did life turn out the way you wanted????

[itsonlymoney]

Not really

Left school no exams did'nt turn up for them.
Dirty arse biker in with the roughest of them till my late 20s
Started first business in 85
Second in 89
Got married 90
Had lovely daughter 93
Divorced 97
Cleaned my act up ie. hair cut, shave, nice clothes, 97 (funny how divorce makes you evaluate your life)
Met current partner 98 (still very happy)
First boat 2000
Shot competitive clays past 18yrs represented NoE ABT team 3 times runner up (in class) Eng.open DTL 2000
Fence (foil) qualified coach

Now that I see it written down I am quite happy with my life both past and present
Would I change anything. only the married part but I would still want my little girl.

Ian


<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[Crewgirl]

No need for surprise - we make time for the more important aspects of our lives!



<hr width=100% size=1>La vie aux temps perdue

 

[Planty]

Reading this lot above, you're all just a bunch of thoroughly nice people really with all the values and beliefs one might expect, nice to see some of us came to where we are by very unusual routes. Cracking to see how many are happy, generally.
For me, here goes: Left school just wanting to be Cock of the Block (Tit!)

Left Grammar School, no qualifications, trainee hardman and 1st class prat!
Became Naughty but Legal Hardman (Not Proud!!)
Welding Qualification
Pipework for Oil Company Fire Protection
Started Fabrication Business with other family members
Bought Petrol Station to get away from Family Business
Started Bathroom Supply Business.
Sold out, toured Europe with Beautiful Blonde (Wife) on 1500 Goldwing for ages.
Started again with Bathroom Installation Business, still going now includes Kitchens & Fireplaces Nationally.
2 Heart Attacks and being run over by a 40 ton truck in Spain crushing 70% of left foot, all in the last 5 years, made me realise value of all I have.

Could be happier, but only if I could sail away on the boat with Jules and the boys yet still afford a reasonable life. Generally I'm blessed. Paul



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[itsonlymoney]

Paul
Have you noticed how many people in Business have no real qualifications except in life ? Is it bacause we were un-employable due to bad attitude /forums/images/icons/wink.gif
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[Roy]

Ultimately I guess it did... I grew up in a broken home with enough money to go round, I thought, but with hindsight I realised that I grew up in poverty. At school in the sixties i was inspired into learning guitar by pal who went on to become founder member of the band Procul Harem (Whiter Shade of Pale) Saved up weekend farm job money to buy some clapped out gear and then messed with bands and then left school at 16 with only two o grades, into navy. Left at 19, got married and soon two kids. Jobs: Worked in Chippy, Dug holes in roads, Sold Windows, Double Glazing, Worked for frozen food factory for 7 years and as a bouncer/barman at nights and another part time job during the day while also doing business studies at Aberdeen Uni - -How did I manage?? I often wonder. Then a spell running prestige golf clubs for 11 years. Then built my own house, started a business which after 5 years of graft went bust leaving me and my family almost bankrupt, and struggling to feed ourselves. Started a new business in 1993 which has given us the riches and rewards that I always wished for. Happy??? Well the first million was nice but after that and the cars that cost more than my house, the effect wears off. We also gave a lot of financial help to family members who had supported us and believed in us when we were on our knees. I run the business now, not for more dosh, but for the benefit of other people who show great promise in my organisation. I get my share of money anyway. The real happiness comes from the freedom of choice that success can bring. Like collecting my grandkids from school if needed to, doing the garden during business hours is another favourite and so is boating or shooting during the week when it's less busy on the water. We have travelled the world and spent money on the best of hotels and cruises etc, but I am happy at home, on the boat, around friends and family and enjoying plain food and cold beer. I'm probably a typical tight git too, no, old tight git, which is why I must stop this drivel and go finish painting the bedroom cos, after all, why pay a tradesman if you can do it yourself?? Roy

<hr width=100% size=1>What does this mean then?

 

[Kevin]

Hi

It is interesting that most people seem happy and that most of the time its due to the unexpected twists and turns of life but ironically perhaps we all seem to spend so much of the time fighting to be firmly in control of everything.

the only thing to me that really matters in life, outside of family, friends and loved ones, is experiences, everything else is wholly irrelevent and will be treated as such

Kevin

 

[Planty]

Is it bad attitude or a belief that things should be done quickly, efficiently, well and ultimately profitably, which when one is employed has a habit of illuminating other peoples shortcomings?? Agree though seem to meet a hell of a lot of folks that are inordinately successful that have not got the accepted "qualifications".

Makes one wonder therefore why most parents set their children targets that include A Levels, Degrees etc. In my limited experience graduates seem to have had common sense "taught" out of them, thus have to be led, exactly the opposite of what one expects, somehow?. All IMHO of course. Paul

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[LittleShip]

You become a millionaire then get a boat ?????

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I wish I'd been born rich instead of good looking ?

 

[Renegade_Master]

Brought up in the country used to ride horses.

Upon leaving school became a first generation mod rode scooters

Became a hippie and took up guitar, still play today. (also took up some substances like you do)

Various jobs for several years, including road manager for all girl band
called "Bitch" /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Took up real biking in early twenties, had numerous fast bikes till near death crash (after 30 years) slowed me down, so got a boat instead.

Built successfull business over 5-6 years, made enough to fulfill next dream......

which was move to Spain, oh and start a sea school/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

oh and managed to maintain rugged good looks/forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>

 

[Kevin]

The problem with qualifications is that often it can mean a person is well read but doesnt neccesarily show intelligence, there is a huge difference in my view between the two.

The problem with qualifications is that they vary year to year and that it only compares directly to your peers whilst intelligence is always there. This is shown with the mockery which is now the A levels whereby they equate to the old GCE's leaving many Universities now having to adopt their own entry qualification test to determine the applicants true abilities.

Not belittling qulaifications I spent years getting my O, A and Degree in physics but i ultimatly know that they are bits of paper that doesnt give any guarantees that Im capable of doing anything. I think Univeersities and the traditional structure of exams is going to have to change the start being vocational qualifications but they will only take off once employers start to take them seriously which many dont! until they do many parents still se the traditional GCSE, A and degree route as the safest for their childrens future

all IMVHO

Kevin

 

[DogStar]

Aaah! The paradox of Western Society!

Look at any respected figure, or anyone who has achieved anything significant, and with a few notable exceptions, none of them will have had the 'ideal' upbringing we all want for our kids.

On a personal level, all the people I get along with tend to have that in common; they all seem to have had a rough time of it when they were young.

If you are shielded from life, how can you say you've lived? When kids have a hard time growing up they end up having to make a choice between using their past as an excuse to behave badly, or being determined not to treat others as they were treated.

We only really learn from experience, not by listening to people who have experienced. I think this what employers are realising, and why graduates don't walk into jobs anymore.

<hr width=100% size=1>I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!

 

[Planty]

I agree with all you say, in fact I believe we would be far better in a lot of cases directing our children toward the more traditional "skills" qualifications. We use plumber, electricians, carpenters fitting Kitchens & Bathrooms throughout the UK and a "qualified" tradesmen at the same age as a University graduate having served 5 years leaving school at 16, will now demand £220 - £250 a day in the provinces and £250 - £300 a day plus congestion, parking etc in M25 or M4 Corridor. Also of course they experience all of Lifes rich Tapestry, inc the bucket of steam, glass hammer, long weight routine!!

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[Aardee]

Is an "Arctic" like a truck, only colder??? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>"I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me" - A A Milne.