Intro

Actually, I'm not very good at introductions. Just what do you reveal of 53 years of existence? I was born - that seems obvious - and I was brought home from the hospital in a neighbour's 1927 Essex - that's unimportant.

I lived for a time in the Hutt Valley - unless you were born in that part of the country, hardly riveting stuff. I attended school - nothing exceptional - and moved to the big city. Actually, a bigger city, since Americans would hardly call Wellington big.

I worked for a time at a number of jobs - yawn - including factories, a bank, and 'temporary construction worker.' I got married, had kids, got divorced, found someone new, split, found someone else, got married, had more kids.

Between times I went back to school and graduated a teacher. When that gig went sour I drove buses and became the Union President. Presidenting has it's use by date and I went back to driving.

Also between times, I found myself on several overseas escapades. 1980 it was Sweden - 1984 it was Sandanista Nicaragua - '86 I was in Palestine.

You may decide now I'm a recalcitrant leftie and leave. That's Ok, because I don't want you anyway. My intention is not to use this blog as a political pamphlet and I can't be bothered with 'angels on the head of a pin' arguments that won't make a blind bit of difference to anyone's prejudice.

Yes, I'll state now for the record that I was a member of several 'Communist' groups throughout my life. At the moment, I'm not affiliated to anyone or anything.

I am against the war in Iraq and, unlike a lot of folks, was always against it.

My wife is part Iranian - which part I'm unsure - but, that doesn't mean I share the views of the Ayatollahs. She is a Shi'ite Moslem, but I'm not. That doesn't mean we don't get along, nor explains why we do. After 17 years together, we must be doing something right.

I'm an Atheist, but that doesn't mean I don't support my wife in her faith. I cook Middle Eastern dishes and attend feasts as an honoured guest at the Islamic Centre. That's cool because I get to socialise with some neat people, eat really nice food, and don't have to pray or read the suriah.

Of course I've done some less than enviable things in my life. Probably nothing that anyone my age hasn't done, perhaps, except get involved in crime.

The problem was drugs, or, the inability to purchase sufficient for my needs without augmenting my income. I defrauded thousands and I was pretty darned good at it - at least for a few years. In the end, I couldn't keep that many pots on the stove and balls in the air. I was driven by despair and it was inevitable I was going to get caught sooner or later.

The end came quite dramatically - like something you've seen on every silly cop show on telly. The villain walks out between two burly detectives - a look of defiance and scorn on his face. Defiance and scorn is pretty much all you have left and stands between you and humiliation.

At those times you count your friends carefully. Twenty five letters of support arrived on the judge's desk, twenty five! They were signed by company managers, IT specialists, community workers, counselors - all personal friends who stood by me. That, my friends, is truly humbling.

I did my time and moved away - up here to rural Manawatu, New Zealand. Ex cons don't find jobs, despite the propaganda, and theft and fraud are the least recommendations to hand a prospective employer. Some eight years later I have a job - as a gardener and groundsman - a car, a house and a big mouth.

A week ago they offered me shares in the company - truly a vindication and a sign that my past has been put to rest.

I even have a laptop - a MacBook - and a young family.

Regretably, my wife, partner and lover has developed Huntingdon's Disease. We've known for about 15 years she had the gene, but, we hoped she'd develop symptoms at such an old age it scarcely mattered anymore. Sadly, at 44, HD has bagged her.

She can still keep working, at present, although part time. Fatigue prevents her from doing a full day. Her courage is amazing and would I display such calm acceptance in the face of such a terrible disease.

There you go - just a fraction of an intro.

Don