lot of respect for it and it is very important to me.
I miss it just now.
10) I have twice sailed in the Dubai – Muscat Race, through the Straits of Hormuz. Different!
11) When I was young I always wanted to be a pilot.
My first flight was in an Avro Anson WW2 aircraft. It shuddered, shaked a lot, and just about clawed its way into the sky.
I was in heaven!
12) I do not understand women even when I think I do. I have given up now and accept that they come from a different planet.
How can you save money by buying something in a sale you didn’t need? Don’t fight it, Dave!
13) I am a bit of a loner, mostly because of the way my life was/is, and tend to fly beneath the radar.
I realize this is not good for a would-be internet marketer,and I am working on it.
I am quite sociable when I have the chance.
14) Some memories are precious – I have camped way out in the desert, and also out in the forest here, and at night the stars are enormous and there is total silence.
Beautiful, and something that is becoming harder and harder to find in our overcrowded world.
15) After driving in the Middle East for many years I now tend to be very impatient with the slow (?) drivers here. My wife says I grow horns when I get in a car. I’m working on it!
16) I used to smoke but gave up over 20 years ago after my daughters told me it worried them.
17) I sometimes miss the place I came from but my siblings tell me that I dream of a place that no longer exists. How sad is that?
18) I am not a good dancer. Two left feet might describe me, although I appreciate good dancing and wish I could do it well.
Having spent quite a lot of time in S.America I can truthfully say nobody, but nobody, will ever dance Latin American quite like the natives!
19) I was a sprinter at school, and ran for the school but I cannot run cross country/long distance at all. The last time I did it I tripped, fell into a stream and the guys following used me as a stepping stone across the stream. I had a back covered in muddy footprints. I gave up cross country after that.
20) I have traveled the world and lived and worked in different countries all my life.
I have found that no matter where you are people all want the same thing – a nice job, a nice salary, a nice house, education for their children, freedom to get on with their life etc. What is going on?
21) I hate talking about myself.
22) Some of my favorite books:
Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee – A time and place I can relate to written beautifully. I find his follow up books about Civil War Spain fascinating also.
The Last Grain Race by Eric Newby who was an apprentice on the last of the Windjammers.
The Riddle Of The Sands by Erskine Childers.
I also like most of the classics, “whodunnits” and thrillers.
23) Music – I have very catholic tastes, anything from traditional jazz to opera to rock to classics and so on. All depends on the mood.
I don’t think there is anything out there today to match Pink Floyd, Queen,etc
24) I am now the world’s greatest procrastinator. Probably comes from working in a pressure cooker most of my life. Not good for an internet marketer!
25) The last good film I saw was “Lord of The Rings”. I have read the book a number of times and the director was true to the book as much as possible. I also enjoyed the “how it was made” film. Brilliant work by the Kiwis!!
26) I forgot to do No. 25 until Vance Sova reminded me. So, I have to go one more.
Another ambition is to go with my wife to New Zealand, hire a camper van and just drive all round for a few months, visit some old friends and just enjoy!
Related Posts:
Tagged with: Absolute Magic • Alex Jeffreys • Ambition • Back Seat • Bitter Beer • Devon England • Gary Simpson • Gauntlet • Good Company • Good Food • Grandpa • Jeddah Saudi Arabia • Last Thursday • Mixed Feelings • Ozs • Panama Canal • Red Sea • Shipping Company • Time Times • War Baby
Filed under: General
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Hi Dave,
Congratulations on your new grandchild!
I’ve been lucky enough to have flown in helicopters. My first was in the mountains of British Columbia on a test flight, it had been rebuilt after a crash, and the pilot was just amazing. Flying at cliff faces then…ZOOM…up we’d go. Best flight I’ve ever had.
Super list.
Cheers,
Rod
.-= Rod Macbeth´s last blog ..25 Things You Don’t Know About Me…And May Not Want To =-.
Hi Rod,
Thanks for the comment and the congratulations.
It all pales into insignificance after GilsCorner.com effort.
The helicopter is on the wish list until I get a ride in one
Dave
Well done, Dave. That’s a very good list – I’m up to no. 15 on mine now.
Best wishes,
Veronica
PS I have flown in a helicopter across London in the sixties with a photographer friend. It is amazing!!
.-= Veronica Purdey´s last blog ..Some tiny progress =-.
Hi Veronica,
Thanks for your kind comment.
Have to say I am glad that is out of the way although Alex did say you have to get out of your comfort zone.
Video next. Ouch!
9 to do, Veronica!
Good luck with that.
Dave
Hi Dave,
What a great list. You have been and lived all over the globe. That must give you a very balanced view of the world. It certainly beets seeing things just on TV where everything has a spin they want you to believe.
Congrats on being a brand new Grandfather.
Re #3 I left home at 15 but for a while was able to visit 2 to 3 times a year.
Quitting smoking is one of the best things one can do. I managed that a s well.
Diving in the Red sea. I wish I’d have done that. I hear that it is the best and most spectacular place to dive.
I didn’t grow up near the sea but have always wanted to be close to it and now I am.
#21 fits me like a glove. I am overcoming that right now.
I can’t see you point number 25. I mean it just doesn’t seem to be there.
Vance.
.-= Vance Sova´s last blog ..Learn List Building With Vance Sova, Alex Jeffreys =-.
Hi Vance,
Thanks for the comments – and the heads up about No. 25.
Why did I think it ended at No. 24. Wishful thinking I suppose
So, I did No.25 now and also added one more (NO.26) for luck.
All the best,
Dave
Dave,
I love your #12… I don’t understand women either, maybe its just that I don’t understand my wife.
I know someone wrote a book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, but seriously I think he’s picked the wrong planets.
They’re much to close together.
Cheers,
Rob
.-= Rob Canyon´s last blog ..How I Made $3758 In 21 Days Online… With My ‘Double Click Blueprint’ Strategy. =-.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the comment. Yes, No. 12. I still live in hope that the question about the sales will be answered. Some hope!
BTW You are doing well Rob – good luck with the webinar.
Cheers,
Dave
Hi Dave,
Like the list Dave, you’ve seen more of the world than I have or probably ever will!
I can relate to number 19, but I just wasn’t that fast either, so running is a no no for me. Even when I played football, I was always kept at the back to stay out of trouble:)
Talk soon!
Sean
Hi Sean,
Have to admit the running bit was a long time ago. I admire people more who do marathons – now that is serious running.
I admire the guys who stay behind, stick to their roots and get on with it. I guess we are all made different.
Dave
Hey Dave,
Someone else I can play golf with. The only problem is I’ve got to get to Sweden, or you’ll need to pay a visit back to Southern England.
Congratulations on becoming a grandad.
I’ve got to say, your list makes mine look positively boring – you’ve had some great experinces. Found it a really interesting list.
Talk Soon,
Andrew.
Hi Andrew,
Golf – anytime
At least you can play all the year round there. A short summer only where I am – it’s like a feeding frenzy!
Thanks for the comment.
Regards,
Dave
Hi Dave,
#15 Driving in the Middle East.
I’ve not tried that yet, but I have driven in Thailand which is pretty wierd.
It seems you can drive on the wrong side of the road (if your not going far),there is no need to look when pulling out on to a main road and you can fit 4 people + 1 dog onto a scooter.
Just keep moving and let Budah guide you! (Lol)
Nice Post
John
.-= John Tanner´s last blog ..Can I Get A Website To Page 1 on Google – Day#3 =-.
Hi John ,
Thanks for the comment.
I thought I had seen it all until I went to Beirut – there anything goes. Scary.
Dave
Hi Dave,
Welcome to the world of grandparenthood; you’ll soon wish you could have just skipped raising their parents. It’s so much fun!
Your list is concise and very insightful; I can feel a kinship with your nomadic lifestyle and your pain at not “being able to go home again”.
As for the procrastination, go read Mohamed’s latest blog post on how much money an hour of our time is worth IF we stay on track. It got me on the stick!!!
Very Interesting Post
Erlyne
Hi Erlyne,
Thanks for the comment and the welcome to grandparenthood.
I understand he will be Tom, except when he is naughty then it will be Thomas! Boys. Naughty. Never.
Nomadic lifestyle quite quiet at the moment but I wonder what is around that next corner……
Yes, procrastination has to go. Working on it as well.
Regards,
Dave
Dave
Great post and some interesting facts. I think a number of us struggle with 24 and would probably give you a run for your money! I’ve found the tips and techniques Alex has shared in terms of goals and planning have helped loads so far though.
All the best
Tom
.-= Tom Harvey´s last blog ..Revealed: The Secret Listbuilding Tactic Of The Gurus =-.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your kind comments.
Yes, Alex seems to have got us all stepping out of our comfort zones alright.
All the best,
Dave
Dave
I will start this by saying when we meet, lets find an helicopter for rent and I will take your flying. I flew helicoptes in Viet Nam from May 1969 to May 1970. I have been flying for 49 years and it is in my blood.
What a list you have and you are not the “normal” 8 to 5, Mon to Fri type of worker. I like that! My wife and I have property in Panama, a small village called Boquete in the mountains. We bought that place for our retirement home; however, we moved to Puerto Rico from Florida six months ago. We moved because I got a job flying out of San Juan, PR so the jury is still out of retiring in Panama or Puerto Rico.
Thanks for your comments on my blog and I know it is not “our” area but I thought it was important to pass along.
Talk with you later.
Roger
Go out and make it a successful day!
Hello Roger,
Thanks for your kind comments. Yes, I look forward to flying with you in a helicopter! Sounds great.
I should have added a balloon flight, with camera, as well.
I had an early morning flight one booked over the desert once but the balloon company fell foul of the authorities ad it was canceled.
My wife is a head nurse in ICU and she also thinks your stroke post is good!
Talk later
‘Dave
Hi Dave really enjoyed the insight to your life, its a novel all on its own
So many good points
The one that stands out for me is your siblings tell you that the place where you come from is now “not the place where you come from ” “does that make sense” as my town is no longer the place I grew up as a boy,
Also the sea I also love the sea and wanted to follow in my dads footsteps and join the Royal navy ,
” but i get violently sea sick.
however i just love being near any water
Hey Dave don’t procrastinate any longer as with posts like this you really could write a great novel ,and i want to be the first to read it
cheers mick
.-= mick fallon´s last blog ..Newbie’s Dilemma should we learn to outsource straight away? =-.
Hi Mick,
Thanks for your kind comments.
.
I know Widnes well so at least you are close to the Mersey and the way to the sea
Even Nelson used to get seasick!
I was looking at your holiday video and I felt the urge to get on a plane straight away – then I thought about all the airport hassle
Cheers,
Dave
Your website is very good. I m gonna read all, ty for info.