Hello and welcome.
I’ve been thinking about blogging for some time now. I love writing and communicating, and have always had a lot to say! I’ve just never quite got around to setting something formal up.
Unbelievably, it’s got to the stage where my own father, 59 years young, has beaten me to it and starting blogging himself (you can check out RevvyB’s blog in the ‘blogs I’m following’ section)!
So – what will I be blogging on? Well, as you’ll see in the ‘About Me’ section, my interests are fairly standard but include great variety – and they provide me with all sorts of things to think about, talk about and reflect on. Hopefully you’ll find them interesting too – and discussions/debates/friendly arguments will open up! I’m keen to hear the views of other people too.
By way of introduction, here’s a bit more detail on my interests….
1. God
I am a Christian. I was brought up in a Christian home, with my father working as a vicar. However, I was not forced or brainwashed into being a Christian myself. I made a clear, conscious decision when I was 16 to believe and trust that Jesus really is who he said he is, and have lived in the light of that ever since. Undoubtedly, the best decision I’ve ever made! I’m not going to ram my religious views down anyone’s throats in this blog – I never would. But my faith is absolutely integral to who I am, and it underpins every aspect of my life. It’s only right that it’s the first thing you know about me.
I attend Gateway Church in Leeds with my wife, which is part of the New Frontiers movement of churches.
2. Sport.
I am passionate about sport. I just love it! The entertainment, the competitiveness, the challenge, the way it unites (and sometimes divides) people, the way different cultures engage with it. It completely fascinates me! And of course, like any self-respecting sports fan, I have strong allegiances to certain teams. There are various teams/players in all sorts of sports which I admire, but these three teams are the ones I support unwaveringly, and whose progress I monitor pretty much daily:
- Everton Football Club.
Being brought up in Liverpool (a ‘scouser’), you are faced with a choice: Everton or Liverpool. The city’s two top flight football teams have battled it out for over a century, and between them have an impressive haul of trophies and honours. Liverpool is somewhat unique too, in that whole families can be split in their allegiances. I have a brother and father who support Everton (the major influences on my decision to do the same), whilst my older sister supports Liverpool, and my younger sister follows Manchester United (!).
Being an Evertonian has helped to shape me into the man I am today. I have learnt to deal with disappointment, to cherish the high points when they sporadically arrive, and to never expect too much or get carried away!
Seriously though, the people I have met, the places I have been to, and the events I have witnessed while following this football club have created for me a wealth of great memories – and long may it continue.
- Buffalo Bills.
American Football always used to baffle me, growing up. I could never quite understand what was going on! It was only in University, when I started to make an annual effort to watch the Superbowl with friends, when I really started to understand the game. The tactics are mind boggling, while the physicality is brutal but often unbelievably impressive. I’m now part of an ever-growing following of the NFL (National Football League) here in the UK. With games beamed over on to UK tv from America every week, more and more people are discovering the game over here, and I feel like I learn something new about the game every time I watch.
Why the Buffalo Bills, I hear you ask? Well, pretty much the first non-Superbowl game I watched was a Bills match, and they sensationally blew a winning position with a last minute collapse against the New England Patriots. During the game though, their fans had been brilliant. It was a partisan crowd at the Ralph Wilson stadium, creating an unbelievable atmosphere which came over brilliantly even watching on the tv thousands of miles away. The looks on the faces of those fans at the end really resonated with me! I instantly felt an affinity with them – perhaps it’s something carried over from my love of Everton! Anyway, from that moment, I knew the Bills were my team, and I’ve followed them through thin and thinner ever since!
My love for the team was solidified in a visit to Manhattan in 2008, where I watched a game with the NYCBBB (New York City Buffalo Bills Backers). A painful 10-0 home defeat to the San Francisco 49ers was made so much more bearable by all the beer I could drink and all the Buffalo wings I could eat for just $20!
- England cricket team.
I love cricket – and the England cricket team has always been an entertaining bunch! My early memories were of Gooch, Gower, Gatting, Malcolm and Russell. And I’ve watched as the game has become more and more professional and exciting over the years. The current crop is incredibly talented and on their day it seems they can beat anyone. It’s a great time to following English cricket.
I’m a keen player (although not at a high standard) of the game myself, and have always delighted in the nature of the game. The polite, gentile atmosphere, the leisurely pace, and the slow build up to an often exciting and nail-biting finish. Plus – any game where you get to stop in the middle for sandwiches and cake can’t be a bad thing! Whether playing or watching, it’s a wonderful social sport, ideal for building friendships.
3. Music
I’m not going to get all emotional and arty-farty about this – but suffice to say that music is really important to me. I have a healthy and ever expanding CD collection at home, taking in all sorts of different styles and genres, and I’ll no doubt share plenty of my favourite stuff with you through this blog.
4. Food and drink
Who doesn’t like food and drink!? But my particular passions at the moment are slow cooked meals and real ales. Again – expect to hear plenty on this subject!
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