Paphos People

For me it was my Grandmother, widowed in her 20's. My Grandad whom i never met, came through the first world war unscathed only to die of cancer at the ripe old age of 29 leaving my Gran to raise 3 small children. She sent them all to boarding school and helped set up the Probation service in England. She was protestant and married a catholic and was ostrisized from her family so had to go it alone.

She was UK's first full time woman Probation officer and her stories were amazing. She was courageous, witty and dealt with life's blows with grace. She was a real hero. I remember sharing my meals at her house with many soon-to-be- inprisioned folk, male and female. The tales they told were often so sad. I knew that you had to have compassion in life.

She has had an acute influance on my life. She died when I was 12 but she has made me believe that you can do whatever you want to do if you believe in yourself.

Who has influanced you and why?

_________________
Life is what you make it.

Helen

Terry Waite.
Mother Teresa.

Both humble people. I have a deep faith, but in comparison it only touches the surface.

Their ability for forgiveness and compassion is something that I can aspire to, but I know I will never achieve.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

Simple :

My good old dad, and far too many reasons to mention

Rebel Sam X

Me too my dad was the most inspirational person i have ever known and a man of few words..

_________________
Alison

I'd have to say my mother, who had to leave me when I was 21

She was the hub of my family wheel & without her, the wheel fell apart & has never been put back together since

That is really touching, Pete. Your Mum's influence is still with you.

You do know that you have a reputation to keep up, and this little revelation into your softer side might ruin it?

Just goes to show there is more to people than forums reveal.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

Yeah I know but she also instilled into me that you get out of life what you put in & since I was 21, I've put a lot in & that's what make me who I am today

My military background just honed my skills & tweaked my abilities

I empathsise with you on this one Pete. My Mum also left us at the tender age of 50. The family fell apart. Try as I might I could not keep us all together. It's sad but life goes on. My step mother - and I hate use that phrase won't let me have any communication with my father at all. Not sure why and now I know that I must just let it go. It is not in my best interests to keep trying.
I am thankfull that I have had other influances to help shape my life if I had let my father influance me I would not have been the person I am today.

Tiggy

_________________
Life is what you make it.

Helen

Two people:

My grandfather
My husband

The most wonderful men in my life.

Y

My Grandfather He was a wonderful man not a soft touch but i admired him greatly he brought me up and helped me with his tough love I miss him everyday my one and only son is named after him xx Thankyou Joe Gore for being you x
And my husband Geoff who puts up with me and as my grandad said he deserves a medal for putting up with Alexandra. Geoff is my best mate and has made me beleive that there is love out there and everyone has a soul mate Alex x

My Grandad too. He was a wonderful man, my life, even as a young 16 year old boy fell apart the day he died of the big 'C'
He was funny, kind, straight as a die, would tell it exactly as it was, nothing was ever too much for him.
He taught me that Elvis was the greatest vocalist in the World and that john Wayne was the greatest actor and the western a great film genre.
I miss him intensely even now some 28 years later....

Then of course my parents, who have both always been there for me! I only hope I am always able to be there for my kids like they have been for me!