Becoming a Man

Growning up I had two real male influences in my life........and who have shaped me into the man that I am today. I can catch, skin, prepare and cook wild animals (although try not to need to do so anymore!) , can treat a woman with respect, can discuss cars and engines (with the impression of knowing what I'm talking about!)compete in a scrum or lineout, chop trees, give my heart to a woman, neck a pint in about 3 seconds, (enjoy sitting with kittens, cry at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, draw and read a map - not sure about the validity of these)

My first was my paternal Grandfather, who died when I was about 7 years old. He was a veteran of the Second World War, who spent the rest of his life in the army, as a senior officer in what became the Yorkshire Regiment, and who was on one of the last ships out of Singapore before it fell. Despite never speaking of what he did during the war (although I have researched it and the decorations that he received were well and truly won!) after the war he dedicated his life to nature conservation and became a senior officer in the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. I only knew him for a short time, but remember him strongly as as wonderful man, who put his family first before everything, and was a complete gentleman, despite his somewhat rebellious youth! He and my Nana lived in York and we would go over every other Sunday where we would play in his garden, and he had a small sweet box which we were allowed to choose one after dinner, before watching the A-Team, Tom and Jerry, and wrestling (the proper wrestling with Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy.....when wrestlers were real! I'm pretty sure of that fact :) )

He was the first person to give me chocolate (at the age of a couple of months, even though my Parents were not going to give us sweets!) and promised me a whole large bar of chocolate when I could lift his medicine ball! Unfortunately I was only able to do this after his death. He was also the first person to give me beer (I say gave me.....rather he had vats of homebrew in ths garage that I was able to access!) I will always remember him and will always regret not having more opportunities to spend time with him.

The other male influence who has made me the man I am now and shall always be the most important man in my life is my Father. He like his own Father is a genuine gentleman, and I believe that without his influence and guidance I do not know where I would be. Like his Father he is ex-military who has developed a deep seated love for nature and the environment. He is kind and generous, will give his last pound to anyone who needs it, will treat a woman with respect, but is also hard working but still a lot of fun to be around!

My only hope is that if I can be even a fraction of the men that my Father and Grandfather are or have been then I will have really have acheived something with my life