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Rev. Mac. BSc.
I grew up in a relaxed and comfortable suburb of a small city. There were plenty of beautiful beaches close by and Saturday and Sunday trading was forbidden. The suburb was also 'dry', so you could...view moreI grew up in a relaxed and comfortable suburb of a small city. There were plenty of beautiful beaches close by and Saturday and Sunday trading was forbidden. The suburb was also 'dry', so you couldn't buy alcohol there either. You had to visit the much poorer neighboring suburb, if you wanted to purchase alcohol for home use.When it came to shopping there were no malls, but the main street of the city opened until nine on a Friday night, and the next biggest street opened late on a Thursday night. You waited until the Monday if you had forgotten something including petrol. I was ten years old before I saw a television set. It was at a friend's house, and broadcasts were limited to the late afternoons and evenings. However the new medium was so exiting that sometimes after school, we would spend a few minutes watching the 'test' pattern. It was broadcast before actual programs began so television installers could tune new televisions.The elementary school I went to was close, relaxed, and took everyone including girls. There was no hurry to achieve anything. So all things considered life was OK. I spent time swimming, boating, sailing and fishing, as did everyone around me. Our parents grew their own vegetables and citrus trees. Milk and wonderfully smelling fresh bread were delivered to compartments attached to the mail box. The Police had very little to do other than enjoy the weather. There was a well stocked free library, inside which I spent considerable time reading.However, my parent's marriage started to crumble so they did their own thing. I was sent to one of the best schools academically, but it was brutal, boys only, a long bus ride, and during my first term there, I was caned for failing tests. My resentment was not about the actual caning, but why someone hadn't prepared me.By the time I left this idyllic suburb to travel overseas, everything had changed. I took my expected degree, went to the United Kingdom, married a highly intelligent woman, and learned about other cultures. For a short time I came back to my country, where commercialism now ruled completely, but left four years later to return to the United Kingdom.It was there that I co-invented a board game and got better and better jobs, but home is home so I returned, ended up divorced, and after awhile was ordained at the local church. However the church's reluctance to provide a toilet and running water, meant that I could not continue there.Finally, I approached retirement. I decided to publish paperless stories of my life so I could have a hobby for when I retired. Fortunately, my son had the necessary skills, and as over the years, I had written about most of my life, I had the material. Now I have reached the point where I also want to publish my experience and knowledge to see if I can promote worthwhile discussion.view less