I Am Mikeydred

Introduction

This is for Kayleigh Fraser ❤️'s Get To Know Me #Challenge after a push from Caroline. You can read about it here:

There is a line in the Bob Dylan song "Joey" that is perfect for me:

"Always on the Outside

Of Whatever Side There Was"

This is why I feel I miss challenges like this because I feel if someone doesn't ask me then I shouldn't be there, but Caroline did ask so here is my entry.

Here is the prompt:

Choose any 10 of your random quirks or facts that come to mind, don’t overthink them! And share in your stories 🥰❤️✨

1: I Am Not Very Intelligent Hence Imposter Syndrome

I managed a couple of 'A' Levels and an ONC in Business Studies, but never went to University and when I was made redundant in 2000 I was told I would never work again because I had no degree. As usual, I took no notice and have had several jobs since then.

I also suffer from intense Imposter Syndrome but still put things out and hope someone reads it and they do.

2: I Am Contradictory

Even though I hate regimentation and being told how to do things, I tend to stick to rules for my writing and get slightly annoyed when others ignore the rules, but my sensible side kicks in, and I just cope with it. I like having frameworks for some things and not for others.

3: I Am All Over Social Media

I have a YouTube channel where I talk and sing and create slideshows, with 220 followers and two hundred thousand views, and a blog where these days it's mainly about the books I read with 1.1m visits and six subscribers.

You can also find me on a few more sites all listed on my Vocal Profile.

I have also published five books on Amazon (the first accidentally) and have a few more in progress.

4: I Love Music

I sort of make noises with guitars and keyboards and try to sing. There is a lot of me on my YouTube Channel with covers and a few original pieces but I still can't really play, although I will be performing at a guest spot later in the year for the first time in fifteen years.

I was also a member of a Gospel Choir that backed Solomon Burke at the Sage in Gateshead on the main stage.

My music collection (digital and vinyl) is rather large and my taste is eclectic ranging from indigenous world music to classical, to metal, and most points in between.

As I write this I am listening to "Uncle Anesthesia" by The Screaming Trees after listening to "Dust" by them, and who knows what will be next.

5: I Look After Myself

I find it amusing when people think their life is over at twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty. A couple of quotes about this situation are.

Ian Kilmister: "If you think you are too old to rock and roll, then you are"

"About Getting Older, I Am Not Enamoured With The Alternative"

I have survived Diabetes, ITP, Cirrhosis of the Liver, and Liver Cancer, possibly by doing lots of walking, eating reasonably well, being positive, and always looking for the good in things.

5:Children And Pets

I think I am very selfish. I love animals, but as long as I can give them back to their owners, it's the same with children, although I love and am so proud of my wonderful daughters and granddaughter, and I don't spend enough time with them.

6: My Modus Operandi

Is "There Has To Be A Better Way", but as long as I get the job done, I am OK. I am always looking for ways of doing things more quickly and efficiently to give me more time to do more things.

7: I Am Supportive And WOKE

I am supportive of everyone being who they want to be, however they want to be, and I am aware that racism and misogyny are still rampant in our society and need to be stamped out. I know my views have caused some antagonistic comments from people on Vocal and Facebook, but that is how I am, I am empathic, supportive, and aware of the past and present.

8: I Love Film, TV, Books, Theatre, And Live Music

My favourite film is "True Romance", my current fave TV includes "Supernatural", "M.A.S.H.", "Parks and Recreation", "Doctor Who", "Pointless", "House Of Games" and more.

I prefer small gigs to stadium gigs, but was at the first Knebworth Festival headlined by The Rolling Stones, and love it when I get the chance to play live, but always have nerves before a gig.

My favourite book is Clive Barker's "Imajica"

9: I Talk Too Much

Ask anyone who converses with me, and my eldest daughter, Juliet, is even more talkative than me.

10: I Think My Writing Is Pretty Good

Although I have imposter syndrome, I sometimes check my older stories and poetry and think, "My God, Did I Write That?" in a good way, because I feel I can write something worth reading.

Conclusion

I hope I made some sense with this and was not too boring