Golden Days but at a cost?

George Best in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Airport - Like landing on another planet

Years 16 -21

What a truly magnificent period this was in my life. I left school, more with relish than regret. To be fair, I probably did better at school than I was deserving of. Artistic tendancies were my natural gift, along obviously with sport. Decision time then for me, whether to follow creative or active personal progression.

In the end, I opted for a Graphic Design Course, at Glasgow School of Art, which quickly proved a distraction, for my love and burgeoning success in badminton. I had reached junior international status, taking part in the European Junior Championships in Mulheim Germany which, kicked in a period of total sacrifice and devotion to competitiveness and WINNING!!! Without knowing it at the time, I never got to find out about myself, especially where members of the opposite sex, were concerned!!! No parties, no discos or nightclubs. Just training and competing. Think this aspect to my sporting/ personal development, will feature in it's own designated post.

That said, I did meet my first romantic acquaintance at 16, Susan Bell, who had legs to die for but, a personality akin to that of dried cardboard!!! Lets just say, not an ideal introduction to all things romantic.

I lost my virginity, on a night sleeper train, en route back from a competition in London. Susan made sure, this was a totally forgettable negative experience, from her perspective. Susan was too good at flouncing off with other boys, which I think did lasting damage to my understanding of boyfriend/ girlfriend workings ie accepting too easily, treatment others would find terminal. She had no issue at all, "playing the field" behind my back. I was too "green" to act decisively, which, was a pretty stupid trait on my part.

Meanwhile, back at home, Alan would have seen his father, starting to place quality preferential time, to myself, taking me all over Scotland, to tournaments. When I think back, this must have been exceptionally difficult for him ie considering he would have been going through the mill, being bullied. Of course I just did what I did, with youthful abandon, why shouldn't I have done, no-one knew of Alan's issues and, dad wen't out of his way, proud I guess, that one of his son's was emerging within a field, that matched his sporting aspirations ie albeit never competitive on his part.

18 was massive for me, receiving my first full, international cap, against Holland, a match which was expected to end tightly, either way. In the end we (the team) produced what was, one of the best collective performances, ever by a Scottish side, beating our opponents 9-0 in their own, home territory. An euphoric experience which, I will never forget.

Life had taken on a sense of direction and purpose, albeit, badminton was never going to pay the bills ie housekeeping monies, for my dear parents. Graphic design interest, ended in less than 12 months, I then moved on into the Civil Service, as a Clerical Assistant. Very much entry level, but this job, offered me "unlimited" time off (with pay), when badminton called!!! Badminton did do regularly too, so my sporting activity masked the fact, that my "day job" was never going to be anything other than a tedious stop gap. Brutally tedious in fact!!!

I was starting to open my eyes in life. One such experience came, during a brilliant trip to visit a couple from Los Angeles, who came over as part of the U.S Badminton Team. During our match, they invited me over to spend time with them, which I duly did, the following summer, flying Laker Airways from Prestwick Airport, to Los Angeles, which, at 18 years of age, seemed massive for me. When I got there we were taken across L.A in their soft top MG, I literally thought I had landed on the moon!!! In total shock, I was agog with shock and awe, palm trees everywhere and just taking in some amazing sites. This was to be a trip, of course, I would never forget, but also one, where I would experience, grief, for the first time, on my return.

My most vivid memories of my trip, were Gary & Diane's nuclear bomb shelter, in their back garden, which was had dual purpose, doubling up as an underground marijuana factory of sorts!!! I was offered some, but inhalation of any form of smoke, to my honed lungs (at that point!!), was and never has been, acceptable to me. I even saw Diane's cocaine lines, ready for consumption, one particular morning, these guys were obviously fond of substance abuse. A trip North up the coastal road, some few hundred miles, to San Francisco, then Sacramento (where I won a tournament) then onto beautiful Lake Tahoe, where I blew several hundred dollars, at a Casino.

Drunken escapades were not that numerous at this particular age (18), but it was one starry night (I knew it was starry as I ended up in the back of a pick up truck, totally bladdered, staring up at the skies, which came rushing forward to me!!!!) Gary and Diane took me to a place, near their home in Redondo Beach, called "Besties", yes, this was George Best's pub (the famous footballer). I was fed copious quantities of a drink, I have never had since!!! I returned home, coating Gary's garden with a personal internal nutrient ie I spewed lots!!!!

I was to find out on my return to Scotland, that it was this night, when my beloved grandfather, passed away. Back in Scotland, it was decided not to call me whilst out on holiday. I will never forget being picked up from Prestwick Airport and being told of his death, Alan staring out of his window and mum and dad, struggling to tell me.

The thought of enjoying myself, at a time, when my grandfather was on his death bed, sickened me, yes, I was hurt and debated family rationale behind keeping news from me, at distance.

Grandpa's death seemed so wrong, given my life was so positive at this stage, adrenaline of competitive sport, sexual hormones of youth and enjoying life in general. PERHAPS, more of my time should have been made, on my part, back toward my brother, easy to say though, with the benefit of hindsight. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, MY outside interests, versus Alan's introverted acceptance of his bullying, both played a significant part in what was and is, significant family dysfunction, unfortunately ie particularly with the consequences of bullying and his battle with long term illness.

Blind passion toward my sport, I didn't care on iota, about the caliber of my employ, in this respect I wasn't planning for the future, which, was risky..

Looking back however, much had to change in me, before I could call myself "street savvy" even up until I was 28, I was pretty shy, overly loyal and too trusting. My eggs in too few baskets!!!