purpose

Back in 1978 a few years after I got married I made one of those few decisions that I actually stuck to. I decided I would collect the UK commemorative stamps that come out every month and I have done so to this day. When get out the stamps they look pretty impressive but I have to say I am not particularly keen on being a philatelist! The very word sounds to me very ‘anorak’. There are a number of hobbies that give me that ‘anorak’ feel. Pastimes such as ‘train spotting’ and ‘bird watching’ do that very thing for me. I have done both in my time. I have stood on railway platforms to see the trains come in but in my defence they were steam engines back then and I think that that makes all the difference. To stand on the edge at the beginning of a platform, just at the point where it slopes down and away from you and feel the power of the locomotive as it pulls the express into a large mainline station billowing smoke and steam, whistle blowing, was truly impressive. 

Bird watching is something else. Now I love to see birds, to observe them and to know their names but to wear all that green camouflage kit and carry huge binoculars and cameras around on massive tripods I just don’t understand it – but hey! – each to his own. But could I give my life to these things? I don’t think so! It is what I find so sad about supporting and following your football club. People give their all to it but when it goes pear shape as it frequently does in this neck of the woods there is all kinds of angst and blood letting.