R's rue

There are eight cities in Yorkshire - more than in any other English county. They are, in alphabetical order, Bradford, Doncaster, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Ripon, Sheffield, Wakefield and York. Naturally, I have been to all of these cities but the two I know best are Kingston-upon-Hull which is commonly called Hull and Sheffield where I am currently writing this blogpost. Hull was the city of my first eighteen years and I even went to school there for five years. It is the home of my beloved football team - Hull City.  Sheffield is just my adopted city. Home to almost 600,000 people, I have lived here since 1978. I know it like the back of my hand. Of all the Yorkshire cities, the one I know least is Bradford. I have been there just three times. Firstly, it was to play rugby against Bradford Grammar School. Another time it was to see Hull City playing Bradford City at Valley Parade and once it was to take a party of schoolchildren to visit what is now called the National Mus...

 I’ve come To terms That my worth Doesn’t come From what Is thought of me I’m not a star No athletic talent Not loud  Introverted A little stoic I have masks For each emotion  I’ve hidden Everything But my heart  Knows the lie Must end I have Cerebral Palsy  I’m just learning How to not Let the truth Of my condition Determine the health Of my happiness Late blooming Takes on different meanings And I’m finally Surfacing for air Clawing from  Obscurity To proudly declare I don’t know Who I am yet But I know  Who I’m not I’d given up  Hope when  My hopes Seemed To become Old wineskins And then  I realized  I was trying To pour new Experiences Into old vessels It doesn’t work It’s taken 40 years To want  To get acquainted With myself It’s only Because What I wanted Needed most Was healing It wasn’t going To happen Until I gave Forgiveness To self For something I didn’...