Monthly Archives: September 2018

I don’t think I’m likely to have much in common with many Conservative MP’s, so it was interesting some years ago, to have one such, Jesse Norman, say that he believed that there was a vast amount of untapped talent in this country. It’s a statement that I heartily concur with. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that I believe that most people probably hardly scratch at the surface of what they are capable of being. I know I didn’t until, approaching 40 and without realising it, I took those first steps. However, it wasn’t until 20 years later that I started doing what I should have done all my life; writing. Even then, it took me a few more years, when a friend said that I was an incredible writer, that I started to believe it. It has been a long journey during which, for most of it, life got in the way.  Not, I have to say, any longer.

Now, if this situation was only of interest to the individuals themselves, you could argue that it was a personal problem and of little concern to anyone else. In this, however, you would be mistaken.  First of all, those unrealised dreams are likely to lead to low expectations; something that can pass onto your children. Unfortunately, this scenario is compounded by the “barista” economy that is the government’s economic model of choice; a sad indictment of its views of the abilities of our young people who deserve so much better.

Yet you have only to look at the country’s history to see another model. One based on realising that untapped talent. Talent that has persisted over the years giving us, for example, the steam engine, the discovery of antibiotics, the telephone, television, the jet engine, the hovercraft, the folding buggy and, more recently, the world wide web; I could go on. So, this is a plea to work towards a different sort of society; one that operates on fairness and supports its people, such that they are able to develop their full potential. In this way the benefits are both individual and collective.

Finally, to end on the personal. Now, I may be someone who got waylaid by events, however, I don’t think I’m alone. Indeed I know I’m not, as evidenced by the people who were homeless and unemployed that I worked with when I was a charity Director. And secondly, one of the lovely things about being an author is that your books will outlive you. You could hardly ask for a better epitaph.

I tend not to prevaricate too much. Yes, I do my research first but then I usually hold my nose and jump. By that time, I’ve some idea of what I’m getting into, so action seems to me to be the appropriate response. Unless, of course the external circumstances have changed in the interim and, even then, these shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way. Those who know me well will tell you that that has been the pattern to my life. Whether it was making the best of a divorce, handing in my notice and becoming a single parent student, being unemployed, being dropped in at the deep end in failing charities and rescuing them, running marathons or writing books, it has served me in good stead.

However, there are circumstances under which I don’t do something that I really need to get on and do and this week has been one such time. So, I’ve done what I always do in these cases and just got on with and, guess what? What I’d put off doing wasn’t the onerous and difficult task that I’d built it up to be. In fact, it was relatively easy. Moreover, the result, a profile of myself, has been better than I’d expected. Not really a problem as words are my stock in trade.

So how do I know that there is something in myself that creates this situation and what is this fear that I feel, all about? Well, like, I suspect, many speakers, I find self publicity difficulty. In fact, I find it embarrassing. And, for me, embarrassment is one of my worst fears. In combination with another of my quirks, that of knowing inside, that I am quite capable while not really believing it, make for a powerful inhibitor. An antidote to which is to feel the fear and do it anyway, but I guess you knew that anyway.

I tend not to prevaricate a great deal. Yes, I may my research first but then I usually hold my nose and jump. By that time, I’ve some idea of what I’m getting into, so action seems to me to be the appropriate response. Unless, of course the external circumstances have changed in the interim and, even then, these shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way. Those who know me well will tell you that that has been the pattern to my life. Whether it was making the best of a divorce, handing in my notice and becoming a single parent student, being unemployed, being dropped in at the deep end in failing charities and rescuing them, running marathons or writing books, it has served me in good stead.

However, there are circumstances under which I don’t do something that I really need to get on and do and this week has been one such time. So, I’ve done what I always do in these cases and just got on with and, guess what? What I’d put off doing wasn’t the onerous and difficult task that I’d built it up to be. In fact, it was relatively easy. Moreover, the result, a profile of myself, has been better than I’d expected. Not really a problem as words are my stock in trade.

So how do I know that there is something in myself that creates this situation and what is this fear that I feel, all about? Well, like, I suspect, many speakers, I find self publicity difficulty. In fact, I find it embarrassing. And, for me, embarrassment is one of my worst fears. In combination with another of my quirks, that of knowing inside, that I am quite capable while not really believing it, make for a powerful inhibitor. An antidote to which is to feel the fear and do it anyway, but I guess you knew that anyway.

On Friday, we got back from two weeks holiday in Polperro, a lovely fishing village in Cornwall. Apart from the, very, early start to beat the traffic on the outward journey and the eight hour drive back, Cornwall was what we knew it would be and the reason we’ve holidayed there so many times.

So, late Friday evening, we pulled up at home and unpacked. Saturday was the weekly shop and a walk to Granary Square at the new King‘s Cross development (worth a visit). After a lie in on Sunday, Gaynor and I went on one of our weekend walks; this one to Bunhill Fields to the, newly identified, grave of William Blake as well as those of John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe. Then along the canal and a walk home. If you’re a Facebook friend of my wife’s, you will have seen her photos of all this already. Then brought up with a reality check watching Spurs being beaten by Watford! Back to normal, it would seem; which is the point of this blog. Why does the return from holiday bring an expectation that things have changed while you’ve been away when all that has really happened is that you’ve had a nice break?

Well, in my case, a quick realisation, if that had ever gone away, that I need to continue the process of stopping myself from being what I now know that I’m quite capable of being. It’s taken a while so far but I do feel that I’m now nearing the home straight. Hence the title of the blog which comes from a reputed quote from Michelangelo who, when asked how he turned a difficult slab of marble into the renowned statue, said that he just “chipped away the parts that weren’t David”. So, for me, it’s back to the hammer and chisel.