Change in Time

Have you ever wondered how you got to where you are today?
As I enter my late 60s, I have spent some time reflecting on the life I've had. Was it the decisions I made, or those beyond my control, that brought me to this point-or the hand of fate, whatever that is?

Born on the 17th of July 1957, my personal life may not have been of great interest, but the time I lived through certainly was. In this book, I look through the decades from my personal experience and the seismic events that took place-and how they changed my life, not always for the better.

When I was born, the average life expectancy for a man was just over 70 years. Fortunately, in 2025, that expectancy has risen to 82 years-long enough to finish the book and perhaps even another chapter. My father passed away at 82, statistically perfect, and my mother is still going strong at 88. Dad would have said she always had the last word.

Thirteen percent of the population in the UK do not reach 65 years of age, so I am very fortunate that I have. I am healthy, with a wonderful wife, four great children, six beautiful grandchildren, and a faithful Labrador; a nice house, a nice car, and a moderate pension. I have had a great life, and for most of the time, it has been very comfortable. I am conscious that many people have health problems-both physical and mental-and live in deprived areas on limited money. Was I just lucky, or were there decisions in my life that brought me to this time and place?

For the first half of our lives, we all chase something; for the second half, we are running away from the inevitable. Phrases such as "all the time in the world" in the first half are replaced with "limited amount of time left." Taking out a 30-year mortgage in your 30s seems sensible; in your 60s, it seems stupid-even if you could. Life seems to merge, with days becoming weeks, weeks becoming months, and months becoming years. Perhaps that's why people with near-death experiences say they see their life flash before their eyes-it's a simple way of reliving the key moments.

In the book, I will cover the six decades from 1965 to 2025, starting at the age of eight. Partly because it fits nicely with the timeline, and partly because I can't really remember much before that. Experts say that children can remember from around three years old, but in my case, I must have been a late starter.

I will report on some of the key events in each decade from the perspective of my life and career, and the effect they had in shaping my future.

Having reflected on my life to date, I don't think I would change anything-even if I could. After writing this book, I may change my mind.