The Otter's Pool - Ady Gould -


	I know that for many people family is part of their life. My parents, brother and the rest of the family as a key and integral part of my life. There is also a person who I count as family, and I have included their picture here. Many say that family is father, mother, and children. It is not always true. I know single parents, and single people. They are a family. I also have the pleasure of knowing people who break the traditional mould of the family. It takes a big heart to ignore the common thought process that some people here in this world cannot be family. It is a real pity when this father / mother / child thought barrier cannot be broken. I will add further family photo's soon...

	My mother and father. This picture was taken by friends when they were on a holiday in France (I think). I respect and admire my mother's ability to dress with style and elegance. I can sometimes enthuse at my father's twisted sense of humour.
		Mum had made this dress for a charity ball that mum and dad were taken to in London by our very dear friends, Fran' and Mike. Mum's ability to often alter a design to suit the occasion has been shown more than once with her ball gowns.

	Here is a copy of my graduation photograph from 1989. I got a 2(ii) BSc with HOnours in Computing. Not bad seeign as I almost stuffed exams up a couple of times.




	Mum and Dad, and Paul and Lucy. This was Paul (my brother) and Lucy's wedding day in 1998. I was proud to be the best man. My thanks to you Paul. I am blessed to know the two of them, and despite Paul and I being a little bit of a pain to our parents as children, we now have deep respect for each other. The speach I gave is hidden under the picture of Paul and Lucy, so click and go read.






		This is Thomas, my nephew.. Paul and Lucy had Thomas in 1999, and he has proved to be quite a handful. Mum's got him in the top left picture and I'm playign "mobile phones' with him in the top right picture. He's a lovely little man, who is going to be quite energetic, I believe!

	Gareth. The one man I love above all others. My partner since January 1996, and the man who is now livign with me in Australia. More of him further down this page.

		My late grandfather, Ron Simons. This man influenced me more than many could have imagined. He departed this world for another greater place in October 1996. I admit that it is still hard to deal with the fact that the man who had a lot of influence on me about being honest, dedicated, and caring with others has gone. I wrote some poetry shortly after I was told of his death, and it reflects my feelings. See them on my poetry page, along with other writings. Gramps, I love you. I do not know if it was genetics, but I have the same middle finger structure as my grandfather, his warped humour (which will displease my mother *GRIN) and I hope I will be as steadfast in adversity as he was in his last years, living with colon and other cancers. I miss ya gramps, you are an inspiration.

	Heide, was my puppy dog in the UK. She passed on in 1999 from a heart attack. It was sad to lose her, but her greeting of me the first time we met will remain with me. Both paws on my shoulders, and a slurp of my face. Yep, she chose me.