Keith Beasley - HiSTory

1958   Born Aug 9^th around 5pm. Makes me a fire sign with Pisces ascending . . . though it would be a long long time before I realised the significance of this and lived up to it.

1959   Cared for, in all practical ways, by Virgo parents . . . for they knew no other ways of relating, bless 'em.

1960   Growing up in rural, Northants, village amongst mostly 'nice' people.

1961   Brought up as part of a large extended family . . . sister, cousins, aunts. Most at resonance with Gran B.

1962   Village school with thatched roof . . . and classical music played at assembly.

1963   Introduced to gardening, DIY, National Trust and the like by down-to-earth mum & dad.

1964   Annual family holidays to Littlehampton, Skegness and such places.

1965   Family Christmases the same every year . . . I probably helped make new decoration and quizzes to entertain us. I enjoyed them a lot at the time.

1966   As a Junior at school really enjoyed 'Singing Together' and making Bonfire masks, watching beans grow. Making good academic progress . . . but few if any close friends: not into football!

1967   First 'performance' - in school nativity in All Saints Church Croughton: both parents 'community Christians'. Enjoyed hymn singing thanks for organ playing of Joyce Gibbard.

1968   'Art' would have been Spirograph, painting my numbers and Blue Peter egg box creations.

1969   Started Magdalen College School Brackley . . . in Harris Tweed jacket, cap . . . and on Saturday mornings. Carved name in desk as first sign of revolt  . . . and to assert some sort of identity!

1970   Into making things, but only to plans: model aircraft hung to ceiling, Meccano cranes, Yesteryear cars lined up in rows and listed precisely.

1971   Escaped into the worlds of my model train set, Gerald Durrell and Alistair McLean. Must have been (over) protected from the real world.

1972   Finding I'm enjoying the science subjects . . . probably due to more encouraging teachers. Creative writing only as occasional impositions for bossy prefects.

1973   Form 4C in 'The Shack'. Hated any sports and games so skived off whenever I could.

1974   Boys only grammar school becomes co-ed comprehensive - eek! Not able to relate to the girls so escaped even more into books and family life.

1975   Enjoyed sunbathing during the summer hols . . . and taking apart old tellies.

1976   Off to Uni in Bangor, Cymru. Studying Electronic Engineering . . . and life! For the first time it's MY life, not my parents.  Celebrated by performing at Folk Clubs.

1977   Joined G&S Soc and beginning to find some emotions in me - at last! Snowdon, snow and oniony labs with Clive.

1978   First trip abroad with Bangor friends: whistle-stop tour of Paris, Munich etc. Love is 'forgiving the one you love for not loving' - Ceri, the first lady to take a real interest in ME!

1979   2:2 and on to Plessey Caswell to Quality Assure silicon chips and things . . . in the middle of fields: Great people, great place means enjoyable work.

1980   Still living at home. What more can I say!? Working in a 'State of the Art' research lab was enough of a challenge and pleasure.

1981   European coach hol with Marilyn . . . just a good friend . . . all I was ready for.

1982   Mixing with like minds in Mensa: punting in Oxford, unable not to fall in love at the slightest sign of affection.

1983   Beginning to find the writer within: technical papers, a few poems.

1984   Asked to tutor a course on using a PC for QC . . . found I really enjoyed it. Ah, I'm a teacher! First 'out of this world, out of my mind' experience - thanks Debbie!

1985   Moved into my own home in the pretty, peaceful, village of Nether Heyford. OK, so I'm a late developer!

1986   Introduced to dowsing. Finding I can do that begins to open up a whole new part of me. Dad died of cancer, so having to be the (unemotional -Argggh!) man of the family to mum.

1987   First published article - on Emotional Quotient in the British Mensa magazine. Told to 'piss off' by object of latest love-sickness, so realise I need to 'sort myself out'.

1988   Editing 'Hearts & Minds' - Sensitive Sig newsletter; various writings and explorations into self. Business trips and hols in US: speechless at Grand Canyon for example.

1989   First big holiday on my own, to Barbados - the crickets kept me company if I felt lonely!

1990   Enjoying being an uncle and Godfather . . . a chance to be a kid again.

1991   Chairman of CECC-WG-Rel: continuing my role as 'catalyst and lubricant' in the world of standards.

1992   Still no proper girl-friend, but beginning to enjoy my own company . . . and 'The Old Sun Folk Club' etc.

1993   Holiday in the Gambia: wild parrots at dawn, stroking a crocodile . . . and able to see the joys of a simple life.

1994   I can dance! Enjoying the exercise, tradition and social life with Heyford Morris . . . and the comradeship and fun of panto with Heyford Players. It's great to belong to a real community.

1995   Introduced to Reiki Healing and beginning my training. I'll never be the same again!

1996   Left my conventional job in electronics to teach Reiki Healing as an independent self-employed 'therapist and trainer'. No regrets. I'd been there done that, it was time to move on.

1997   Helped found and develop 'Sailing with Spirit', Northamptonshire's holistic magazine and network. Great to meet kindred spirits and see all these ways of healing and finding ourselves.

1998   Really enjoying being part of both local and spiritual communities. Expanding my mind in all sorts of interesting ways, writing, performing and generally putting the old logical me into some sort of balance.

1999   Taking Watercolour classes and giving Reiki ones as Adult Ed in the village. Enjoying this & photography, especially along the Grand Union canal in different seasons.

2000   Very much part of Heyford's Millennium Celebrations in song & dance . . . especially through writing, producing and performing in my Quaker story ('There Are No Rules') for 'Spirit of the Valley'.

2001   Probably working on yet another book. Want to write 'There Are No Rules', but know the world isn't ready for it, so settle for a Reiki one - it's rejected.

2002   Persuaded by wonderful lesbian friends to chop off shaggy hair & beard . . .  and (thus?) met Liz in Andalucia. Just had to BE with her from then on!

2003  Moved, with Liz, to Saltdean near Brighton - hadn't realised I was ready to leave Northants . . . and share my life. Challenging but wonderful.

2004 Developing as an artist, sculptor and writer. Helping each over to face pasts and put them behind us. Preparing for new life, being drawn to Spain.

2005 End up in the Algarve - Portugal! Absolutely beautiful. So peaceful. Now this feels like home . . . all 6.5 acres of it! Full moons making a particular impression.

2006 Reality of mountain winter, plant (i.e. 'weed') growth and renovations are faced. Open for retreat business - helping folks to chill out & move on in their lives - as we have.

2007 Finally getting all the books I've been working on for years finished and published. Gradually able to think less and BE more.

Note: The above dates are not intended to be accurate. This list is an 'impression' only and not meant to be a factual record . . . more an over-view and means of reflection  . . . a chance to put my life into some sort of perspective.