I have never really been a great fan of history; the subject always seemed to bore me. I was, and to an extent still am more interested in the future than history. I think this is because History cannot be changed but the future can be planned (almost!!) - ~However I am now beginning to think some how differently, you see if we did not have history to look back on we would not know where we came from, the successes in the lives of the people who trod this earth years before. We also would not be as advanced as we are now and would keep trying to invent the wheel.
We also would not be able to learn from our mistakes let alone the mistakes of the thousands and Thousands and tho.... of men, women and children who have been there and done that (t shirts were not popular then!!) before us.
I know some great people who are passionate about history and could tell you the benefits of it far more than I - Simon is one of these men, he has inspired me and taught me some interesting facts about history.
I was in India with Simon and other friends when I realised how little I know about history - I felt that I was only interested in my life and not in the lives of those who have helped get me to where I am now – Thank you Simon and all those who have directly and indirectly helped the world and i get to where we are.

This subject of history has really hit me this week when I was invited to join a team of guys at a game of paintball – I have played once before and was un harmed – however this experience was quit the opposite.
When we all had our camo gear on and pant ball guns in hand marching from one game to the next I began to think about all the people who have gone to war for their country... for us... for me. I began to get just a slight glimpse of what they experienced.
Now paint ball is quite harmless (if you don’t get hit!!). I got hit – My wife counted 27 on my bum alone – I must have around 100 bruises all over my body – that is from a small ball of paint.
Some of the games we played involved sitting in trenches attacking others, this was not a nice experience, the sound of the balls firing towards you, hitting the shields of the barricades around you, the cries of your team mates going down one by one, Then popping your head out from cover to see a mass of charging men all shooting at you – balls hitting you and you being out for the rest of the game. I was scared, the adrenalin was pumping and my heart was beating the fastest its beaten since the last time it was beating that fast!!
Playing this game of paintball this weekend made me appreciate much more the sacrifice our brothers and sisters, mums and dads, sons and daughters, friends, relatives and the strangers we have heard about on the news and in the movies have mad by going to war for their Country, for me...for You.....

...For us all