Notes from a small town boy

Okay, so how did I start going from not smoking a cigarette to been on 20 a day for over 18 years to quit the habit. Well, it was an easy choice from the first day I joined the Army in 1992  these who smoked got time to chill and relax smoking a nice bifta , Burn, Fag, Smoke, Ciggy. So it was only a matter that I would join the gang of smokers in my Platoon anything to get a few minutes without the platoon staff turning my life upside down and inside out. I had been posted to Queen Elizabeth Barracks in York and for the next 6 month carry out my basic training and then joining one the regiment’s oldest battalions in the British army The Green Howards. I had tried smoking when I was about 10 or 11 however my Mom had caught me and told me to get in the house and go to my room. I remember the fear I felt expecting a smack around the lug or a kick up the backside, however, this was different my dad was out at work and would not be h...

How did I end up here hanging of a rope in the Middle East inspecting a safety sling on a Jack up rig.  This is my little trip on this planet with a few laughs along the way with some Kind, amazing people, Strange places, Wonderful sights, awful smells, crazy taxis,   bad grammar,  bad food,  From a loving home in Thornaby on Tees with a great family full of fun laughs to  joining the Army  for 22 years and visiting lovely places along the way such as  Belfast, Canada, Oman, Bosnia, Germany, Afghanistan,  Iraq. and a few other countries with  lots of different bars, funny currency,  Well my story is quite a simple one and for the next few weeks or months I will share this with you and tell you my how I became afraid of heights to working in rope access, NDT inspections and coaching and mentoring rig crews in health and safety .