Mike Harris
A ’health’ perspective on a lifetime’s involvement in sporting competion.I wonder how I’d be received, if having read another book on Health and Fitness; I then take the information straight from within the covers of that book and copy the same detail into yet ’another’ Health and Fitness book? In the process of doing that I quietly remove the original author’s name and replace theirs with mine. Would I? Could I? Get away with it? The answer of course is an absolute and resolute yes, because it seems to happen all the time. Furthermore, to appeal to a certain catchment of the market and to encourage a preponderance of readers, I then alter my ’less than attractive’ elderly face and manufacture another one, I mean, I buy, a new much more attractive and presentable front, I do the latter by the application consisting of a mass of cosmetics - professionally applied of course, then as a last resort (I mean they’re a ’must have’ and exceedingly fashionable adornment on any celeb) I also cram into my somewhat elongated stretched gob 40 or 50 brand new ’Dick Emery’ Dulux brilliant white and even teeth. With that final touch, reassuringly, the cover-up instantly succeeds in ridding me of the age induced wrinkles I have mysteriously but naturally accumulated over my 70 years of living, and turns my weather-beaten face into an unrecognisable smiling Adonis of a man! My face is now resplendent and just oozes health as I’m now transported centre stage from sitting room to the front cover of ’my’ new book. The journey is miraculous, even my wife fancies me, can you believe it? On reflection I have a short pause for caution and I consider the book’s information, but because it’s all copied it can’t be wrong, can it? I’ll add a few well-chosen eye-catching words such as ’I hereby promise you this book (first edition) will change your life overnight!’ The sting is finally complete, and the would-be super optimistic punter lays their money down and swiftly vacates the shop with an unmistakable ’can’t wait’ enthusiastic aura, normally reserved for first night honeymooners!And this book? Regardless of the above trivia, and regardless of living in a world whereby it’s increasingly difficult to be ’original’ or in any way different, because we are all subjected to just so much repetition and replication, my pledge is that the information included here has all been tried and tested during my current 70 years of consistent ’work alone’ trial and error life. None of my views make me right, of course, and that’s because all of us are unique and all of us are so very different. But this formula and this attitude worked for me - and more importantly still does! Am I on the make? Not in the slightest - if I release the book, I expect no financial gains, the book’s given me something to do. If you read it, I hope it makes sense and is at least different! Good health! 3
