Over the course of this week I'll be taking you on my journey to Kuantan.
- How did I, an Englishman, end up in Malaysia?
- What made me choose to come to this part of the world?
- How did I discover this little town called Kuantan?
- Learn of the events that fixed my destination to Kuantan
Today I'll be sharing Part 1 - Raised in England.
I was born in Leicester, England almost 30 years ago. We are as normal an English family as you're likely to meet. Mum and dad both working, earning an average salary, and live in a quite satisfactory semi-detached house in a quiet village called Glenfield.
Here I am at 18 months old. (Credit Joanna Horne)
(Credit Joanna Horne)
The first major event that happened in my life was in 1985 when I was only 3 years old. I don't remember anything about it, but it has determined the life I have lived ever after.
Two sister missionaries representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) knocked on my mum's front door, and not long afterwards my mum decided to join the church.
In later posts I'll explain just how vital this was in my journey to Kuantan.
Living in England, we always looked forward to the snow in the winter months. For two reasons - to go out, build a snowman, throw snowballs, and secondly, because if it was a particularly heavy snowfall, there would be no school!
However, as I grew older, I hated the snow, ice, slush, cold and wind - another factor in my journey to Kuantan.
This is my street in England. (Credit Joanna Horne for this image)
Glenfield village Square. (Credit Joanna Horne)
In the distance is my dad. (Credit Joanna Horne)
I lived a real good childhood in England. Got a formal education, had lots of great friends and got up to lots of mischief. Also played lots and lots of sports!
Here I am hitting a serve at the tennis court
And here I'm hanging out with my mates on New Years Eve. (My friends will probably never forgive me for posting up this picture!)
This is me standing outside our home in England
Look out for Part 2 tomorrow!
