Happy Birthday, Pops!

🎉 Happy Birthday, Pops! 🎉

In this special episode of the Yo Pops Podcast, we celebrate Pops' birthday by reflecting on a life filled with memorable experiences, valuable lessons, and plenty of stories worth sharing.

Pops takes us back to one of his favourite childhood birthday memories, recalling what made it so special and how birthdays have changed over the years. He also opens up about the life lessons he's learned along the way from the importance of family and perseverance to finding joy in the simple things.

Looking ahead, Pops shares what he's most excited about in this next chapter of life, the goals he still wants to achieve, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

Plus, hear the hilarious and inspiring story of the time Pops went ziplining! From the nerves before stepping off the platform to the thrill of soaring through the air, it's a reminder that you're never too old to try something new and embrace adventure.

Join us for a birthday celebration filled with laughter, wisdom, gratitude, and great conversation.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:22

Hello everybody and welcome to Yo Pops the podcast with me, Sean Williams. I'm a dad. Yes. Peace. We love that. It's a very, very special day today because it's somebody's birthday. Somebody. Somebody's. But it's obviously not mine, is it? No. Well, I think it might be someone a bit closer to home. Oh, okay. Someone in the chair across.

SPEAKER_03 0:43

Ah, it could be me.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

It could be. Yes. Happy birthday then.

SPEAKER_03 0:47

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 0:48

How has your day been? My day has been very quiet. Very chilled.

SPEAKER_03 0:52

Yeah, chilled indeed. After a long day yesterday. Yes, the weekend was um, yes, we had we enjoyed the conference. Good. The end the end time conference we had. I remember you saying? Yes, and then you did it at the cafe and stuff.

SPEAKER_00 1:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:05

How did you find it doing it?

SPEAKER_03 1:07

Yeah, I find it was quite good actually.

SPEAKER_02 1:09

It's um because it's a different setting than what you're used to. Very much, very much. What do you think was good about it?

SPEAKER_03 1:15

I think the openness for BBA people could just walk in and they could sit sit on a table, have a coffee, and then they could just um enjoy the whole thing. And of course, during the break, we had um some lovely food to eat.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

Love that. So that was good. Everybody, if you can get down to Orleans Cafe on Peas Hill for all of your nourishment, refreshment, and also West Indian food as well. That's right. Amazing West Indian food. My mum's an amazing coach. Really good. And you I'm guessing that obviously with the success of this conference, you may be planning another one.

SPEAKER_03 1:52

Oh, definitely. I'll be planning as many as I can going forward. Um, so yeah, so obviously that everybody enjoyed this first one. Yeah. So they like me to to do uh part two to it, and then of course, from there I can take it to other places like London and um other places in the north. Yeah. And of course, for Cambridge, I can then do something like Um Return to Innocence. So you're gonna do another conference here in the things of it. And then also the Love Conference uh doing that as well.

SPEAKER_02 2:30

Congratulations in order. Arsenal won the league. They finally got it over the line. I wasn't sure. I've got to be honest.

SPEAKER_03 2:36

I think it might be your prayer, actually.

SPEAKER_02 2:38

No, it wasn't more. I wasn't praying for Arsenal. Oh, you didn't you were I I conceded not to pray against Arsenal, but it wasn't no no no, I wouldn't be praying for them.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

Oh, you didn't pray for them? No, so so we we we got there on our own steam then. Yes, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 2:54

I was passive in the whole situation.

SPEAKER_03 2:56

Yes, indeed.

SPEAKER_02 2:57

I I was just like have have you have you enjoyed the euphoria of the winning of the league? Have you engaged in any of it? Or have you just been?

SPEAKER_03 3:05

I haven't um much I'm much engaged in it, I must say. Um yes. I'm still taking it in. Okay. You know what I mean? It has been a while coming. 22 years? That's right. So it's but when now that we are on our winning streak, hardly the Champions League final was a bit of a blow. No, that was that was there were too many people having faith against against Arsenal winning. This was just ridiculous.

SPEAKER_02 3:34

Do you know what? I will say this that it was in terms of the game, the only way I could see Arsenal winning the game is if they employed the tactics that they did. Yeah, however, when they attacked them at the beginning, they had a lot of joy, which would suggest to me that maybe there might have been more of a balance towards being compact and being defensive, but also not losing that threat because the goal that obviously was scored six minutes in it was great goal, Dad.

SPEAKER_03 4:05

Yeah, great goal, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

Because I was away at a wedding and I may have I may or may not have had it on the table on my phone. So in quite no, no, no. So when the food, when the food parts came, I can eat and think, not when people are talking, obviously. That's crazy. No, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

I wouldn't do that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I I think I think a lot of people was anxious. That is an understatement. Yes, it it really was. And the strange thing about it, it wasn't anxiousness from our side because we were very much ready to see victory. But of course, you know, this one is the the beauty about our faith. It's powerful. Yes, when you have more than two people, and a lot of people, like runs into millions, you know, I mean, um, wishing against someone. If you don't have the balance, the counterbalance, we have a proud proud problem. And I think I think Arsenal people were too busy celebrating uh the win uh uh Premier League. Yes, really.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

They just turned into Budapest thinking it's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_03 5:10

And just allow, I mean, people even those of us that wanted them to win, it just wasn't strong enough, you know. I mean so the toxic faith won. Uh no, not tax.

SPEAKER_02 5:20

I mean, they they were a lot of people wanted Arsenal not to win because they don't like Arsenal. That's toxic faith. Yeah. Arsenal haven't done anything to anybody. No. So then what's wrong with you Arsenal believers? Is your faith that's strong?

SPEAKER_03 5:30

No, no, no, what has happened is the other side. That's the faith that was strong. So you're telling me toxic faith is stronger than no, it doesn't that it's stronger than it's just that it's misplaced. It's I mean our faith was misplaced, you know what I mean, in that they were too busy celebrate being in a celebratory mode. I understand that they forgot to come together.

SPEAKER_02 5:50

So there's a little bit of celebratory negligence. Yes. Is that how you yes, and we have to we have to rectify that. You need to write a letter to the manager and have to have a specified prayer department or faith team.

SPEAKER_03 6:02

Yes, and the other side not to have so much faith in the future. But they were desperate. They were giving to give to them. They were desperate. Who were desperate? This the other side that was playing Arsenal.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

Desperate for for to win. Oh, of course, because that's back-to-back Champions Leagues. Indeed. That's history. So, um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:20

But I think they really need to have a fate department.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

Yeah. Yeah. Or we will and I'll be more than happy to lead it. Draft the letter and we'll see if we can get you in there as the head of faith recruitment.

SPEAKER_03 6:31

Absolutely. Yeah, they need to understand that. And you know, no, not that you say that. Uh I I can see over the years where the problem has been. Okay. So why didn't you tell us that before before now? Tell you what, before now that we need to have a faith department.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

To be fair, Mikel Arteta is quite easy. He's on, if you ask me, he's on he's on the level, Dad. He's on the verge of leaning over. Of course. But he he understands. But you should have the same way you wrote to to uh no, but that's a different situation. In what way? Because that's him getting to a landmark of a thousand games. And to be honest, and I had this conversation with actually Wallace as well. I had a feeling he was gonna leave this year. I don't know why. There was some stuff that I know was going on personally. Discernment was discernment. So yeah, I had I I had a I had a very strong feeling that he was going to believe in, so it just from discernment. Yeah, I've already agreed with you. Oh so what so sending the letter was more about acknowledging what had been rather than trying to galvanize him to go and do something that he's already done, dad.

SPEAKER_03 7:37

Yeah, but if you had sent a letter to um to Arsenal, I don't like Arsenal.

SPEAKER_02 7:42

Why would I be sending any correspondence to a team I don't like, Dad?

SPEAKER_03 7:45

That is that's that's like so yeah, I think you told me that uh seeing that Manu wasn't going to make it to the.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

I just said no no, I just said I have got no dog in this particular fight, so I'm happy for the chips to, as they say, the proverbable chips to fall where they will. And I feel like what was supposed to happen did happen. That's Harris Angema, to bat winners, Arsenal got the hands on the Premier League, Bardiola won a couple of cups, and United finished third, we're already doing our transfer business, everybody's happy, okay. All right, right, before this descends into any more crazy, Dad. I since it's your birthday, I think it's a very cool moment to reflect a little bit, and also you always have really funny stories when we sometimes delve into your past. You do, you do. Some of your stories are quite funny, okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

Yeah, they're quite funny.

SPEAKER_02 8:42

So um, I've got a couple of questions that I'm gonna go through, I'm gonna ask you, um, and you can answer them, or not answer them, because it's your birthday, so you can actually answer them also. You can either say, Yeah, I'll answer that, or you can be like, I don't answer that if you want. So, happiest childhood birthday that you can remember, or from your younger adolescent years. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:04

Happiest childhood birthday.

SPEAKER_02 9:06

Um can you remember where you were? What you were?

SPEAKER_03 9:09

Yes, I was in in Harleston, okay, Northwest London, okay, when I first arrived in the UK. Okay. I think my mother was overly happy that I was finally in the UK. So I think she rolled out the proverbial red carpet.

SPEAKER_02 9:30

Can you remember what kind of attachments this red carpet had? Did it have like a nice dinner or did it have an activity?

SPEAKER_03 9:36

Well we definitely had dinner, cake, drinks, inviting, you know, the people that you actually like? Yeah, like my father and uncles and aunties and so on. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

Yeah. And any of your did any of your friends come hang out?

SPEAKER_03 9:53

I didn't have much friends then because I just came. Okay. And I couldn't how old would you have been? 17? 17, yeah. And uh those which were my friends in Jamaica were not able to come obviously. At least not for that.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

Yeah, I get that. And so that was your happiest that first one that you had coming in. So we both didn't know each other very well yet.

SPEAKER_03 10:15

Otherwise, we may not have been so happy. In terms of you and mother, I didn't my mother grew up Of course, you really with your grandmother at that point.

SPEAKER_02 10:22

Yes. So you're kind of actually just meeting grandma for the first kind of time.

SPEAKER_03 10:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:27

Did that at the time, obviously looking back, that might feel like to anybody listening, that was like that's that's quite an intense thing to happen. But did you feel, was it quite natural for you? And were you just how did that feel actually?

SPEAKER_03 10:39

It was like going on a discovery. Yeah, but because I mean, number one, you know, in Jamaica, you wake up every day, the sun shining, the birds singing, fruits on the tree, and it's just that wonderful kind of scenario. Yeah. And of course, you hear the hype about being in England and all how wonderful and all of that. So you're coming with a kind of expectation. And I can still remember coming off the plane, and I'm thinking, oh great, I'm going to see some amazing building, you know. And when I look at the houses, they look like something we boil sugar in. That's hilarious. You know, I mean, they were so strange, and with all the smoke coming out of the top, I'm thinking, what and where have they brought me to? Is the house on fire? Absolutely. It was strange. And then, of course, all the houses look the same. Yeah. Which was traumatizing. Why?

SPEAKER_02 11:46

Because we don't do that in So we used to kind of seeing everything. Everybody has their thing uniqueness.

SPEAKER_03 11:51

Everybody has their colors, everybody paint their houses the way they want it, build it the way they want it. Of course. And so that's how we are. We are unique in that way. I understand. So coming to us where everything looked the same, and you think, oh my goodness me, if I lose my way, how will I find it back? That's funny.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

Just walk into some house that's not yours that looks the same as yours.

SPEAKER_03 12:16

Exactly. Exactly. So yeah, that was quite that was quite it was quite a take back. I can imagine. So I had to make sure that when I go out, I got everything right to get back in. Yeah. And not get locked out. Yeah. And of course I met some very dodgy people in the process. Really? Yes. Why? I mean, yeah, because I mean uh You don't seem like a dodgy guy. Why would you run to dodgy people? No, because you see, you're coming here and of course in Jamaica you learn to say hello to everybody you meet, especially the older folks. And that is a tradition.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:59

So uh coming here you think, okay, it's right to be friendly and to say hello to people. So I didn't know that there were some extreme people around. Yeah. You know what I mean, from the Gomorrah right society. Yes, I mean. So, you know, you sort of say hi and they say, hi. You're funny. I get it. No, of course it's a it's a master culture shop. Yes, very much. And you know, so of course when I went home and tell my mom that there was this individual who seems overly friendly, you know what I mean, she was very worried. You know what I mean? So she said, Don't don't go back there again. Stay away. Stay away. And so I learned how to to navigate society. Yes, society. It wasn't the same as being back home and knowing everybody. Because I mean, of course, the consequences back home is too grave.

SPEAKER_02 14:00

No, of course. For people like that. Because cultural and society is a different place and place. Mm-hmm. What people will tolerate what they want. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:06

So yeah, so it was it was very much a discovery. I hear that. You know what I mean? And and the other interesting thing about it I find was that um everything seems to be done differently. For example, if you meet somebody, yeah, because at the time you're 17, so we are talking about girlfriends now. If you meet um girlfriends, then in Jamaica we have to uh wax lyrical. So you gotta have a good chat. Yes. Yes, very much so, and it it must be impressive. Okay. Because if it isn't then It's not gonna get anywhere. Not get you anywhere. Probably overhearing. Yeah, when I find over here, you just you know, people just say, okay, I'll take you to the cinema. Argument done.

SPEAKER_02 14:53

You weren't used to such simple negotiations.

SPEAKER_03 14:56

Oh my goodness, man.

SPEAKER_02 14:57

No. One round of negotiation and deals done. Yes, you're used to the long drawn out 15 rounds negotiations. Drawn out negotiation.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

Not drawn out in-depth appreciation expression.

SPEAKER_02 15:09

That in-depth appreciation expression just really equates to many rounds of negotiation because you've got to go and go and go and go and have something new to say each time.

SPEAKER_03 15:18

Yes, I mean until you finally because because that is what is expected. I understand. By the other side that you don't just come empty-handed, come and empty hand. Well, I mean, a trip to the cinema that's money, that's not empty-handed. No, no, I mean what I'm saying is that you you that would that would not impress somebody in my neck of the woods. Okay. It has to be the ability to express your feelings and emotions and your feeling and your love. Okay. And all of that, and convincingly enough. You know what I mean? So you have to be very poetic. Did you find yourself poetic? Oh, that was easy. I mean, I I had the Bible.

SPEAKER_02 16:03

So you just basically steal King Solomon's lines?

SPEAKER_03 16:07

No, I didn't steal it, I just borrowed it. Okay. Does he know that you borrowed it? Oh, he he he he he knows. He knows. You got he borrowed it too. Okay. He borrowed it from the Lord, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 16:18

So Oh, so you just renewed the lease. Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 16:21

You know.

SPEAKER_02 16:23

I'm sure many of your conversations were very poetically lovely, Dad. I can imagine. Here's a here's a more actually here's a deeper question. Which life lesson would you say took you the longest to learn but was worth learning? And you can take a minute for pause if you want, or if you know, when it's there. Yeah, um life lessons. Yeah. Which one took you the longest to learn, but you found it to be the most valuable and worth learning?

SPEAKER_03 16:50

Um I think I think for me it was it was going to university. Okay. Why was that a life lesson? Um because as I said, everything was very different from what I used to. Of course I hadn't gone to university in Jamaica, but coming here, I find that the whole pr approach was very different, and you you have to work with people the way that I wouldn't have normally done in back in my in my. Can you give me an example, how you may? Um let's say, for example, you when you when you go to school, you go, you break out into different um sessions, discussions, and and all of that. So developing that kind of interactiveness was in itself very very different.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

So we used to kind of being more insulated. Yes, I mean that that's what you're even.

SPEAKER_03 17:57

Yes. I think that is more like it. And um I find that the whole learning curve was very, very different from what I'd used to. So would you sometimes find the classroom environment overwhelming? I would say so, because again, you're having people speaking, um, and of course, uh I realize that the curriculum, so to speak, sort of follows from perhaps primary school write up. So there's a systematic approach to the whole learning process.

SPEAKER_04 18:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:31

Um, and if you weren't there at the beginning, like when you were seven, coming up to ten, fifteen, then you're gonna find it quite a transformation to now adapt, integrate into a system that you are immediately at a disadvantage and you feel like you have to work twice as hard to catch up.

SPEAKER_02 18:58

I understand. So, how did you find that you bridge the gap? Did you just kind of push yourself into the environment of the classroom?

SPEAKER_03 19:08

That's right, work very hard, and um yeah, that's really what it amounts to. Is sort of really getting down to it. And of course, my mother was was um very, very firm. She has a firm hand. So when it was time for studies, she wouldn't have it any other way. You know what I mean? So that sort of knocked me into shape um pretty quickly to realize that okay, she wants me to achieve things. And that's what I have to do to achieve.

SPEAKER_02 19:44

So do you think it was what do you so what would you say what what did you extract from that experience? Would you say discipline was a thing that you've done?

SPEAKER_03 19:55

Discipline was a key factor, um number number one. And you also learn how to take things for granted. Okay. You see what I mean? Because sometimes you hear things and you just take it, that's how it is. And until you come into the situation and realize it it wasn't like that. Do you mean in terms of maybe how England was sold to you at the time? Precisely, precisely. And those who would come back home, they would have their own stories to tell as to what England is like. But the reality when you come is very different. And it also, depending on where you find yourself in terms of the social order of things. So you got those who are find themselves as part of the down and out, you got those who are progressive, and therefore the your your um environment is going to be very different from others. And I was of the kind, the environment where based on my mother's work, working environment, got to be more up than down.

SPEAKER_02 21:04

Do you think had had grandma given you the choice after six months to go back to Jamaica, would you? No. So after six months you were like, no, I'm meant to be here.

SPEAKER_03 21:19

Yeah. I find that there was it was far more I could progress much quicker and take more advantage of what of their privileges that I felt was here. That was one of the things that I felt that the people that sort of born here just just did not take the take on take on board the privileges that they had.

SPEAKER_02 21:45

Would you agree though that's usually the way for people that are desensitized to the normality of the world around them versus a person who almost when they are Inserted into the environment because it's an upgrade from what they knew. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:07

Everything has more value. Very much. Very, very much. And if you look at the stats, you'll see that a considerable amount of people who were injected into the system has been far more progressive than those who think the system holds them a living. You know what I mean? And you know, we don't have to make too much effort because sooner or later they ha they have to take care of us. Well, we don't have that mentality. Because in our system we don't have the security of what I call the social service. You know what I mean? You know that if you don't make it, then you're gonna have a real problem. Yeah. So, and it is one of the things that helps us to work with what we call backup. So, whatever it's you, you that's why you find yourself doing three and four things all at the same time, because if one fails, then you have to have to have the the other because there's no social system to to to catch you.

SPEAKER_02 23:10

Can I ask you a question? Do you also think that something that in its conception is is a like what I call a good life insurance? Do you think that it's also played a negative role in sometimes not putting all of one's energy and pursuing the one thing because you're always, you're always, what's the word I'm looking for? It's almost like you're always planning for the worst case scenario. Yeah. So if you're always kind of planning for it to, not for it to go wrong, but if you if you're kind of always going, okay, I need to have this there, I need to have that there, do you think it can then sometimes detract from the attention, the focus, and like you said, the discipline? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:56

Had things been different, then I would say, of course, when you say different. So they wouldn't have no problem uh putting the effort into one thing. And knowing that if that one thing fails, the government has a system in place to catch them, safety net, to catch them. So when you are in a different environment where there's no safety net, then you you can't take that chances, even though it would be the most realistic um to way to go about thing, because then rather than splitting your energy into different different locations, you'd have bring it together in one. But then again, at the same time, you've seen what happened to those people who do that and have no backup um system in place.

SPEAKER_02 24:59

So you think it's more so it's a fine balance you strike between obviously pursuing the thing that you think you're supposed to do, but also being smart enough to say, okay, if I diversify into a couple of areas, then should something go right or wrong? Indeed. You know, that leads very quick nicely into my next question. From the 17-year-old young man that flew into the country to the seasoned man that you are now. Why are you laughing? Because I was thinking of a word and then I was just like, I don't want to use that word.

SPEAKER_03 25:40

What word were you thinking of?

SPEAKER_02 25:41

Vintage.

SPEAKER_03 25:42

Vintage. Vintage. Do I look vintage to you? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:50

I mean, oh, I'm not supposed to be laughing.

SPEAKER_03 25:55

No, that is very encouraging. I hope I hope all of my supporters and you know.

SPEAKER_02 26:01

You're the only person that's taking the task, but you're the only person that's taking it in that way. Yeah, because um, but I mean vintage is valuable, Dad. Huh? Vintage is valuable. Of course.

SPEAKER_03 26:12

So then why would you scoff at the term vintage? But it doesn't sound good. Why? Because it doesn't. It sounds like it's old and and um belonging to a many other era.

SPEAKER_02 26:28

Okay, can I help you? I'm sure you can. There are two there are two words beginning with P that are very powerful, and they uh they have the power to make something amazing, yeah, or to turn something into something drastically bad. Right. Right? Now, your perspective of the word vintage is what leans you into a false narrative in your head of what you think I'm trying to imply. Because when you think of vintage, you think of old, worn, no one wants it, it's just there, it's always been there. Yeah, that's perspective, because that's based on how you've how you've always seen it, right? Perception will tell you then to take the subject, detach everything connected to it, and you judge it as its one thing. The most expensive bottle of wine is not the one they made last week, dad. I know, I know it's a bit. So wait there. So then if a regular bottle of wine, right, that they made last week will cost you between, if it's a nice one, not let's say between a tenner and 20 odd pounds, right? But yet a vintage wine, dad, will turn into a small mortgage payment. Wait, then vintage can't be what you've created in your mind, which is perspective. So I'm saying, whilst I completely understand where your how your mind calculated it, what you failed to do was to ask me, firstly, what context I was using it, right? Secondly, because you know me, it would have been a great assumption for you to be like, he's talking about the vintage that we think of when you're thinking about fine wines and things that have aged amazingly through time. If you look at the crown that sits on the king's head, that they didn't cut, they didn't go dig up them diamonds last week in the mine. These are things that have lasted.

SPEAKER_03 28:19

What question? Go and ask me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:22

But do you understand the context that I just explained?

SPEAKER_03 28:24

I do understand it. Um now then that's what now make me to ask myself the question. Why did you not why did you pause?

SPEAKER_02 28:34

Because I'm aware that you're quite sensitive and you wouldn't have lent into where I was going with it, which you proved to when I actually told you what the word I was gonna use. I know what it's my book that your iOS update. I just um I'm the same as you, I just want a little bit quicker. Just a little bit. So that's why I used why I didn't use the word, but I wanted to use it.

SPEAKER_03 29:03

So do you think then by United using it and hesitate might have been what spurred me onto thinking that you were thinking uh from the negative perspective rather than no no, it definitely shouldn't have made you think of the negative or made you think that I was thinking of the negative.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

What it should have maybe alluded to you is that I might have been ahead a little bit in how I thought you might receive the question. So I opted to just take away the whole thing. Okay, but because you know me well enough, you saw the hesitation, it was like, what were you gonna say? And then we've just had five minutes of great conversation, which we're gonna talk and cut into this. So, yeah. How has your view of the world changed from you as a young man to you as an amazing season experience?

SPEAKER_03 29:52

Because the changes, the changes are absolutely unbelievable.

SPEAKER_02 29:55

What your view on the world? Um that's that's the question. How has your view on the world changed?

SPEAKER_03 29:59

Yeah, I mean, my view, my view on the world is is both from observation as well as in practical lived experience and practic, you know, yeah, from the actual operation that's going on around the world. I mean, take for example, you have something like the roads. I mean, I would never ever thought I would see roads in England looking like what I'm seeing it now. Okay. You know, that was just inconceivable. And that just one, just one little aspect of it. So it sort of really gives you an idea as to how far things has come. You know, when you go to somewhere like South Africa or some of the other countries and look at pristine road for thousands of miles, Britain uh first world, an empire, you know, and yet here you have it. And that just too, Jason Maginel says one simple thing. But yes, it has changed considerably. Um the the other thing that I I find also quite um impacting is what we call the liberalism. Okay. Yeah, that uh that's another thing that we find pressure. And this is where now it goes back again to the both culture and age gap. Because things in general would not have been tolerated, you know, say 30, 40 years ago.

SPEAKER_02 31:37

Um, but is the accepted norm now. Okay, I want to just tweak it a little bit because I think you may have misinterpreted what I asked you. I haven't, it wasn't how has the world changed, how has your view of the world changed? So, for example, at 17 you may have got off the plane and been like, Do you know what? The world's my oyster, every day I'm gonna go and do what I want to do. I'm only interested in how I think of the da da da because, for example, you weren't saved at 17, you got saved later on. Now at 68, you might sit and go, Do you know what, Sean? The world is a wheel, and the wheel doesn't change, but those hanging on to the spokes do. Which does that make sense? And so that might then that might then be explained in terms of you saying, I thought that this was like that, and I've grown to realise that that is actually like this. Does that make sense? Yeah, but so in terms of I understand what you're in terms of what you're saying, but it's it's more so that you're describing how the world has changed rather than your view of it. So when almost like when you came to England at 17, you had an idea of what you thought England was going to be. Right, that was your view of England. I would get I would guess three months in, six months in, five years in, that view fundamentally changed because you're like, well, hey there, all of the houses are the same, it's way too great here. These people dress with monotone colours that have no expression of colour or life to them in terms of your viewpoint to what you were may have kind of arrived in. So that's where I'm kind of leaning you into more there.

SPEAKER_03 33:17

Well, I mean, yes, indeed, and I I accept um to a certain degree.

SPEAKER_02 33:22

No, no, that was just my example, so that you could understand what I was asking you. Yeah, I really want you to sit there and go, okay, cool. My view is this, and that's how it's changed.

SPEAKER_03 33:29

No, I see my view largely depends on what I see evolving around me. So, what did you see when you just explained that the the the whole society has evolved and it does it it happened in such a subtle way that you find yourself in it without having making a conscious decision to be part of it. Right. You get what I'm saying? Because everything just evolved around you. You know, it's a bit like when I first came here, our heating system was fire in the in the back room. Um, however, now you hardly have anyone with fire in the back room. Central eating. You see, again, it's it it's evolved. It was inconceivable when I first came to think of fire in your house like that. Because we are coming from you know you never have that. But you you accept it, and then okay, you move on to see the whole thing evolve into something completely different. And now it's still evolving because rather than having central eating, people are having different uh other means of heating system. So it's more that evolution that from what I'm observing that impact on how I see things.

SPEAKER_02 34:54

Okay. I didn't understand much of what you said, but I think you did. So I'm hoping those at home you did as well. This is the next question, should be a little bit easier for you to slice dice and serve up. Um what role has your spiritual calling played in your life and your sense of self? What role as your spiritual calling played in your life and your sense of self?

SPEAKER_03 35:24

Everything.

SPEAKER_02 35:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 35:25

Do you want to expand on that or I mean it my spiritual awakening um influences everything I do. Um I I see everything I do and see everything now from that spiritual perspective, which for me is far more positive, if one got to use that phrase. Um it um bring me into that into a deeper place of uh consciousness with how I do things, what I do, and even the very things I say to people. I am more cognizant of what impact it would have on them and whether it is for their good or is just for how I'm feeling. Um so yeah, so so my spiritual um walk has uh absolutely transformed everything about me, I would say.

SPEAKER_02 36:28

How does it shape your sense of self and your identity?

SPEAKER_03 36:31

Well, it gives me directive and how one should generally conduct their lives. You know what I mean? Um before I was spiritually sensitive to all of these things, and I would do more of what I want or what I see others are doing around me. And um as long as I feel I was conforming, I'm happy. Now I don't feel that I have to conform. I've made a decision that I will walk and live independently of the majority.

SPEAKER_02 37:13

Yeah, I don't know. It creates a lot of character that because what you do is you don't allow yourself to go with the consensus. Indeed. And it's that I think, like you say, that anchoring within your spiritual relationship that allows you to then well thrive and survive moments that others don't. Yes. So I I can no, I can completely understand that. Um something people might be surprised to know about you. That's the next question.

SPEAKER_03 37:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 37:46

Surprised to know about something they might be surprised to know about you, Dad.

SPEAKER_03 37:52

Yeah. I think people would be surprised to know one, the places I've gone, okay, to my present life and health condition. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 38:08

Um that you're about to announce that there's something right or something wrong.

SPEAKER_03 38:13

No, no, no, something right. Of course. It's a bit like I was talking to the insurance, uh, insurance guy the other day. Yeah. And he was happy talking to me, you know. I think my voice deceived him. Okay. Yes, he thought my voice sounded too young, you know. Okay. So, I mean, I of course I didn't tell him any different. Right. Because I like the thought of a young voice.

SPEAKER_02 38:39

Anyhow. Slowly weird, but okay. I'm only joking. So um you're hilarious. I feel like we should we should really switch. Because you really want to go in reverse, not really putting my foot down to go forward.

SPEAKER_03 38:54

I mean, okay, okay, I'm going forward with you, trust me. So, anyhow, so eventually he got to the critical point, which you want to know what's my medical condition, uh, history wise. So he began to name stuff, all the kind of stuff that people younger than me have going on. You know, is I've got going on. So when I said no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, he paused for a moment as if to say, Do you understand what I'm asking you? I can understand. I said, Yes, I do. It's just that I can't say yes to something that don't exist. You know what I mean? And I honestly believe that that man left that phone call thinking, you know, that man on the other side lying to me. You know what I'm saying? There's no way that you cannot have something to do with that. Absolutely. So the other thing is that my doctor hasn't seen me for years. Okay. Isn't it? So I think these are some of the things that people would have been shocked to know about. And yet I'm up every day. I travel to the world. I've never taken I've never taken um a prevented, you know, preventative med medicine for diseases, you know, like something that people do when they're going into tropical countries. Never. And never had a problem.

SPEAKER_02 40:28

Okay, you okay. What was the other thing people might be surprised to know? So I call you in a fit bill of health. That's wonderful. I wouldn't that wouldn't I don't think that'd surprise a lot of people because you're quite active on social media online, right? No, you are. So, and you have been since I would say a good couple of years before the lockdown. Yeah. So let's take your Facebook community, they've almost been watching you for 10 years.

SPEAKER_03 40:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:50

So I'm not, I don't think they'll be surprised to see that because how you look 10 years ago, there'll be subtle changes to now, and they would have been watching that, right? And you would have taken extended extended periods of time away had you been ill or had you had some situations. That's another point. Yeah. So whilst obviously we want to celebrate your health and we want that to continue for well till Jesus returns, really. Yes. Um, what is there anything else that you think people I don't know? It might be a hobby, it might be something that you like to do, something you might like to watch. Like some people saw you zip lining. That's that would be a surprise to a lot of people because they'd be like, I've never seen you outside of this. So then don't laugh with me. Why didn't you say that first? You give me the big bill of health talk.

SPEAKER_03 41:33

No, no, no, because I mean that I mean is something that most people just don't believe. That's it.

SPEAKER_02 41:41

According to the question, don't you think that fits the question better than your big declaration of about your bill of health?

SPEAKER_03 41:45

I think the health does better than that.

SPEAKER_02 41:47

So you think more people would be surprised at your bill of health than they would seeing you on a zip line? When have you been on a zip line before, Dad? I've never. Thank you. Right. When have you been to the doctors before? I don't remember. But more more recent than you've been on a zip line? Yes. No. You just said you've you just said you've never been on a zip line. That's right. And then you went on a zip line.

SPEAKER_03 42:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 42:10

So you've only done that once, Dad. You've been to the doctors more than once in your life. Yes, but I mean I've not since the zipline. I understand that. But the point that we're trying to make is if you being fit and not going to the doctor, right? Is a surprising element versus you getting on a zipline, right? You've never done the zipline. Yeah. So if you've never done something, and here's something you do infrequently, yes, it'll be a surprise to hear, oh my gosh, I can't believe that Billy Williams is ill. But to be like, Did you see him on the zipline? That's a completely different. Does that make sense? Yeah, that was one of them. So the zip line, talk to me about that. What what made you want to jump on a zipline there? Were you peer pressured into it? Did you lose a bet? No, no. What happened?

SPEAKER_03 43:00

I think I just wanted the experience of actually going.

SPEAKER_02 43:04

So you're an adrenaline junkie, that's the surprise.

SPEAKER_03 43:07

You are. I just saw it and I think that would be a great experience to see whether it is like flying through the air with the greatest of ease.

SPEAKER_02 43:18

So you are an adrenaline junkie. Because you love motorcycles. You've always said that you wanted to have you would love to grab a motorcycle so you could ride it out. I would, I would. No. Most people, there are a lot of people that they would not even go anywhere near a motorcycle.

SPEAKER_03 43:32

But then see a junkie would have would would worn these things every day. Well, for me, it's once in a lifetime that I So you're a once in a lifetime junkie? Oh.

SPEAKER_02 43:43

I'm only joking with you that I'm pulling your leg. Um, yeah. Do you know what? Because obviously I want you to enjoy the rest of your birthday. Um, the last question, and it's a nice question, it's a good question. What are you looking forward to?

SPEAKER_03 44:02

Your life, your work, your family, your hobbies, your interest. I'm looking forward to grandchildren. Um yeah, I think that's what uppermost in my mind. Uh grandchildren. Can I be honest about it?

SPEAKER_02 44:20

Okay, be as honest as you want to be. But just know, I'll be honest, just as honest back. Of course.

SPEAKER_03 44:26

Of course you can. Um so so with that, that's one of the things that I think yeah is lacking. And it there's something else that's attached to it. Okay. Because of age, yeah, um you always feel that there's a danger that it may get to a point where it's never gonna happen. Okay. You know what I mean? And if it does get there where it doesn't happen, then of course my bloodline cease. Doesn't.

SPEAKER_02 45:04

Who is gonna come? Because you have a brother who also has children and you share the same DNA and bloodline. They're called Williams as well. I know you may not think this, they're called Williams as well. Yes, but I mean I'm talking about mine. Yeah, but I understand so your personal may, but your the actual bloodline won't. Yeah, but uh, I don't know what they will do or not do. No, I that I I get it, but I'm just trying to give context to quite a drastic statement. Does that make sense? Because most people sit there and go, okay, cool. If a bloodline's gonna end, that means that that person has one person in their family, and does make sense? So I completely understand that. However, that's not the case. So whilst I can understand the concern, of course, there isn't there isn't, it's not like my bloodline's gonna end.

SPEAKER_03 45:47

Yeah, but I mean, you know, can you imagine me having to be relying on my brother, anybody else, it's I mean, to carry on my seed.

SPEAKER_02 45:57

Yeah, but I I think also because of your work as well, I'm not sure your boss would be happy about you being so caught up about your own personal seed. No, I'm just saying that the your spiritual boss, um if you came if he sat because he's always with us, but if he came down and just like to talk to me about your bloodline and your seed since he waited for a long time to, you know, sort of some seed issues and stuff.

SPEAKER_03 46:22

It wouldn't be bother him if he has we have to take them little ones with us when we leave here.

SPEAKER_02 46:28

But you know yeah, but they probably would have to stay because they'd be a part of the rain, right?

SPEAKER_03 46:33

So they no no, oh no, no, they they come with us. Okay, they'll come with us and come back with us. Okay, so it would be nice to know that yes, um it happens. I hear that because once I leave here, that's it, no more chance that happening.

SPEAKER_02 46:53

I understand. So you think so uh which is it? Are you gonna be asleep or are you gonna go in the rapture? Rapture, of course. So then you got you got a bit of time.

SPEAKER_03 47:02

You got time, you're fine. Well, I hope so. We all have children and praying that um the planting take place as quickly as possible. For the seeds.

SPEAKER_02 47:19

Grandchildren. Yes. I think you're I think your sons are on their own job. So you get you you you be like the good, be like how Arsenal fans should have been, and keep your faith pure. Don't get caught up in the anxious stuff over here, Dad, because as you see, like the Champions League final, some of that, you know, what I call pee pee in the water can mess up the swimming experience. So you just make sure that your faith stays like Hebrews 11. Oh, yes, and it's and it's pure, and it's like the elders that obtained a good report. Indeed. Because if you hear talking anxiousness and faithlessness, then no, no, no, no, no. I don't think that the next edition.

SPEAKER_03 48:02

Faith is is you know, is is is a fact. It is, and it's also an action, and it's also an act, it's an action, right? So the talk faith is the action that talk faith. I mean talk faith.

SPEAKER_02 48:13

You're not. You're talking you're talking more doubt than you're talking faith. You are talking about the end of bloodlines and those kinds of things there, and no, dad, let's be real, because Jesus had the same situation with his disciples. He tried to tell them over and over again, he's like, guys, I'm going away. Okay, some stuff that you're not gonna like is gonna happen. Okay, and that he never ever said to them about the stuff bad that was gonna happen without the caveat of going, but in three days, right? Yeah, so he always lent them into the solution, even though he he understood that they would be visualized, they'll be visualizing on the problem. So I'll say to you, whilst, and I because I I get to listen to you, right? And I'm getting better at listening. Yeah. So whilst I hear the problem, focus on the solution. It will it will be a problem.

SPEAKER_03 49:04

Oh, the solution is sitting right here before me. It's not.

SPEAKER_02 49:08

It is not, it is, it is right here. So then you have that faith, Dad. You let that faith grow like a mustard seed. Yes, Dad, happy birthday. Thank you so much. We well, everybody actually, because we get wonderful comments from you, and also I want to say this that I don't think you understand how just even the representation of you making the time to do this and sitting here, and to all the people that we won't necessarily see and won't come into contact with, I want to say thank you to you on their behalf. Thank you. Because um it was actually the lovely Suki that said something really amazing. She was just like, You can't tell me that he's not the nation's dad. And I was just like, Do you know what? Good good point, Suks. So, and it was more so the intention of the statement. Does that make sense? Yeah, that is somebody that's objective, that's not filming with us, that's not in our everyday. Um, and yet how you are and what you give is so authentic that it can touch people that are miles away.

SPEAKER_03 50:13

So we always no, I mean I do thoroughly enjoy um the whole process.

SPEAKER_02 50:19

It's good to know that you're not here against your will then.

SPEAKER_03 50:21

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's um always a pleasure to come and to um do these, and especially uh with the the output so they always reflect um in some great ways and moments that you didn't even think was gonna was gonna happen. And it does, you know, I find myself having a good laugh. Good, you know what I mean about it because it's just hilarious looking back at it. No, you deserve it. You deserve to.

SPEAKER_02 50:56

Thank you to everybody that is kindly watching, guys. You can like, subscribe, and share. Please do that. Please like, subscribe, and share. We are on Instagram, we're on YouTube, we're on TikTok. Also, we have a Patreon. So, anyway that you want to support, please, please, please just check the link below. Um, and we also want to hear topics that you might want to hear us talk about. But more than anything, we just want to make sure we're giving you good content and that we're able to give you information that's helping you in your everyday. So, for me, sure we just have a great rest of your week. And from my dad and the birthday man, stay blessed. Make sure you stay blessed. Yeah, we'll see you next time, guys.

SPEAKER_01 51:31

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dead. Happy birthday, I love you, blow them out.