I am a content man

George 72. Married for 50 years.Two children, four grandchildren. Retired Police dog handler. 

How are you? 

I am very much governed by the weather. When I open the curtains and the sun is shining I feel much better. If I have a project that I’m working on I’m okay, but if nothing’s going on I can slump. When the slump manifests it can slip into depression. I’ve been like this on and off for 20 years. In the early days it could last 2 - 3 weeks and I’d be really down. These days I’ve got more of a grip on it. If it lasts more than a couple of days I can talk myself out of it. I blow small things out of proportion. When it was bad I didn’t want to associate with anyone which I don’t think is the right thing to do. Going for a walk and being with people is so much better for you. 

Something happened to my dad when he was out in the Far East in the war, I never got to the bottom of it. He went inward. He clamped up for two years. Trying to live with someone with no conversation must’ve been a nightmare for my mum. These days we talk about things more. 

How do you see yourself?

There are times when I don’t like myself but those times are rare. Without sounding conceited, I'm quite happy with myself. I'm certainly an optimist. Always look on the positive side of things. I’m pretty easy to get on with. I don't suffer fools; for example with Covid, I’ve come across people with conspiracy theories. I lack patience with people like that. I’ve learned to ignore them.

Covid has been going on for 12 months now and if you’re not careful you can become a bit of a recluse. We forget what it was like before. We had a pretty good social life. We have a caravan and go away a lot on holidays. I love my holidays. Being at home all this time, just the two of us, I’m lucky - 99% of the time we get on very well. I look at the positive side. 

How do you think other people see you?

I joined the police when I was 21. People say I’m reliable and conscientious. I took my job very seriously. I loved it. I got one or two injuries along the way. As you get older the injuries don't heal as well as they did and you start to feel a bit more vulnerable. After 30 years in the police I’d done my bit. I didn’t want to be rolling around in the gutters on a Friday night anymore. It’s not an old mans job. I don’t have the same strength. 

What do you like about yourself? 

My patience and tolerance. I’m not short fused at all. There has been occasions where I've been working out on the streets and people have pushed me right to the limit but I’m tolerant with people. I've never been vindictive or abused my power. 

What do you think about marriage? 

It sounds really old fashioned but I think it's the basis for good family life. I'm was glad when my kids got married. I think it's one of the best institutions there is. Marriage is a really good sounding board for your kids to grow up in. You hear such horror stories of blokes having four or five kids with four or five different women. What sort of way is that for kids to grow up? 

We’ve been married for 50 years. I think through your married life you unknowingly have your roles in the house and in life - it’s automatic. For example: I always drive if we go out together. We have our quirks. 

What do you think about children? 

I don't think a family's complete if you don’t have children. I know some people can’t have children and I feel sorry for them. We get a lot of pleasure seeing our kids and grandkids growing up. The only problem is, they grow up too fast.

Where does all your energy go? 

Normally outside. I spend a lot of time in the garden. My Dad was a keen gardener. I’ve always liked gardening since I was little. I love everything about it really. Do you talk to the plants? Not that I know of (laughing). I feel better when I’m productive. Sitting around doing nothing isn’t for me. 

What are your dreams? 

This may sound a bit boring but I don't want to do anything else. I am a content man. I've seen most of the places I want to see. I don't really want to jump on a plane for 24 hours and go to Australia or New Zealand, it doesn't grab me anymore. I’d like to go to Kew gardens.

What's your most memorable experience to date? 

When I was on nights, I was parked up outside the local Town Hall in my dog van. I got a message over the phone telling me to make my way to the hospital. I got there, all gowned up and my daughter popped out into the world. I was on nights when my son was born too but I was fast asleep and in the morning I didn't get up to see his birth. He never lets me forget it!

The other memory changed my whole career. I always wanted to work on the dog section.  I sneaked my application in early and after three and half years I got an interview. Later that day I got a phone call telling me I was accepted. I’d been wanting it for so long - I’ll never forget that phone call. I’ve always been passionate about dogs. 

Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by people who build their own properties. I've never been able to design things, to put ideas down on paper. People who build their own homes, who get visions and can translate them on to paper and then into an actual building. I do quite a lot of DIY, I'm not incapable but it’s something about the the grand scale I just cant see it. It must be amazing to see your thoughts and ideas come alive. In a similar vane, being able to write a song is inspirational too.

What did you think about the weather? 

The weather is a big factor for me. If I can get out for a couple of hours outside my serotonin levels rise and that affects my mood. Could you see yourself living in a warmer climate? I’d love to live in Cypress but I could never leave my extended family.

What do you think about life? 

When you look up into the galaxies and the universe there’s got to be other beings out there. We can't be the only life in the universe. 

I certainly don't think things have got better in my life time. Obviously technology has moved on at a tremendous rate. If my parents came back now they would be flabbergasted at all the things we take for granted. I think life seems more difficult now, it’s more complicated than it needs to be. Life gets even quicker the older you get.

What do you think about death?

I’m not frighten of death. I don’t want to end up in a home. I don't think I'd be able to handle that. I’d like to be pottering in my shed and one day just keel over. 

The way I'm thinking is that once you've gone, you've gone but it's strange and probably irrelevant, but I will tell you anyway: I watched a film the other day about a dog. It was brilliant. The dog went through four or five different lives as different dogs, when its time came - the screen went hazy then the dog came back as a completely different pup. and I thought, that’d be good; to just fade away then come back as somebody completely different and carry on.

I've certainly heard other people say they’ve had usual experiences, I wouldn’t say ‘that’s rubbish, get a grip’, because things like that do happen. The supernatural must happen. It just has happened to me - yet! It's not that I'm a skeptic, I just tend to take things on that face value. I need evidence. 

What brings you down?

People's attitude and actions sometimes wind me up. Thoughtlessness. One time I remember hearing a story about how a fly tipper dumped 300 tyres on a farmers land. The farmer caught him and as punishment made him load the tyres onto a trailer and then the farmer dumped them in the tippers front garden! That’s a lesson.

What do you think about faith? 

I do have faith but I’m one of those who calls on him when I need him like when I was in the throws of depression years ago. It sounds wrong and I know it's wrong, if you've got faith you shouldn't just use it for when you’re desperate and in a dark place. I should give thanks for what I’ve got now rather than when I need help. Would you say you got help when you asked? Yes, definitely. Prayer work in mysterious ways. I went to church growing up. I do get a good feeling when I’m there - a warm feeling. There’s an atmosphere that feels right.

What do you think about doing this?

Conversations are important. If we're not careful our grandchildren's generation will lose the art of conversation very quickly. They all seem to be on their gadgets. It's really sad and a definite problem. If we go out for a meal for example - they’re all are sat at the table on their iPads and phones.