In 1999, I was asked to write an article for my local newspaper, the Southern Daily Echo, in reply to an unprovoked, scathing attack on the gay community, by a local Member of Parliament. I had initially written a letter to the editor in response to an article, composed by Sir Desmond Swayne MP, detailing his objections to the lowering of the age of consent for gay men, to equal that of our heterosexual counterparts. The article he wrote was a shuddering diatribe about homosexual men and the lifestyles we were accused of leading. His comments were hurtful, degrading and utterly appalling. After reading his piece, I had to put pen to paper and make my voice heard.

Immediately I contacted the Editor, utterly horrified that this article was allowed to be printed in the first place. The words Sir Desmond wrote were extremely disturbing and at times defamatory in nature. I didn't recognise the wayward description of my homosexual brethren and I didn't understand why someone could be so misguided in their views.

The editor explained his stance on the matter and asked if I would like to write a column the following week, in reply to Sir Desmond. Still incensed about the 'out of touch' MP, I sat down to write what I considered to be a measured and fair reply. The reality is, I just wanted to knock the guy out, but that would have just reinforced his bigoted views, making me the degenerate he referred to, all to frequently in his composition.

Every time I have seen this man, still Member of Parliament for the New Forest, on television, I have literally switched over, or growled vocally at the screen. I have had no time for him ever since and just cringed at his lack of knowledge on a subject, he really should have researched before launching into a public attack.

Imagine my surprise today, while browsing through the newspaper headlines on the internet, as I do every morning, when I came across this article from Sir Desmond Swayne. I thought to myself, 'oh God here we go again, the old bugger is off on his usual rant, about the evils of homosexuality!' However, NO, No, this was a discourse about change and how Sir Desmond had seen the light and admitted how wrong he was..... I don't mind telling you, I was gobsmacked; this was a man holding his hands up and saying he was mistaken and inaccurate in his assessment of gay men and incorrect for saying the things he did, and I couldn't quite believe it!

Personally I am not sure such a man can change so much. Don't get me wrong if he has really seen the light, then I embrace him with open arms. But hugging Sir Desmond is probably not going to happen anytime soon. This person had such anti-gay views, that I just can't see how they have transposed out of all recognition. Homophobia is a particularly entrenched attitude, one that usually takes generations to change. One man miraculously reforming overnight is a little hard to believe, though it has to be said, not impossible.

Rest assured, I will be writing to Sir Desmond Swayne, after I finish this article to discover just what has happened. It would be great to stand up and admit I was wrong for thinking a leopard never changes its spots, but is he really a rehabilitated character?.... Whatever happens, I must go and have a lie down; once again, the World is a little stranger, my head a little foggier and in retrospect that column I wrote in 1999 may never have happened at all!

I have been a blogger for nearly five years now  and spend a good proportion of my life blogging about pretty mundane stuff really. It is something I enjoy and a passion that was born out of adverse times. In April 2015 I started to document a very difficult period in my life, for no other reason, than to keep my own sanity. There is something very soothing about putting words down on a page and offloading your inner most thoughts. By the end of entry 1, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders and was looking forward to entry number two.

My own circumstances turned to illness and I spend a year writing about my struggle with depression. It was an important part of the heeling process and the beginning of a vocation that I have always continued, almost on a daily basis.

Of course much has happened in my life since 2015, there have been many ups and downs and I have always found a reason to blog. Not only do I enjoy writing, but I also want to help others. You only have to look at the different categories on the right-hand side of this post, to understand the subject matter I choose to write about. Bullying, homosexuality, Expat life, illness, family and politics, just some topics I cover. The blog has reached many people, who continue to read it when they can. I have had letters, phone calls, emails and messages from hundreds of loyal readers who just need someone to talk to, who understands their plight. The most import aspect of blogging, is the connections I have made over the years.

Coronavirus has changed the focus of my writing greatly. Today I find myself commenting on a subject that has touched all our hearts. This is an important time in history and it is the job of writers, diarists, in fact any one of us, to record events for posterity and our families for generations to come. The dreadful loss of life, brave key workers, nurses, doctors and all those who play a role in keeping us safe at this time, need to be recognised for their efforts in helping to stem the tide of disease.

Of course, I am also in self-isolation, having been told to stay at home because of the symptoms I now have. Being told you likely have the illness is a bombshell, but it is also important, for me to keep writing and carrying on with normal life. Other people may decide not to even speak about their symptoms, but without words, how will others understand the seriousness of this situation. Each one of us is vulnerable, young or old, and we need to follow Government guidelines to the letter!

It is necessary to clarify my aims and objectives as a blogger from time to time and although my focus changes, to suit the times we live in, the reasons for writing are always the same - Making others aware of the circumstances that shape all our lives. I don't hide my emotions, I wear them on Roaming Brit and until I decide otherwise, I will continue doing what I believe is right. Words from the heart are worth more than money itself!

It has been four years since I started blogging in 2015 and I am delighted to say I am enjoying it more today than I ever have. Blogging has become an important part of my life, it is the first thing I do when I wake up and the last activity I undertake before bed. Writing is a passion that will never be broken; I look forward to the next four years.

I have learned a lot since I started my first blog 'Bipolarcoaster' in April 2015. 'Bipolarcoaster' was a first tentative step into the unknown. I made many mistakes but always maintained the same desire to record and document my thoughts, feelings and events, which true to form, still remains today.

Thousands of people click on 'Roaming Brit' daily, all wanting to read about my latest endeavours. My life isn't particularly exciting, but the difficulties I have experienced and continue to experience have resonated with those who take an interest in the stories I tell. To all of you who continue to read my entries, I would like to thank you for your commitment and for highlighting the subjects I write about - mental illness, homosexuality, bullying, travelling and life living in Spain. Your loyalty is humbling and you are all responsible for the success of 'Bipolarcoaster,' 'Forever Enduring Cycles' and of course my latest blog 'Roaming Brit!'

As I enter my fifth year blogging I hope to keep your interest alive and tackle many more difficult subjects, close to my heart. As ever your participation is crucial and I look forward to hearing from you, as I do in your messages, texts and emails everyday...You are all 'Roaming Brits!'

I was lucky enough be able to express my view, on the contemporaneous 'Brexit shambles,' in the Portsmouth News this Saturday. A colleague who writes for this popular Newspaper contacted me and asked if I would say a few words about the current situation and I was of course delighted to do so. As most of my readers are aware, I am extremely opinionated, especially on political matters, so It will come as no surprise as to my thoughts.

'It is important that the Government implement the wishes of the general public, which thus far they haven't. We should have left today no matter what these over paid MP's think. Parliament has set a dangerous precedent. People will only take so much! The whole process has been a shambles from beginning to end... LEAVE MEANS LEAVE!'

It does seem from the above article, that I am not the only one who thinks the way I do. Brexit is the talk of this great maritime city, as it is in every other corner of Britain and the majority of the general public think the same -  Brexit is a bloody shambles and the problems that surround our departure are getting worse. The reality is, there seems no end in site to this Parliamentary impasse and Britain appears stuck in a vicious cycle of blame and shame.

Today I don't want to go into the details of Brexit, because I have done so many times before, but I do want to talk about ordinary people, not the useless politicians, the Prime Minister or the EU, just people like you and I, after all we are the ones that will be dealing with the aftermath of our exit, long after Theresa May and her cabinet have gone.

People are incredibly angry that Brexit has been delayed. As a country we voted to leave the EU three years ago and we are still very much a part of this union. Our wishes have been ignored and the selfish rhetoric of MP's in the House of Commons has taken priority. It does feel that everyone of them has their own damn agenda and they couldn't care less about the electorate they serve. As a disgruntled voter, who is disgusted with all those who represent me, I want the whole lot of them to go. Their self serving egotism is a stumbling block to our eventual freedom and I am appalled by
their continual uncompromising, stubborn and tenacious behaviour.

The Great British public are fed up with MP's squabbling and for the good of this country they need to pull together and do what is right for us, the people. That means politicians compromising, putting their own pride to one side and finally working as a team for the good of the UK. People demand a resolution to this ridiculous charade; all of us want to lay this chapter to bed; I urge and encourage all those engaged in petty party politics to start talking about the issues that are important to us - housing, education, the NHS and the cost of living, just a few of the concerns that have been forgotten over the last three years.

None of us know where we are heading, what the future holds and just how we are going to get out of this mess. If Theresa May can't command the confidence of Parliament any longer, than it's time she left and allowed someone else the chance to solve this crisis. Until then expect more of the same, more inaction, more fighting and more inertia until the day finally comes, that we can celebrate our independence once more!

Blogging has been a powerful tool, helping me through some terribly dark days. My mood is always reflected in the words I write. Sometimes deep and dark, more often positive and looking forward, to a new and exciting chapter; cautiously making my way along this rocky road, I do what I can to make sense of my life. The biggest gift a blogger can receive is from their followers; commenting, commending, commiserating and in a few cases criticising, sparking debate. This week I heard from a reader, whose story struck a chord, taking me back to a time I thought had passed, but poignancy has dictated an old path to cross...Somethings just can't be forgotten!

My sincere thanks to Mr Paul Robertson for his correspondence today nominating and confirming  me as a winner for the Versatile Blogger Award. I would like to thank him for his support in reading my blog and for taking time to aknowlege my writing as a source of inspiration for him. It's readers like Paul that make all the difference in what we do as bloggers!

As part of the awards process, I am required to include 7 interesting facts about me and nominate a further fifteen bloggers to join the growing list of winners.

1. I have been writing since the age of ten!

2. I have never won anything in my life, so this is a first, well actually a second, I have won the award before in 2015.

3.  I live in Spain, on the Costa Blanca in a small friendly urbanisation called Gran Alacant.

4.  I have been in a relationship with my Australian partner for twenty-three years, getting married on our twentieth anniversary in 2015.

5.  I am a Royalist and am looking forward to the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tomorrow!

6.  Still on the subject of Royalty.....I met Princess Diana in the 1990s while working in Portsmouth.

7.  I am a trained Mentor and Advocate for children who have no voice. I strongly believe in empowering kids to achieve everything they desire in life!

1.   Once Upon A Wren.

2.   That Cat Blog.

3.   Carry On Blogging.

4.   Bootleg Betty.

5.   The Hectic Cook.

6.   Royal Central.

7.   Expats Blog.

8.   Escape To France.

9.   Tom & Katie Down Under.

10.  Young adventuress.

11.  Spanish Sabores.

12.  Huffington Post.

13.  The Meow Blog.

14.  I Have Cat.

15.  Chez Le Rêve Français.