Exciting life stories...

Exciting life stories...

Author
Discussion

Rossay

Original Poster:

122 posts

167 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
May have been done, may have not...Regardless, Things could have changed since then.

Following on from a few threads i've read of Vicky's (Nolar Dog), Picking up on a few things she has said namely the change and going to prison twice.
I find that pretty extraordinary and made me think how some peoples lives have just had so much more go on in them than i could imagine.

Im thankful that i have never had to deal with any major life changing issues other than my Dad passing away when i was 14, Thats been the biggest and most horrible thing to happen to me.

Vicky has had to make some life changing decisions which i find incredible to do let alone think about.

Anyway, has anyone had any particularly fascinating lives that they would like to share?

(Vicky, i apologise on basing this around you in one way or another but a few things you said made me realise that there is more to some peoples lives than 'just' growing up. Very brave of you to mention such things though)


Ross.

Famous Graham

26,553 posts

224 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
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shout 10PS..

drivin_me_nuts

17,949 posts

210 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
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My partner. Grew up in Iran; has a great kind of colonial life in the world's biggest refinery town. Swam for her county, was going to medical school, war came, had to leave literally fight her way out of her town away from the invading Iraqis. Fought in the war, was a medical trainee. Scooped up brains and god knows what else. Watched countless friends die in the war and be murdered by a regime. Left, came to England barely speaking English. Studied at college, studied at university, got a degree, masters and a PhD whilst managing a restaurant. Ran a number of successful postdocs, prodcued some rather noteworthy and challenging papers and has been applauded a fair number of times by some highly significant and noteworthy scientists, including Nobel prize winners. Has taught students of biotechnology and medical students, set up a business, helps people step away from some pretty messy mental issues including bipolar, depression, cancer and PTSD. still has time for fun, can drink most chaps under the table and is about one of the sharpest and feistest people I have ever met. And she's five foot something tiny and weighs even less but when she enters a room, everybody knows.

I think that's a pretty interesting life.


Google [bot]

6,682 posts

180 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
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drivin_me_nuts said:
Inspirational stuff
Serious question and sorry to jump O/T; do you ever feel emasculated or 'in her shadow' (or should that be living in her radiated glory)?

drivin_me_nuts

17,949 posts

210 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
Google [bot] said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
Inspirational stuff
Serious question and sorry to jump O/T; do you ever feel emasculated or 'in her shadow' (or should that be living in her radiated glory)?
Nope. Not in the slightest. We are very different and have had very different lives. We've been together for over 22 years and have had until recently very different careers and I was with her through all the studying and she's supported me throughout my varing careers. It works very well and it is quite interesing though (well it makes me smile), I am much more right brained when working with our clients, I help them through all the heavy duty emotional issues and she's very adept at the logical aspects. It's a good balance.

There is also something else that is incredibly poweful and that is because she is the way she is, it lets me be 'me' and that is something I had never experienced before I met her.

King Herald

23,501 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
quotequote all
Exciting? scratchchin

Hmmmm, well, I'm a Cat 8 qualified sky diver, with over 60 freefall jumps to my name, maximum of 13,000 feet. But I'd say that was more terrifying than exciting. hehe

I've toured Europe on a motorcycle on my own numerous times. Definitely exciting, challenging, and rewarding.

When I was 29 (1990) I packed normal life in, sold up, and set off to back pack round the world, alone, which was, again, very exciting.

After six months I stopped in Thailand for a long while, partying, exporing, drinking etc, and finally bought a (dirt cheap) restaurant, and ran it until the Gulf war started, and went bankrupt. That last bit was not so exciting, more like 'gutting'.

Desperately broke, and hating the idea of skulking penniless back to the UK so soon, I then headed to Singapore with less than a hundred quid in my pocket, and lived in dirt cheap backpackers dorms for a few weeks. I soon found a job, in a sailing yacht company, as a mechanic. I worked there for two years, which was exciting again, sometimes....

Then, in '93 I lost that job, company got sold to the government, so I got a job working offshore on oil survey ships. I'm still doing that 17 years alter.

I lived in the far east for thirteen years, Philippines mainly, got married, had a daughter, then we moved back to the UK in '02.

And now, at the age of fifty, just when I should be thinking of the grand kids, gardening, cups of warm cocoa, etc, we've packed everything in and decided to move back to the Philippines again. biggrin

Three more weeks offshore to do and I should be joining my wife and daughter in the Philippines, hopefully, in a house they'll have sorted out by then.

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering
(Bruce lee)

TotalControl

8,017 posts

197 months

Thursday 10th June 2010
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Lets hope MBH doesn't find this thread. He'll be talking about how he fought dinosaurs and survived the comet 65 million years ago. hehe

Rossay

Original Poster:

122 posts

167 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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King Herald said:
Exciting? scratchchin

Hmmmm, well, I'm a Cat 8 qualified sky diver, with over 60 freefall jumps to my name, maximum of 13,000 feet. But I'd say that was more terrifying than exciting. hehe

I've toured Europe on a motorcycle on my own numerous times. Definitely exciting, challenging, and rewarding.

When I was 29 (1990) I packed normal life in, sold up, and set off to back pack round the world, alone, which was, again, very exciting.

After six months I stopped in Thailand for a long while, partying, exporing, drinking etc, and finally bought a (dirt cheap) restaurant, and ran it until the Gulf war started, and went bankrupt. That last bit was not so exciting, more like 'gutting'.

Desperately broke, and hating the idea of skulking penniless back to the UK so soon, I then headed to Singapore with less than a hundred quid in my pocket, and lived in dirt cheap backpackers dorms for a few weeks. I soon found a job, in a sailing yacht company, as a mechanic. I worked there for two years, which was exciting again, sometimes....

Then, in '93 I lost that job, company got sold to the government, so I got a job working offshore on oil survey ships. I'm still doing that 17 years alter.

I lived in the far east for thirteen years, Philippines mainly, got married, had a daughter, then we moved back to the UK in '02.

And now, at the age of fifty, just when I should be thinking of the grand kids, gardening, cups of warm cocoa, etc, we've packed everything in and decided to move back to the Philippines again. biggrin

Three more weeks offshore to do and I should be joining my wife and daughter in the Philippines, hopefully, in a house they'll have sorted out by then.

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering
(Bruce lee)
As horrible as it sounds, i love hearing the old '2 quid in my pocket' storys! makes you realise its what you do to make things work.

Very interesting and i wish you all the best with your move! Thanks for sharing!

(Pension soon big chap! *RUNS*) LOL

trooperiziz

9,456 posts

251 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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Jesus fking Christ

Nolar doesn't need people attention whoring for her, she does enough on her own!

GTIR

24,741 posts

265 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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trooperiziz said:
Jesus fking Christ

Nolar doesn't need people attention whoring for her, she does enough on her own!
Now hold on a cotton picking minute young man. Will you stop with this bashing of a perfectly nice PH'er.......

Oh, thought you was talking about MBH.


Carry on.... thumbup

FastLaneGirl

1,177 posts

190 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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I nominate my parents.

My Mum grew up as one of 5 children on a tiny island on the inland sea of Japan. They had to grow most of their own food, bar the ferry that came once a month with supplies they couldn't grow. Following the death of her eldest brother, in the typical Japanese guilt way, her mother went onto to commit suicide. They moved with their father to the mainland near Kobe, but sadly she was orphaned by the age of 25.

Being a very non-comformist Japanese lady, she knew she wanted to escape the restrictive life and society of her homeland. Bear in mind she is almost 70 now, what she did I think is quite remarkable for a woman of her age and era. She taught herself English from watching movies, while working three jobs to save money. During this time she had to support the youngest brother, who drank & gambled away every penny he made. She never went to university.

Once able to, she left Japan and travelled alone across most of the Middle East & Europe, ending up in England where she found work as a chambermaid in a hotel. Making other Japanese contacts, she started doing some tour guide work for holiday makers, eventually working her way up to become an interpreter. During these early years, she was having a drink with some clients in a pub in Earls Court, London, where she met my father. Recognising a fellow lost soul, they fell in love & married within six months (she aged 33 at the time). They spent 2 years living in Canada, where my dad did semi pro rally driving (he is my PH gene!) until they were deported for having the wrong visa.

Back in the UK, now aged 36, she realised she would love a child, I came along. They bought their first house (15% mortgage eek ) & she built her interpreting career while my father worked as a microbiologist in a local hospital.

Mum's career took off in a big way, she worked her way up to become one of the top interpreters in the country, going to the G7 summit, meeting royalty, etc etc. When I was 9 my dad took early retirement and my mum was the sole, very successful breadwinner. She has only just retired smile

My Dad's story is quite different, but equally I am amazed at the life he has lived.

He married young, aged just 19 (although that was common for his time) to a woman who already had 2 children from a previous marriage. He brought them up as his own, and had 2 further children with his wife.

Following on from his 2 years National Service, he realised he enjoyed the Army life & wanted to see the world. A working class boy from Peterborough, like many men of his generation, it was the chance of a life he would never otherwise have.

Sometime during his army life it transpired his wife was having several affairs, one very long term (his 'daughter' is suspiciously dark like her long term lover). Despite this he continued to support his family, until she announced she wanted a divorce & was moving to Australia with said lover. Dad sold the family home, gave her every penny & she disappeared with his children.

Dad went on to serve nearly 20 years in the army, leading a very diverse career, some of which he would never talk about. He worked his way up to RSM, and left just 11 days shy of the 20 year mark. We now believe this may have something to do with not wanting his ex-wife to have his pension.

He arrived back in the UK penniless & homeless. He slept on a bench in Marble Arch, too proud to take the money offered to him by kind strangers, and asked for and got a job at the mobile coffee stand, saving every penny until he could rent somewhere to live.

Not long after this he met my mother, he was 48 when I was born. He effectively led a whole new second life with us. Despite the traditions of his generation, he was more than happy to be a supportive stay at home husband so mum could work and do the job she loved.

I have him to thank for my PH tendencies, after "biscuit", the first words he taught me were the names of cars, until I could recognise them by their badges!

Sadly he died 2 years ago, but he remains a huge influence in my life, and although unusual, I'm very grateful for the family I have smile

julian64

14,317 posts

253 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
FastLaneGirl said:
I nominate my parents.

My Mum grew up as one of 5 children on a tiny island on the inland sea of Japan. They had to grow most of their own food, bar the ferry that came once a month with supplies they couldn't grow. Following the death of her eldest brother, in the typical Japanese guilt way, her mother went onto to commit suicide. They moved with their father to the mainland near Kobe, but sadly she was orphaned by the age of 25.

Being a very non-comformist Japanese lady, she knew she wanted to escape the restrictive life and society of her homeland. Bear in mind she is almost 70 now, what she did I think is quite remarkable for a woman of her age and era. She taught herself English from watching movies, while working three jobs to save money. During this time she had to support the youngest brother, who drank & gambled away every penny he made. She never went to university.

Once able to, she left Japan and travelled alone across most of the Middle East & Europe, ending up in England where she found work as a chambermaid in a hotel. Making other Japanese contacts, she started doing some tour guide work for holiday makers, eventually working her way up to become an interpreter. During these early years, she was having a drink with some clients in a pub in Earls Court, London, where she met my father. Recognising a fellow lost soul, they fell in love & married within six months (she aged 33 at the time). They spent 2 years living in Canada, where my dad did semi pro rally driving (he is my PH gene!) until they were deported for having the wrong visa.

Back in the UK, now aged 36, she realised she would love a child, I came along. They bought their first house (15% mortgage eek ) & she built her interpreting career while my father worked as a microbiologist in a local hospital.

Mum's career took off in a big way, she worked her way up to become one of the top interpreters in the country, going to the G7 summit, meeting royalty, etc etc. When I was 9 my dad took early retirement and my mum was the sole, very successful breadwinner. She has only just retired smile

My Dad's story is quite different, but equally I am amazed at the life he has lived.

He married young, aged just 19 (although that was common for his time) to a woman who already had 2 children from a previous marriage. He brought them up as his own, and had 2 further children with his wife.

Following on from his 2 years National Service, he realised he enjoyed the Army life & wanted to see the world. A working class boy from Peterborough, like many men of his generation, it was the chance of a life he would never otherwise have.

Sometime during his army life it transpired his wife was having several affairs, one very long term (his 'daughter' is suspiciously dark like her long term lover). Despite this he continued to support his family, until she announced she wanted a divorce & was moving to Australia with said lover. Dad sold the family home, gave her every penny & she disappeared with his children.

Dad went on to serve nearly 20 years in the army, leading a very diverse career, some of which he would never talk about. He worked his way up to RSM, and left just 11 days shy of the 20 year mark. We now believe this may have something to do with not wanting his ex-wife to have his pension.

He arrived back in the UK penniless & homeless. He slept on a bench in Marble Arch, too proud to take the money offered to him by kind strangers, and asked for and got a job at the mobile coffee stand, saving every penny until he could rent somewhere to live.

Not long after this he met my mother, he was 48 when I was born. He effectively led a whole new second life with us. Despite the traditions of his generation, he was more than happy to be a supportive stay at home husband so mum could work and do the job she loved.

I have him to thank for my PH tendencies, after "biscuit", the first words he taught me were the names of cars, until I could recognise them by their badges!

Sadly he died 2 years ago, but he remains a huge influence in my life, and although unusual, I'm very grateful for the family I have smile
I'm afraid I would have your parents over any others. Stories of great deeds and famous do's, don't much interest me. But parents who carve out normality from adversity tend to be my hero's.

gilla

19,741 posts

189 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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I don't think most of mine is suitable for disclosure on a public forum...

as you were wink

ALittleEXcited

16,969 posts

194 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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Threads like this make me want to jack it all in and travel.


off_again

12,252 posts

233 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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I would nominate a chap I used to work with - ex-career army. Joined after national service and stayed. Worked through ranks to become a spook while the services were being formed. Basically knows 4-5 languages fulently and has been EVERYWHERE. The stories were great though, spying while waterskiing in the med is one of the best though. Getting paid to do that and ended up good enough to trial for the country as a result.... oh and the women...

Fantastic and took it all in his stride, fantastic man who threw everything at his life and has clearly 'lived'.

Of course, I would also say my parents. Although they never did anything spectacular, the fact that they came from no where and got to where they ended up is testement to the durability of the human spirit. My father died a few years ago and my mum is now terminally ill - but the odd thing is that even this doesn't seem to phase her. Wife is taking her to hospital to get some results after the current set of Chemo - she's on her third set now! Doctors didn't think she would get through the first set and she's still going. Fantastic.

v15ben

15,780 posts

240 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
I wouldn't say my life has been that exciting compared to some of these stories so far, but I'm going for the maxim of 'Living life to the full.'

The interesting stuff started when I was the first in my family to go to uni. At 19 I went off to study in Sydney for 6 months, travelled around Oz and NZ. Worked a summer of music festivals and race events in the summer after uni then went to Tanzania to build a kindergarten, teach kids and deliver books and sports kit to kids in remote schools in the western Serengeti. I came home and worked in a 'normal' job for a few months then went travelling round Asia for 3 months and worked in Sydney for a further 4. Turning up in Beijing alone, in the middle of winter at 6am and travelling round the country with no organised trips was great fun. I came home and ran a plumbing warehouse for a while then worked as a travel agent and now work as a debt collector! I've done a teaching English course and will be leaving to teach in South Korea this August. I've visited 23 countries since 2006 and plan to visit plenty more too - Carpe Diem smile

In a totally different vein I'd also nominate my grandparents, now sadly passed away. They met aged 3 and 6 and were together for nearly 80 years. Grandad went to war serving as a mechanic in Europe, the Middle East and was involved in Dunkirk. They had pretty well no money after the war so Gran started a career with BT and became the first female telephone engineer in Yorkshire apparently! Grandad set up his own business from nothing (which was sold for over a £1 million in 2008 with 40+ staff in fact!) They had 4 sons and took in another 2 teenage lads when their families couldn't keep them any more. They retired, bought a canal boat and travelled all across the UK on it including a month volunteering at a national event (unpaid and in their 70s!) and travelled the world too. All self made and from nowt smile

bonsai

2,015 posts

179 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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Rossay said:
Vicky has had to make some life changing decisions which i find incredible to do let alone think about.
He didn't have to though did he! He chose to lop his cock off of his own volition. In fact he paid someone many thousands of pounds for the privilege.

Nolar Dog

8,786 posts

194 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
GTIR said:
Oh, thought you was talking about MBH.
nono "were"

Some of the exploits (particularly of parents) are fantastic and very inspirational. You should be very proud! smile

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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drivin_me_nuts said:
My wife blah blah blah
Excellent stuff. Very impressive woman. Makes you feel insulated doesn't it?

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Friday 11th June 2010
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v15ben said:
I went on holiday twice, once
Wow. Puts some of these other stories in the shade.