The question is: How did a self-confessed sports junkie from New Zealand, brought up on a sporting diet that centred itself around The All Blacks (Rugby) and The Black Caps (Cricket)' suddenly find himself totally enamoured with the sport of Volleyball? This was a sport that two years ago he knew absolutely nothing about and had always dismissed as "nothing special".

As I have outlined in my story on Philippine Sport, elsewhere in this website, my sports fix, such as it was, since I arrived in the Philippines, had been limited to a diet of Basketball, Boxing and then more Basketball. Trust me - Basketball is a national obsession here. It dominates the free-to-air sports programming in this country, like no other.

Anyway, to address the burning question I posed at the start of this blog: Why Volleyball?

The easiest answer to this question is possibly the most obvious. What is it about pretty, young girls, in cute uniforms, performing serious acrobatic manoeuvres on a volleyball court, in a sporting contest, that is so appealing? Now, of course, I'm not going to deny this attraction of the game for a second...I may be getting on in years, but I'm not dead yet! No red-blooded male could fail to be stirred by the sheer athleticism, artistry and commitment of these modern day amazons.

Undoubtedly, aesthetically this game has a lot going for it...but this alone was never going to be enough to capture my attention, my fascination and my complete admiration for these sporting superstars...for that is what they have rapidly become in this Country. Volleyball is without a doubt the game that has captured the imagination of people from all across this archipelago. Fans, it seems can just not get enough of the swagger of an Abby Morano, the ice-cold stare of a Mika Reyes, the sheer ebullience of a Jen Reyes and of course the girl-next-door appeal of an Alyssa Valdez.

These Volleyball stars, it seems to me, epitomize what sport has always supposed to have been about: Two teams or individuals who give their all in a sporting endeavour, no quarter asked, and no quarter given. Yet at the end of the contest, irrespective of the result, they resume their genuine friendships with each other. On the court, they give everything they have in the pursuit of victory, but off the court, they are humble and self-effacing, regardless of whether they tasted victory or defeat.

In this age of ruthlessly professional sport, often mired in ego, arrogance, claims of corruption and bad behaviour off and on the court, these young ladies have brought a breath of fresh air with their demeanour and attitudes. This I believe, more than anything is why they have captured the hearts and minds of so many average Filipinos. They bring their own special charm to the gladiatorial contest that is sport in the 21st Century...and like millions of my fellow countrymen...I adore them.

When I saw my first game of Volleyball in December 2012; from the very first I was hooked. The game is fast-paced and exciting. The positions, the tactics, even why one player wore a different coloured jersey from the others were all a mystery to me then, but I knew instantly that this game was going to capture my heart and my attention for many years to come.

The first Volleyball I watched was the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines). Inter-collegiate sport in most countries has the ability to excite and polarise its audience. The Philippines is no different in that respect. Whatever your Alma Mater was (or you wished it had been) then that was your team that you followed with passion and verve. It didn't matter that The University of the East Red Warriors were the perennial “wooden-spooners” in the competition, you still dreamed of that wonderful day when an unknown, new star would emerge from the student body and would carry your beloved UE to great heights. This is what makes collegiate fans so passionate...that eternal dream of greatness, or the memories of the great teams of the past. That is what sustains and succours the fan through the sad, lean years of defeat.

The UAAP volleyball season runs from December to early March, breaking for Christmas, so for three months I had a steady, regular fix of two games a day, three days a week. My Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays became organised around the two games that would be played that day. The TV was mine...no arguments please...from 2pm to 6pm on those days. I won't lie; I wallowed in this constant diet of a new and exciting sporting contest to revel in. I became an expert in tactics, in team structure and in player knowledge. I even found out why the Libero wore a different coloured jersey. For three months I was in sporting nirvana...and I LOVED it.

When on March 6, 2013, the De La Salle Lady Spikers crushed the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the second game of their best of three series and my little Volleyball world came crashing down. De La Salle, with their almost robot-like efficiency led by Michelle Gumabao, supported by Abby Morano, Ara Galang, the Taft Tower Mika Reyes and the rest of that incomparable team had completed the three-peat and were Champions for the third consecutive year. That final game at the Mall of Asia arena had attracted a live crowd of just on 19,000 rabid spectators. Volleyball had arrived and was seemingly top of the Filipino consciousness.

One of the most exciting things about the College scene is that students have just five years to make their mark in the top flight. For some, like Ara Galang or Bernadette Pons they become stars in their freshman year, but for others it takes a little longer. Take Carmina Aganon for example. For four years she served dutifully as a bit-player for the National University team. She got court-time for sure, especially when the team was well ahead in the game, but she rarely, if ever got a starting berth. This last season, her final, was her time to shine. She started almost every game and she developed into a vital cog of the up and coming NU team. In fact she obviously impressed the owners of the professional league teams so much that she was picked up in the first ever draft last month and is now playing for the Petron Blaze Spikers.

This constant turnover of players in the UAAP and the NCAA is one of the features that make these competitions so special. Each year the coaches are faced with new teams and the loss of old stars. The questions of how will Ateneo cope without the "Fab 5" or how can UST recover from the loss of Dimaculangan, Ortiz and Banaticla,  dominate pre-season discussions. It makes for an exciting new season each year.

But, now it was all over. What was I to do for my Volleyball fix? Woe and betide poor me! Would I really have to wait until December to experience the thrill again of the Adamson Soaring Falcons, the UP Fighting Maroons, or the UST Golden Tigresses? Indeed it was sad times for little, old me. I was experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and took to the internet reading everything I could find about volleyball in this Country.

It was like a "eureka" moment when I stumbled across an article about something called the "V-League". Oh my God, there was another volleyball league...and guess what? It featured many of the teams from the UAAP, plus some other Colleges thrown in for good measure. My first question of course: would it be on free-to-air television? The answer was a qualified YES! It would be on Channel 11 - GMA's News Channel, but it would be delayed coverage...no matter! For two months or so, I got to watch my beloved Volleyball every day except Sunday, from 1-3 in the afternoon...sheer bliss. Naturally I had to stop reading or watching the news for the fear of hearing the result before I saw the game...but that's was a tiny price to pay.

It seemed that Volleyball was the flavour of the month as everyone in the media thronged to cover it. Quite by chance I discovered another competing competition on TV5. This was the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and included a host of Colleges I'd never seen before; San Beda, Arellano, St Benilde, Jose Rizal and others. I was in seventh heaven, with Volleyball coming out of my ears.

The V-League also ran a second conference later in the year, which was called an Open Conference and gave an opportunity for older players - stars of the UAAP from yesteryear to strut their stuff and show they still had what it takes to excite and thrill and audience. I was introduced to players who had been stars at College long before I arrived here and still had the goods. I rejoiced in the dynamism of yesterdays heroes; names like: Aiza Maiso, Susan Roces, Ruby de Leon, Joy Cases, Melissa Gohing, Cha Cruz...the list goes on and on. I couldn't have been happier!

Volleyball had reached so deeply into the Filipino psyche by this time, that in the middle of last year a group of people decided the time was ripe to start up a professional league...a league that could give opportunities to those volleyball stars who had completed their College playing days with the UAAP, the NCAA or some other competition, but still had the love and sheer joy of the game and the need to express themselves on the court.

Now, don't get me wrong...I'm not anti-professional, but I have seen, as we all have, some of the evil, nasty consequences that can come from professional sports. Even as I write this, my home country of New Zealand is experiencing the gut-wrenching, devastating news that some of their greatest heroes growing up, in the sport of Cricket, have been involved in match-fixing. Professionalism brings money into a sport and where money goes, sadly greed and avarice will inevitably follow.

This new professional league is young, exciting and unfortunately, for now anyway, restricted to Pay-TV. My hope is that the exemplary attitude of the girls that represent their Colleges, on the court, will carry over to their professional careers. This is a wonderful opportunity for the current darlings of the Philippine sporting environment to cement themselves forever in the tapestry of Philippine culture. I wish the league all the success in the future.

I couldn't possibly leave this tale, without a mention of the poor, forgotten, down-trodden men who play Volleyball. For, perhaps the most obvious of reasons, it has been the women that have captured the nation's attention and the television ratings...but all is not lost for the men. The second conference of the new professional league included a bracket of four men's teams. The final was shown on free-to-air television and I can honestly say, on this occasion, the men's final was more exciting and more action-packed than the woman's final.

Similarly the men have gained a foothold in the UAAP coverage with a "game of the week" being replayed on a Friday afternoon. The games have thrown up a new set of heroes, just male this time. I have truly admired the power and determination of Peter Torres, Mark Alfafara and Reuben Inaudito, among others. Men's volleyball differs from Women's Volleyball in much the same way that Men's Tennis differs from Women's Tennis. Each brings its own special characteristics to the table and each is exciting in its own right. The men are all about power, all about that decisive spike. Their rallies tend to be short and sharp. There aren't many liberos, anywhere around, who can hope to return a perfectly hit Peter Torres spike. When these guys hit the ball...it stays hit. Their power and athleticism are a joy to observe and marvel at.

The women hit the ball pretty damn hard too, but often being shorter than the men, and less powerfully built there is more likelihood of a spike being returned. The rallies can be very long at times and it is the scrambling, do anything to recover that ball defence that brings crowds to its feet. That evokes the involuntary "wow!" or the screams of disbelief from the audience. The women bring a grace and beauty to their athleticism that, as a fan, is hard to deny.

Given a choice, I'd probably watch the women play over the men, but I'd happily watch the men play if that was all that was on to watch. Volleyball is in my soul now and I don't ever expect it to leave.

Will Volleyball ever rival Basketball for the top spot here in The Philippines? I doubt it to be honest, but the truth is...it doesn't have to. Volleyball has arrived in its own right, and commands an audience of committed, dedicated fans who love the game with an absolute passion. It doesn't need to take on Basketball...it has carved out its own special niche in all of our hearts.

The game soared to even greater heights this last March as the UAAP Season 76 season drew to a close. The finals series of this tournament was a microcosm of what sport is all about. It had everything going for it: David versus Goliath; the crushingly dominant De La Salle Lady Spikers, vying for their fourth consecutive title, against the rebuilding Ateneo Blue Eagles; the De La Salle coach Ramon de Jesus, with something like 17 titles under his belt against the new coach for Ateneo, Tai Bundit...who had little or no Tagalog and whose English appeared to be limited to just a few words, "fun, heart and defence".

It truly was a series that redefined the sport in this Country. It was the type of final series that sports fans live to see. It had all the ingredients of high drama that makes for such compelling viewing...in fact...it deserves a story all of its own!

WATCH THIS SPACE!

"Volleyball - The Game That Has Stolen a Nation's Heart"

Just a mere six months ago, if you asked me that age-old question: "So, what do YOU do for a living?" my first response would be to become defensive. If I said anything at all it would be along the lines of; "Ummm, nothing really...I guess I'm a house-husband, sort of." The truth is, even I didn't know what I was, or where I was going.

 At the time I was certain of only two things: One, I was incredibly happy with my decision to come here to The Philippines and second, I was insanely happy with my decision to marry my now wife Thess, and stay here. Beyond that, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do here or even what I wanted to do here. I had spent the first two and a half years doing exactly what I said I was doing...being a house-husband, looking after the needs of the two young girls in the house; Angeline and Rose...not that teenage girls actually need a lot of looking after.

Beyond that, I imagine I thought I was on some sort of extended vacation. I kept hoping that something would come up; something would happen; or something would occur to me to break the comfortable little existence I'd created for myself here. I even dreamed that maybe someone would offer me a job...just out of the blue like! To put it mildly, I was living a life of pure indolence and self-centeredness. I knew that this wasn't what I'd come halfway across the world to do. But what had I come here to do? I didn't have a clue...and that was the major problem.

About three months ago, quite by accident, my wife stumbled across the writings of Rhonda Byrne, on the internet. Together we watched her video, "The Secret" and I instantly realized where exactly I had been going wrong. Now, my wife is by nature a very positive person, so the ideas contained in The Secret were not new to her, they merely reinforced many of her core beliefs.

In a lot of ways, my wife and I are polar opposites. I was a very cynical, a very critical and a very negative person. Once I realized just how powerful a tool positive thought was, in achieving success, my whole outlook on life in general changed. I began welcoming each day, grateful for all that it brought me and my family. The most important tool I took from Rhonda Byrne however was this; "We are what we believe we are!" This idea that we can be anything we want to be was a revelation to me. 

Now, I had all my life been a voracious reader of books. It mattered little what the genre, the subject or the characters were; fiction, non-fiction, it mattered not one iota. If it was in a book, I'd read it. I could say I drew the line at soppy romances, but then I'd be lying. I can recall numerous times when desperate for something new to read, I'd pick up a Mills & Boon or a True Romance novel. I'm not proud of it, but like I said...if it was words on paper, I'd read it.

I have always been in awe of authors; writers who can put together a cogent story over hundreds of pages. I always secretly wished that I could do the same. I had stories to tell. I had interesting tales to unfold...but simply put, I had no idea where to start and perhaps more importantly I was terrified of the idea of failure.

Rhonda Byrne, Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield and other contributors to The Secret made me realize that I could be anything I thought I could be...including a writer, an author. When I look back over my working career, most of which was focused on accountancy, I now realize that the ONLY time I had any true job satisfaction was when I was writing...albeit as a reporter on a small-town, community newspaper. That was when I was at my happiest...that was when I relished going to work each day and that was when I was proudest of my achievements...I AM A WRITER! That is my destiny. This was what I took from The Secret.

That was all well and good, but where to start? That was the question. I put the whole novel issue on the back burner for a start. The idea of sitting down and writing an entire novel was still a little mind blowing for me. So, I started by creating my own website where I could write "articles", if you like; about where I lived, what I was doing and life here in The Philippines. www.grantleishman.weebly.com I also added a blog section to the website where I could put my random thoughts and ideas.

When it was complete, I will be honest...I was pretty chuffed with what I'd done. For the first few weeks my site had heaps of traffic. My FaceBook friends were kind enough to visit from time to time. Now, of course, interest has died down, but for me that's not really the point. The website was and is a place for me to express my creative efforts and thoughts and ideas. It serves a real purpose for me in giving me an outlet to be "published".

Ultimately I know the website will be the primary source of information on my books and on me, in the future. Of course, yes, that was still the big elephant in the room...my books...my novels...or should I say my lack of them.

Again, it was my lovely wife who provided the answer. She discovered a super-sonic, internet marketing man by the name of Anik Singal. To me this man epitomizes my definition of a marketing guru. Whenever he is talking, I keep waiting for that ubiquitous line..."but wait...there’s more." Of course he wanted to sell me his amazing wealth generation program..."for the absolutely astonishing, one time only payment of...not $1,900, not even $900, you'll pay nothing like that...not even $99...you will get all this for the measly sum of just $47."
 
Now, for anyone like me who lived in New Zealand in the late 1980's and early 90's if I said Anik Singal was the modern day incarnation of Suzanne Paul, everyone would nod their heads wisely and know exactly what I was talking about.

The beauty of what Anik Singal was telling me, and the bit I was able to get from him for free, was this: He also was a great believer in the power of The Secret, but he realized that what The Secret lacked was the path to follow to get from now to the achieving of your dreams. Anik, for me, provided the tools to turn my dream of writing a novel...into the reality of writing a novel.

My first novel; tentatively titled "The Second Coming" is now, just two weeks after beginning it, already over a third finished. With Anik's simple tools I was able to turn my dream (my fantasy really) into reality.

So, am I an author now? Yes! Do I have any published works? No! Will I have published works in the future? Yes, you are damn right I will!

To all those authors out there who already have numerous books in the marketplace, do I feel embarrassed to class myself in the same category as you? No! I am still in awe of your achievements and abilities, but now what I see is that you are just at a different place on the same road as me. I do wish I'd discovered my passion for writing earlier, but then maybe that would have changed who am I and my point of view, so in my mind, I am what I think I am...and I think I'm an author!

Thanks to all the people who have subtly steered me in one direction or another over the course of my life...I now find myself exactly where I am meant to be; an author, living my dream.

I THINK : THEREFORE I AM! 

Two years ago, that fine institution: The Senate of The Philippines impeached Chief Justice Renata Corona for a false declaration in his statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). Despite, at the time, there being underlying suggestions that there was ill-gotten wealth and corruption afoot; at the end of the day, it was his undeclared bank accounts of US dollars that saw the demise of the Chief Justice. 

I have absolutely no doubt that today former Chief Justice Corona is now sitting back, in one of his luxurious armchairs, grinning to himself as he contemplates the total humiliation and potential destruction of the very same institution that so happily judged and impeached him just two years earlier. 

In what must seem like a delicious irony, to the former Chief Justice, so many of his "Judges" from the Impeachment Trial, are now themselves facing allegations of corruption on such a grand scale that it actually has the potential to topple the institution itself. The "Napoles" list, The "Lacson" list, the "Luy" list may well all differ slightly as to the names of the Senators, Congessmen and Public Servants who were involved in what now appears to be a much greater scam than the initial P10 Billion scam of Janet Lim Napoles. One thing is for certain many, many public officials were in collusion with Ms Napoles and her cohorts as they blithely robbed the Filipino people blind of so much of the country's wealth. Only criminal trials will ultimately determine for sure who was actually involved and who should serve time for the heinous crime, but one thing is certain, many, many head should and will roll over this scam.     

The only question I want to raise at this point is this: Who is ultimately responsible for this horrific betrayal of the Filipino People? The answer to that question, in my mind, is as sad, as it is simple. The answer is YOU! There is an old quote from a French philosopher called Joseph de Maistre which goes; "Every Nation gets the Government it Deserves" and Philippines, you have got the Government that you voted for and deserved. 

In my mind there are three distinct reasons why The Philippines ended up with the Government it deserved: 

The first reason that springs to my mind is: "The Cult of Celebrity". Why is it that sensible, smart people somehow seem to believe that being a singer, an actor or a comedian is either a good training ground or a qualification for running a country, province or a city. The Senate, The Congress, The Governorship's, The Mayoralties, and even the local town boards are literally awash with has-been actors, wannabe singers and local "celebrities". Don't get me wrong, I'm not decrying individuals here. I have no doubt that there are some fine politicians who have come through the ranks of the arts; but what concerns me is that when it come to the Polling Booth, so many people vote on name alone, and having a "celebrity" status seems to be almost an automatic entree to the political system. The reason I put a photo of Erap in this section is because, in my opinion, he epitomizes the malaise that lurks in the political system here. He was elected from Actor to President in a blaze of reforming glory in 1998; yet two and half years later he was impeached; proven to be corrupt and fraudulent and thrown out of office. Yet, here he is 13 years later, still a powerhouse in Philippine politics, elected by the voters of Manila as the Mayor of our capital city. To me, it beggars belief!     

The second issue as I see it, is the thorny question of Political Dynasties. I say it is thorny for one reason; I am not a supporter of the "Anti-Dynastic" Bill, which seeks to exclude people from public office just because they have relatives already serving in public office. To me this is totally undemocratic and should be thrown out. Our current President himself; who I do support, is part of a political family. His Mother was President, his Father was assassinated for his political beliefs and many members of his extended family already serve in various public offices. 

What I am saying here is that being born into a political family does not necessarily qualify you to be a politician. Voters need to look beyond the name and vote on issues, not family name. Why did I pick Nancy Binay's photo to highlight here? I would just pose the question: What experience and qualifications does Nancy Binay have to serve in The Philippine Senate? From what I can gather her experience is limited to helping Mummy out when she was Mayor of Makati, an office now held by her Brother Jejomar Binay Jr. In fact the City of Makati has been governed by the Binays for almost 30 years now, first by Jejomar Binay Snr, then by his wife Elenita Binay and now by the son Jejomar Jr. Do I see a pattern emerging here? Oh, I almost forgot she also apparently helped Daddy out in his role of Vice-President. 

Before I leave this section there is one other issue I consider highlights the importance of "family name" in Philippine politics. Two of the latest and highest polling senators in the 2013 Senatorial Elections were Grace Poe (Daughter of Actor and Politician the late Fernando Poe Jr.) and Nancy Binay (Daughter of the Vice-President), who were the highest and fifth polling candidates respectively. My only issue here was their names. Prior to the elections these two ladies were known as Grace Poe-Lllamanzares and Nancy Binay-Angeles respectively; both used their married names. Yet come the election campaign they morphed into Grace Poe and Nancy Binay. The power of the family name comes to the fore! I wonder what their husbands thought about it? 

To me, the Senate, beyond the Office of the President, should represent the cream of Philippine politics, but given all that has happened in the last few years, we have to ask the question: Has the cream curdled?   

The final big issue that faces voters in Philippine politics is the age-old issue of Patronage; politicians buying their seats by giving money to voters to vote in a certain way. This can also extend to politicians setting up vast electoral networks that ostensibly "employ" lots of volunteers to drum up support for them, in that elector's regions. Both these practices are undemocratic and corrupt and should be eliminated. 

To my way of thinking an elector has a simple choice; take the money if its offered and still vote any damn way you please. Vote for the candidates that offer something real and tangible to the Philippine people; the candidates that offer a vision for the future; the candidates that really do want to change this country for the better.

If everyone does that, we might have a chance to never have to go through the humiliation and shame of yet another "Pork Barrel Scandal" As 2016 approaches it behooves every Filipino voter to cast his or her vote responsibly. Consider the candidate's qualities, their experience, their plans, their visions for the country and vote accordingly. The six years of the Aquino administration will have been far from perfect, but remember this; a start has been made to break the decades long presumption of corruption and self-serving public officials. Please let's not go back to the "bad" old days. Let's build a democracy to be proud of! 

You may well ask; why do I care? I'm just another foreigner; what's it got to do with me? I may be a foreigner but I would say this: 

1/ I have a love for and a fascination in the political process; not just here, or in New Zealand, but all over the world. 

2/ This is my country too now, I'm a permanent resident here and I intend to be here for many, many years...but I am not allowed to vote here. 

3/ I'm not allowed to vote in New Zealand either, because I've been away from there for over three years, so essentially I'm stateless.
 
4/ I haven't been here long enough to get citizenship, but even if I want to, I'll have to renounce my New Zealand citizenship; which will be a big decision to make in the future. 

It's ironical isn't it; The Philippines now allows its Pinoys overseas to have dual citizenship, yet they won't allow foreigners living here to claim dual citizenship...but that's a story for another day...     

Good morning peoples. 

"Mainit" - Literally "mainit" is Tagalog for hot, and hot is what it certainly is right now. 

The most common expression you hear at the moment when someone comes inside is: "Mainit grabe!". I'm not sure exactly what the literal translation of grabe is (or even if I've spelled it right), but to put it in the New Zealand vernacular, it would mean "bloody hell, it's hot!".

Coming from New Zealand, which has a temperate climate, I always knew living in the Philippines was going to be a challenge for me. Could I adapt to the heat? Would I struggle to be able to do anything at all in this heat? Well, after three years I think I can truthfully say, that I cope, but that's about it. I don't think I'll ever quite adapt to the temperatures, but then even the locals struggle when the mercury tops 35 or 36. New Zealand has four seasons; Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. In fact in Otago / Southland, where I come from, we can even have four seasons in one day. 

I like to joke that we have four seasons here too: Hot; Bloody Hot; Unbearably Hot; and Rainy, but still hot. We're right in the middle of summer right now, which runs pretty much from April to June. This is when the temperatures really climb. The usual daytime temperature is around 35-36 degrees Celsius, with it dropping only to 25-26 in the early mornings. 

From the perspective of temperature, if you were coming here for a visit, I would definitely recommend the best time to visit as being December, January and February. During this time we get a cooling breeze, from the North Eastern Monsoon. This breeze is known locally as the "Hangin Amihan", and keeps the daytime temperature down to a more respectable 28-31 degrees. The real benefit of this weather system is to be felt in the evenings and early mornings where the temperatures in Metro Manila have been known to drop to as low as 16 or 17 degrees Celsius. When this happens of course, everyone walks around shivering and saying how "malamig" (cold) it is. During these times I happily continue to wander around in my shorts and singlet proclaiming just how incredibly lovely this weather really is. 

The rainy season here starts about July and usually runs for three months until September. Even though when it rains here, it is often torrential, and many places experience flooding, it doesn't cool the temperature down all that much.

The reality is, if you choose to live on or near the equator, as I do, it's going to be hot. It's not rocket science. Although I often complain about the heat, I wouldn't change anything about my life or where I live. I love this, sometimes stinking hot country, with a passion. The truth is, you can get used to living anywhere and doing anything, as long as you are surrounded by people you love and who love you back. 

  

You know, the most exciting thing about this website and more specifically this blog is that I now have the perfect outlet for my creativity. I never believed that I had a creative bone in my body. I can't sing, I can't dance, I certainly can't draw and I have absolutely no ability at anything crafty.

What I can do though...is write! Whether my writing has any merit is for others to judge, but one thing is for sure, I no longer care what others think about my work. Of course, I would love other people to enjoy what I do, but that is only half the process. What really matters to me is that I enjoy what I do, and I truly do.

Since discovering the power of The Secret and delving into other literature relating to self-discovery, my wife and I have embarked on a journey that is both exciting and fulfilling. I would strong urge anyone who is reading this to visit The Secret website at www.thesecret.tv and begin their own journey of self-discovery. It is the most rewarding time I have ever experienced. I have gone from drifting along, passing each day here pleasantly enough, but actually achieving very little, to being purpose driven and determined to finish those things that I have started, especially my writing.

It's the start of a new week and time to focus on my three main projects. I have actually begun three separate books over the past six months, two fiction and one non-fiction. My goal is to have one of these books published this year. Ultimately I intend to be producing a book every six to nine months.

I am well aware of the perils facing a writer, but you know what? I don't care. As the song says: "No regrets and no surrender". This is my dream and I intend to follow it with all the passion I have. To be able to travel this journey with someone is what makes it all worthwhile. I could not do this without the support of my beautiful wife of three years, Thess Leishman, and I also must acknowledge the help and unbiased advice of my writer son, Chris Leishman. Thank you guys, I'm going to achieve this.

Okay, off to work now! 

Mother's Day 2014, Sunday May 11th!

I will never be a Mother and never be feted as Mother's are, on Mother's Day, but at least this Mother's Day I have managed to give birth to a bouncing, baby web-site.

All my life I've dreamed of writing, of sharing my ideas, my insights and my creativity with others. All my life I've doubted my ability to do so and have come up with endless excuses, endless rationalizations and endless reasons why I couldn't write. WELL NO MORE!

Today, my website is born and my writings are public. This is only the beginning though and I intend this website to be the outlet for much greater things than just my random thoughts and musings. One day this website will provide the links for my books to be purchased and the stories on this website will be picked up and published in other forums.

I am a writer. That is my passion and my dream and today with this website I have taken the first baby steps to fulfill that dream.

Thank you to the inspiration of my wonderful, supportive wife who always told me I could do it if I really wanted to and also thank you to the power of: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne; The Untold Secret of the Mind by Anik Singal; and The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. These three books and a host of other readings on the power of the mind and positive thinking have given me the desire and purpose to follow my dream.

This truly is: "The First Day of the Rest of My Life"