All About Mark

I'm just an ordinary bloke, who likes beer, sport and good times. Remarkably I've made it to the ripe old age of 31. I'm very much in love with my wife,  with whom I'm delighted to be travelling and I intend to record my musings  and observations on these pages not just for me; but also for all the other "ordinary blokes" (and lasses!) where ever you may be. Who knows, maybe this will be the catalyst you need to send you on your way on the jolly you've always fancied, or rekindle fond memories of distant and not so distant places you've enjoyed, or, quite possibly, perhaps you'll just like to check in every now and then to see what scrapes this prat has got himself into recently.

I'm a Scot by birth, who grew up in England, spent a good few years in the US and most recently a little over a year in the Netherlands. It's probably fair to say I'm a bit mixed up, not very organised and like most other lads, not so great at keeping in touch (despite wonderful intentions) so this website will be a start to rectify that. On the other hand, I'm prepared to give anything a go, at least once, am more than happy laughing at myself and generally consider myself pretty bloody happy. 

People often ask me: "Why? What's this travel all about?" Why do you have this desire to leave work, home and most of what you know and head off in to the great "out there"? I think many folk would be able to answer this in a heartbeat; but me? Well, no. I like to play with it first. You can dress it up in an altruistic fashion and claim it's all about experiencing new cultures, witnessing different ways of life, challenging yourself to experience life outside your normal boundaries and thus broadening your horizons and gaining new perspectives to challenge the views you hold. I suspect that all these things do come into it but, for me at least, I have a sneaking suspicion that the bottom line is this... it's about fun. Surely this has to be the driving influence as you go off and try something new; you've got to think this will be fun. Why else would you try it?

On top of this, I've got itchy feet. And no, it's not some kind of fungal infection! I feel the need to imitate David Carradine in the classic TV show "Kung Fu" (though I'm not intending to shave my head just yet) and walk the roads of the land and use what I have learned for the needs and benefits of the people. (Can I be sued or something for ripping off old TV shows?) Sadly what I know won't be particularly beneficial to many people. Instead let's see this for what it may more likely be; a voyage of beer supping delight. It's time for fun. Anyone know if there is a beer called "Grasshopper"?

I'm having one of those moments where you try and figure out why you've turned out the way you have. Everyone do one of those wavy, shaky things that early sci fi shows would do as you were transported to a different place... weeeeeee.... That's it, we're now back in my childhood (ok so that cast back didn't exactly have the literary genius of Dickens carrying Scrooge back to Christmas past, but stay with me) and I recall my folks bought me and my brothers some books about great explorers. FYI my favourite was David Livingstone. This young Cassidy lad was enthralled and I think that since then I've really always wanted to go off exploring. Granted, a backpacking jolly these days is hardly the stuff of Ranulph Fiennes or Marco Polo but I think it shows I've had this desire for quite some time. There you go mum and dad, it's all because of you!

Ok, so the intro is complete. I hope that you'll enjoy visiting this site and sharing the times we're having. Please feel free to comment and keep in touch through email at mark@heideandmark.com 

So, until next time.... Take care and "be careful out there!" (Another TV rip off; thanks
Hill Street Blues, well you may as well be hanged for the sheep as hanged for the lamb!)

- Mark

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This Page was last update: Wednesday, March 3, 2004 at 4:20:16 PM
This page was originally posted: 11/22/2003; 6:03:05 AM.
Copyright 2008 Heide and Mark

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