5th April - Swimming with Dolphins

When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I was absolutely green with envy. You see, my cousin, Tom, was the same age as myself (just 2 months separated us), and we lived just down the road from one another, so saw eachother all the time (specifically at Grandad's house every Friday after school), thus giving a real 'brotherly' feel to proceedings. There was also, a huge element of rivalry between us. I supported Arsenal, Tom supported Tottenham. I liked the Blue Power Ranger, he liked the Red Power Ranger. I picked Squirtle, he chose Charmander. You catch my drift. 

The one place I knew I could get the better of Tom was in sporting battle. I was by far the better footballer, which hugely frustrated Tom's Father, my Uncle Clive. Clive himself was an exceptional player, and had trials with Reading, in his youth. There was no doubt that he would have been a professional had it not been for mental health problems at the time, and I always got the impression that Clive felt frustrated that these genes had not found their way down to Tom. Tennis, was another area, where I'd usually prosper, though the gap in ability between us here was narrowed, making for real tense Federer/Nadal style matches on Summer nights until the sun would set and we'd have to abandon our sweat-soaked play due to poor lighting conditions.

There was, however, one area where Tom could one-up me. Financially. Whilst my childhood consisted of accommodation in caravans and council flats, Tom's Mother was a walking personification of a Conservative voter, and their house was always the most decadently lavished on the street. Convertible sports cars on the front drive, a conservatory backing out onto a large private garden, etc etc. In many ways, visiting Tom's abode was - for me - akin to the moment Charlie won his ticket to the Chocolate Factory as I'd run in and marvel in delight at his latest collection of toy swords, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise, Aladdin-themed plastic plates and cups, and collection of video game consoles all clad with the latest games. 

In the Spring of 2000, Tom ventured off on holiday to 'Paradise Island' in the Bahamas. His trip of a lifetime meant that my Mother & I were asked to housesit/babysit, staying over to look after Tom's disabled younger brother Harry, who had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. To this day, I still remember the fun the three of us had, eating cans of Heinz spaghetti poured over one of those tinned Fray Bentos pies, staying up until late watching Snooker, reading my first ever Harry Potter book, and Harry cheering on from his wheelchair as Mum & I used Tom's pool table to thrash out several winner-takes-all matches, gambling using 'Celebrations' and 'Miniature Heroes' sweets from a giant white plastic tub in the pantry, affectionately referred to as 'the treat box'.

When Tom returned home, we looked through the holiday snaps together, and saw several photos of him swimming with dolphins alongside my Auntie Kathryn. From that day on, I vowed that one day, this was a feat I'd finally tick off my bucket list, too, and alongside Penguins and Polar Bears, I've long regarded Dolphins as my favourite members of the animal kingdom. This morning, more than 20 years later, I finally got round to booking a special 'swim with dolphins' experience during my upcoming trip to the Caribbean. It doesn't matter how long it takes to chase down your goals...

... So long as you achieve them in the end.