“I was born in South East London, and lived in the suburbs of Kent. I Joined the army when I was 21 and came out when I was 28. I always used to come down the west country for holidays, so I’ve always had a love for it. I spent 6 and a half years in the army, and saw a lot. Nearly got eaten by a pride of lions, It was one of the many times God’s come into my life. I got a 5 and a half year prison sentence for the importation of drugs from Jamaica, again God found me there. Didn’t get into too much trouble while I was in jail. then I come out and I get back into drugs again. Thats when God sent Norman. He said I should come down to church, and I said nah, the don’t want me up there. But they did, and I’ve loved it ever since. I’ve been surfing for thirty years. Down here I was part of this hedonistic crew of surfers… I went out surfing with a couple of good guys, big wave surfers, lifeguards. This one wave come up and it just stopped - It was like time stopped and i thought, ‘That aint right’. When it comes over you and just like hovers for a second then it goes… bang. I was down - pinned to the floor and it felt like a long time. Then it all went beautifully blue. It was a miserable day like today, but it went beautifully blue. And I was just laying there thinking, ‘why am I looking at myself?’ I could see myself on the floor, the seabed and I was thinking to myself ‘this aint right.’ Then I got pulled out. In that time I was down there God spoke to me. He said, ‘There’s work to be done. Don’t be so stubborn. Seeing is believing - believe what you’re seeing now.’ My mate said’ I thought I was gonna have to save you!’ and I said, ‘Didn’t you pull me out? he went ‘No!’ He was miles away! I was still trying to be stubborn thinking it can’t be God, it can’t be God but it was God, indeed. To be touched by God like that is just… I was helpless. Helpless against his love. I cried and cried and cried! But it was a lovely experience. I’ve got a lot to learn when it comes to Christianity. I’ve lived a different life to most people. Many a varied track have I rode but I always think there’s such a thing as a loveable rogue! I had a girlfriend, and I thought now is the time to settle down and it went horribly wrong. It was a horrific time in my life. She took the kids with her, they were very very young, she went off with another man. and I tried and tried and tried. I had a court case, trying to get parental responsibility for the kids… She kept denying the court order. they threatened to put her in prison, I said no, thats it I can’t have the mother of my children going to prison. Couldn’t live with myself. So I got Albert, and his sister Dafney, My English bull terriors. I love it. I love Cornwall. It’s just one of those places. Me and Albert, we could walk the cliffs for hours. We’ve walked all round Cornwall - there’s something raw about it. I love the sea, the seas in my blood. My dad was merchant navy, amongst other things he had a varied life n’ all... The bus used to be a mobile museum for Kent Heritage. Drove her from Kent all the way down to Cornwall. Yeah, she just purrs. Me and albert live very close to nature, to the point where we lived in a flat and had no electric and no water, so we appreciate it. I lived off the land here. God will provide, and he does provide. I left for a year to be with my mum when Dad died to help her out. But I couldn’t wait to get back. I get back to Cornwall, and I get a tear in my eye.”
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