SMB 7 Up

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7 - Living in Australia after emigrating from North East.
14 - At Usworth Comp - average, got on with most people, playing footy for school.
21 - Was in second job, working at Berghaus. Moved in to flat with girlfriend in Downhill.
28 - Married with son, living back in Washington. Started job in software development. Father-in-law died.
35 - Working in Newcastle, moved to latest house, dad passed away.
42 - Mother-in-law died. Sabbatical from work, 6 week trip to Australia - returned to redundancy.
49 - Working as an IT contractor, mother passed away suddenly.

Both me and the missus parents are gone, my son left home this year. Just the two of us again. Life is canny though and we intend to spend more time doing things we've put off due to jobs etc. Playing guitar, writing songs/stories, drawing, more holidays. I'll probably drop dead tomorrow. :)
 


Glad I'm not the only one here to have made it to 'Level 9'!!


7 - St Greg's in Shields. Great school, happy place. Me dad took me to see Sunderland v Benfica. Doomed. Touched Jimmy Savile's hair.

14 - St Aidan's. Rapidly discovering that being a clever kid wasn't enough unless you combined it with a bit of hard graft, but not caring enough to do anything about it. This attitude was to continue for some time ...... Played football for the school team - once!

21 - Left Birmingham Poly with an undeserved HND, having previously screwed up me A-levels and had to abandon previous career plans. Began a fairly enjoyable 18 months on the dole, made even more enjoyable by a lass who was at Newcastle Uni.

28 - Into 2nd 'Career' as a teacher in NE London, having retrained after a couple of years selling steel. This one lasted 28 years. Living with a woman who I later married and generally loving life in the smoke, thanks in no small part to SAFCSA (London Branch)

35 - Had enough of London and moved to Wiltshire. Bought a nice house, in a nice little town, and was working in a nice school. Marriage seemed back on track after a bit of a blip, life seemed settled, the road ahead seemed clear .......

42 - Still teaching, but in Bangkok. Divorced, remarried, doting dad of my first son, though another one came free with the new wife. Having never set foot outside Europe till I landed there at 37, I'd discovered that Asia seemed to suit me pretty well. I did miss the live music scene in the UK, and the matchday ritual, and the seasons, but there were alternatives, and a whole lot of bonuses.

49 - At the end of 2 years back in the UK, most of which were spent trying to find a way back to Thailand, while doing supply teaching at various places off the A19 including Seaham (canny) and Peterlee (horrendous). Eventually found an escape route and headed back with the family, forever .....

56 - Back in Shields, living at the house we moved to when I was 5, caring for me Alzheimer's stricken mam, and bringing up 2 teenage lads on me own. After a couple of years teaching skunks which wiped out what was left of my love of the job, I was now working as a postie and enjoying a great new relationship with someone who I'd actually fallen for 30 years previously (but who wasn't available then!)

63 - Pretty much as above, minus me mam who finally passed at 96 as I was on the bus down to Wembley in 2014, and my two lads who are currently at opposite ends of the UK. Still enjoy being a postie, still feel blessed to have ended up in such a great relationship 'at my age' and still reasonably healthy. Can't say I'm looking forward to the next 'landmark' - sounds terrifying - but certainly looking forward to 'the journey'.

No regrets, coyote.
 
Inspired by the documentary series, give a brief snapshot of where you were in your life at each seven year period.
Up (film series) - Wikipedia

7 - Living in Southwick. At Primary School, finding it a piece of piss and generally being top of the class.
14 - Senior School, despised it.
21 - Still in my first job at Edward Thompson's. Out getting pissed loads.
28 - Back at home after living in Australia for a year. Started work in a call centre.
35 - Had my own home and had written my first novel. Working stupid hours in my first software role. First stay in hospital after nearly dying from losing four pints of blood.
42 - Had a good career in software, earning decent money enabling me to travel a lot. First book was published. Reminded of what was important when one of my best mates died age 34.
49 - Full time as a writer. Editing novel number five. Skint. Been to Wembley for eighth time and still not seen us win.

Not being nasty or anything but do you have Aspergers? It's just your life seems to follow the path of a high functioning aspie. Nee offence like.
 
7- Redhouse infants, I hated school but was always top of the class (just like everyone else). Out nesting and generally up to no good when not at school.
14- Redhouse Comp, hated school even more but always in the top class. Bored, no idea what I wanted to do in the future. Enjoyed a couple of sneaky cans after the matches.
21- Working in Holland as a carpenter earning in a week what I used to earn in a month in Sunderland. Sex, drugs, beer, wasted the rest.
28- Working in London for "Loads a money" in the winter and then on farms in Norway in the summer for virtually nothing.
35- Still earning good money in London, still getting pissed almost every night, married to a rich Brazilian tart so was expecting to live happily ever after.
42- Married to a Pompey lass and living in Pompey after selling hers and my houses in London.
49- Still married, Pompey, holidays.
56- Same again, getting boring. A younger sister died, I realised life is short, almost sack the wife but worked things out between us.
 
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7 - Junior school in Northumberland, yet to discover the heaven/hell that is SAFC

14 - High school (hell), Punk Rock & alcohol (heaven) and the odd trip to Roker Park

21 - Degree completed, embarking on PhD, living in Preston / Cardiff (Roker Park on the odd trips home).

28 - Married, first house (St Helens), leaving shite job in industry and starting as a lecturer Manchester Poly.

35 - Two kids (daughters), still married, still lecturing, living in Widnes, more cash regular home and away games with me Dad (best mate)

42 - Three kids (son added to rota), still married, still living in Widnes, mixture of lecturing and consulting. Season Ticket holder at SoL and lots of aways with me Dad (best mate) and elder daughter. Plenty cash, life is good

49 - Still married and living in Widnes, pretty much full time consultant. Eldest daughter (18) starts Uni, Son (9) plays football supports Sunderland. Younger daughter (16) 2 years into a battle with anorexia and related mental health issues, life has generally fallen apart due to daughter's illness, Season Ticket given up (there are more important things in life than football)

55 Still married and living in Widnes, pretty much full time consultant. Eldst daughter completed degree (Law) and has lived n New Zealand, Canada, and Austria. No 2 daughter finally kicked the anorexia habit and now studying in Cape Town, where she lost the habit thanks to some wonderful treatment and a supportive community of likewise lost souls finding their way home to themselves. Son just finshing GCSEs and Sunderland SC holder with his Dad. Life is good again.

What a brilliant idea for a thread, really cathartic typing that out
 
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7 - living by the sea in Kent, loving school, loving life, playing war and falling out of trees and building tanks for action man out of tissue boxes like on Blue Peter. Scared shitless of quicksand and for some bizarre reason, bus conductors.

14 - not living by the sea any more, living in the middle of nowhere and communing with foxes, hating school and the noncey and/or violent bastards that with a couple of honourable exceptions comprised the teaching staff, developing a serious interest in getting out of my head whichever way I could on whatever I could lay my hands on. Still wary of quicksand, but not that bothered by bus conductors.

21 living in Durham, having a much better time, playing in a band, met my wife and proposed to her within a fortnight, still together 30 years on so instincts were good. Lived off Worcestershire sauce crisp sarnies. Got told to fuck off by Bjork. Had a stupid car-surfing phase. Didn't die.

28 married now but no kids yet, the job I took ‘for now’ after graduation mysteriously turning into what was looking like a career. Lots of gigs, lots of fun, occasional bump in the road but we got over it. Looking back it’s hard to think how we filled our childfree time. Yes, even with lots of that.

35 first a son had come along, then four years later at 35 a daughter. Changed our world in so many ways. Fucked my lower discs in my back and had a couple of years of a lot of pain. Went an unexpectedly long way up the tree in my ‘just doing this for now’ career despite being either sleep deprived or weirding out on a prescription drug that rhymes with Spamadol. Maybe that’s the key.

42 dominated by dark times. lost my dad in a (literal) heartbeat, and then straight after lost my mam over two horrendous years which saw her eaten away at by a mystery illness, then the discovery that it was terminal leukaemia that was behind it. Spent much of my spare time up and down to York. But ended up with a profoundly deep relationship with her, and the knowledge I’ll always carry that I was there for her, when she needed me. Found the whole ‘I’m an orphan now’ thing both laughably melodramatic and gut-turningly true.

49 to present: grew into who I am. Started up something on a whim which has been incredibly satisfying and has led to some great friends, some brilliant opportunities and connections, and generally feeling that I’ve found a niche I wish I’d found ages ago. One of the best things I’ve ever done. Still haven’t decided what I want to do in my actual pay the bills working life, which is a bugger as I’ve reached as far as you can get in my profession. Had a lot of heartache and despair with daughter. Got married to the same person again, but this time our way, up a mountain, by a lake, just us and the kids. Started being shortlisted for, and winning awards for, and getting trips to Mexico for, just writing stuff. But seeing my son and his mates get a record deal and generally living the ideal life makes me happier than any of that. Also, have not yet been drowned in quicksand.
 
7 - East Rainton primary school. Riding my bike down the little bank that crosses Hedgeley Road and miraculously never being hit by a passing car. Attended my first game at Roker Park 1991.

14 - Parents moved down to Teesside while I was away on French exchange. Dad made redundant. Trying to get settled into a new school.

21 - Back to medical school after a year out doing various dull admin jobs. Trying to work out future direction while lusting after a lad on the course, very unsuccessfully.

28 - Left hospital job following stress and depression. Married to Mrs Ostrich and retraining in psychotherapy.

35 - Second child born last year. Trying not to take life too seriously as our five year old runs rings around us and the 1 year old daughter makes us laugh with her daily antics. Careers going well and both of us working 4 days a week to be with the bairn. Seemingly cracked the work/life balance for now. Daughter teething and son seemingly allergic to sleep so also cracked how to function with extreme tiredness. Wouldn't go so far as to say I love my job but feel very lucky, particularly after wife's best friend went into premature labour with twins and lost one. Remind myself that when things seem tough to be grateful for what I have.
 
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7. In a little Catholic primary in York. Labelled a potential genius, thanks all no pressure there then..
14. Council House kid In an all boys grammar hating all about it. Preferring to be an apprentice boot boy with a chip on his shoulder, running wild at 70s football.
21. Hitting the gym, driving a van, having a laugh living like Bob Marley, CND, anti Nazi league days. Just met our lass.
28. Married, with one boy and another on the way. Just started working as a salesman in York (turns out jah will not provide the bread) , moved into own little semi house, doing canny for a boy.
35: Now been 5 years in the North East working as a sales manager, Nice detached, company beamer, top money, two holidays a year but working 12 hours a day for it.Taking my boys to Roker is my weekend break. We had both lost our dad's around then.
42: Moved to work office based in insurance compliance, sales has burned me out a bit physically, morally and mentally and I have a sense I need to start learning things rather than blagging it. Start of a bit of a chaotic spell matrimonial, financially and mentally to put it mildly.
49: Made redundant so gave my head a shake and started university to be a mental health social worker, I had been doing voluntary so now I can do it full time. Not the genius they thought I was in primary but it turns out I'm not daft either.
On the home front one kid up and away teaching, one still at uni and were still at the match together..Still married, just after a dodgy period, but my own shit is now well squared away and we're starting to recover..

56; Just finished post grad and working as a psychotherapist for NHS, earning just about what I did 20 years previous (not inflation adjusted ) but loving helping and still learning. Home life pulled round, me an our lass back doing OK all forgiven both ways so on we go, kids both educated and doing well and we've just heard our first grandchild is due.

That was 5 years ago, 2 years until the next watershed God willing
 
7. In a little Catholic primary in York. Labelled a potential genius, thanks all no pressure there then..
14. Council House kid In an all boys grammar hating all about it. Preferring to be an apprentice boot boy with a chip on his shoulder, running wild at 70s football.
21. Hitting the gym, driving a van, having a laugh living like Bob Marley, CND, anti Nazi league days. Just met our lass.
28. Married, with one boy and another on the way. Just started working as a salesman in York (turns out jah will not provide the bread) , moved into own little semi house, doing canny for a boy.
35: Now been 5 years in the North East working as a sales manager, Nice detached, company beamer, top money, two holidays a year but working 12 hours a day for it.Taking my boys to Roker is my weekend break. We had both lost our dad's around then.
42: Moved to work office based in insurance compliance, sales has burned me out a bit physically, morally and mentally and I have a sense I need to start learning things rather than blagging it. Start of a bit of a chaotic spell matrimonial, financially and mentally to put it mildly.
49: Made redundant so gave my head a shake and started university to be a mental health social worker, I had been doing voluntary so now I can do it full time. Not the genius they thought I was in primary but it turns out I'm not daft either.
On the home front one kid up and away teaching, one still at uni and were still at the match together..Still married, just after a dodgy period, but my own shit is now well squared away and we're starting to recover..

56; Just finished post grad and working as a psychotherapist for NHS, earning just about what I did 20 years previous (not inflation adjusted ) but loving helping and still learning. Home life pulled round, me an our lass back doing OK all forgiven both ways so on we go, kids both educated and doing well and we've just heard our first grandchild is due.

That was 5 years ago, 2 years until the next watershed God willing
Never had you down as 61 either.
 
7 living at wheatley hill, nothing special, just a typical chilhood.
14 moved to peterlee after the colliery houses were knocked down. Went to wellfield school. Developed an interest in motorbikes.
21 left wellfield with a few o levels. Got an apprenticeship as a welder at djb. My dad died. Starting to become a bit of an angry young man wanting to smash the state, joined class war etc.
28 calmed down, met and married the mrs. bought our first house in hutton henry.
35 still married, still in same job, same house.
42 still married. Moved house but just down the road. Took redundancy and started driving hgv's. Best thing i've done.
49 my mam died. Still hard to take being an adult orphan. Still married. Bought a house in the algarve. Still on the wagons.
Why do you enjoy driving hgvs?
 
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