I received an outstanding negative from a reader called Anne. Ms Mesmerize as she calls herself was ploughing through back issues of Friday and noticed that I never seem to get any negative responses and notes that I am treated as Mr Right! I always regard myself as Mr Right-Now but I appreciate the concealed compliment. Ms M ponders why I conceal my identity. I can honestly say that there was no motive on my part for wanting anonymity from the outset, apart from the fact that I wasn't really into putting my face out there.
In many ways, the air of mystery has helped the column because readers just make a decision on its merit based on the content rather than anything else. This is kind of strange for me to contemplate as I am a fierce advocate of style over content in many other ways.
Following up, Ms M posed three questions that I will strive to answer. On the question of my marital status – I was married but am no longer and I think like everyone I am definitely focused on sharing my life with "that special someone".
In terms of my age, I would answer that I am certainly old enough to have lived a life with a bagful of experiences and opinions that I feel privileged to share/inflict upon others, with the understanding that they are hung out there to dry for all comers to agree with or challenge. Like many people, I certainly don't feel my age or act it for that matter and to a certain degree enjoy the fact that I still feel like a boy.
Whenever I am in a position where somebody calls me 'Sir' I am still taken aback and think that they must be talking to someone else – I imagine that maybe Dad is standing behind me!
The last question was challenging my self-professed love of football and boxing yet observing that much of what I get into in the articles "sounds so girly". I don't really have any perception what people make of my writing and my opinions, but if being girly means that I have no fears talking about the sugar and spice and all things G*Nice in life then so be it.
I am big enough and ugly enough to take all the stones and arrows that come my way by just speaking about what's on my mind. I enjoy all the feedback, the good the bad and the ugly .. and much like the punches from my boys, I take them all on the chin.
Like those poets Public Enemy once rapped, "I roll with the punches so I survive, try to rock 'cause it keeps the crowd alive!"
So keep on keeping on, I welcome all opinions and enjoy the verbal sparring … and will always reply back to all who leave a personal e-mail.
Loving every second-ly yours
