We used to see red grouse, curlew, foxes, stoats and weasels and all manner of wild duck. All these I used to try and sketch, with a singular lack of success as they moved too damned fast! So plan B came into effect - go to the local library and get a book on the subject I was interested in, a technique I still use today. Back then I carried on drawing - no painting but sketching, pen and ink drawings, scraper board work and calligraphy.
At this stage my artistic endeavours ceased as I went into secondary school. It was head down into school books and any spare time was spent playing rugby, building model aircraft, taking apart and rebuilding model engines, then later taking apart and rebuilding motorcycles. After secondary school I moved to Coventry and commenced my training with Humber Ltd as a Motor Vehicle Design Engineer. I stayed with them for 19 years moving from design work to development of the vehicle, particularly safety development.
During this time I also met and married my wife Nuala. There was still no sign of M.S., but at least I now applied a bit of colour to my drawings. After Peugeot took over our company, all design and Engineering moved to France so I jumped ship and went to work for Rover in Birmingham. During this time I revisited my interest in wildlife and produced one or two paintings.
After six years it became obvious that the motor industry in England was reaching the end of its life and as the boys were of an age to slot into the Irish school system we moved to Nuala's home town of Crossmolina in Co. Mayo. It was arguably the best move we ever made - the boys did well at school and university and I loved the countryside and the fishing. I also managed to produce two or three more paintings. Then after 10 years or so, strange things started to happen.
I started to suffer with pins and needles in my arms, I couldn't stick to straight lines when writing, my voice sounded very strange and sometimes when I went for a walk with Nuala and the boys, by the time we got back my eyes were totally out of focus!
I hadn't got a clue as to what was going on, so we sought medical advice and, lo and behold, after numerous tests, MRI scans and a lumbar puncture I was diagnosed with M.S. I suppose I was fairly lucky when I was diagnosed, being relatively old, as I had finished most of the physical pursuits I used to be involved in. I was also very lucky in that the progression of the condition in my case was fairly slow.
In terms of what that progression was like, I initially had to deal with foot drop, no sense of balance and numerous falls, thereby requiring the use of a walking stick. As my leg continued to weaken I progressed to using two sticks, then a rollater and finally a wheelchair for going any distance. Along with items for assisting my walking, we had a few alterations done to the house: a ramp to assist in entering and leaving, a walk-in shower and seat to minimise falls, and a revamp of a downstairs bedroom.
For the next 8 or 9 years things progressed as normally as they could with winter spent designing various projects and the summer spent manufacturing the designs in my workshop.
Then came Covid and the lockdown. I thought 'now is a golden opportunity to dig out the old paintbox and see if I can produce a half-decent picture'. I thoroughly enjoyed working with paints again so I decided I would continue. To date, I suppose I have produced 10 or 12 finished paintings. As my condition has progressed I find I am suffering uncontrollable tremors in my right hand so I have to use both hands, one to hold the brush and the other to control the tremors and hopefully guide it in the direction I would like to go.
These days, after living with M.S. for quite a while and realising that no two people's version of the condition is the same, I would say try not to worry about what you can no longer do but try out something you maybe always wanted to do.
Don't be downhearted. Keep an open mind on how to tackle problems and try to come up with potential solutions. Try and stay positive and learn to live with M.S. rather than trying fight it all the time.