What's Happening With Neil - Usually Not Much...

This is me - or rather, it was me around 1970. I was four years old when I started School (at Upton Road in Bexleyheath) and probably about five in this picture. It was as a lad that I started many of the hobbies which are still going strong.
This is me - or rather, it was me around 1970. I was four years old when I started School (at Upton Road in Bexleyheath) and probably about five in this picture. It was as a lad that I started many of the hobbies which are still going strong.

Who is Neil?

 

I am Neil Bedford and I live in the South West of England - which is lovely. I grew up on the London/Kent border, have worked as a welder and market trader and have never been idle. I am married to the ever-beautiful Grace, with a grown-up daughter, Forrest, who means the World to me.

 

I also have an 'unofficially adopted' daughter, Ana, who lives in London and who also occupies a special place in my heart. I have known Ana since she was a toddler and Grace has known her since she was born. We are very proud of both of our girls.

 

These days Grace is enjoying a well-deserved retirement and is kept busy looking after the house and family. Forrest has had a number of quite different jobs and I work in a large Government office, still thinking that one day I might find myself a proper job to do.

 

I like to be busy and so I fill the rest of my life with quite a bit of "stuff' (too much stuff perhaps these days as I am getting a bit older). 

So What Things Are Important To Me?

 

I am very close to my wife and daughter and the three of us really look after each other, not least because we are nearly three hours drive from our nearest family members and have consequently grown to be very self-sufficient over the years. Outside of my little family, I like to fill my hours with all of these things:-

  • My job - my career has been very worthwhile, interesting and has involved some great people - in many ways, I have been quite lucky.
  • Dogs
  • Old Cars (especially Minis)
  • DIY / Building projects
  • Model making of all kinds - but with a focus on Meccano
  • Hiking and Camping - usually on my own and pretty wild
  • Sea Fishing
  • Drawing and water colour Painting
  • Old Books - especially the 'Biggles' stories of Captain W.E.Johns
  • Contributing articles to various model magazines
  • Maintaining this little website and writing the occasional children's book for family members

Dear Visitor,

 

Thanks for taking a look at my little blog.

 

I started this in 2014 when there was a lot of conversation about blogs and I wondered how hard it could be to knock one up.

 

It was originally intended just to keep pictures in some kind of structure and to stay in touch with a few pals who live around the UK and wider but it has become useful in other ways too. I rotate content from time to time to keep it looking fairly fresh or to make some space (which is limited all the time this is a free website).

 

Apologies for not having a contact page but I did have one previously and could actually not keep up with emails. Because some of these related to car and building safety, I felt I should probably leave these questions to the experts as H&S is not always high enough on my agenda and I didn't want anybody getting hurt trying to copy any of my daft antics.