Just my imagination ... or not?
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"Are shark attacks common in Wales?" For years, Barry realises how much fun his son is missing out on because of his dad's fear of the sea.
Transcript
"Are shark attacks common in Wales? Who cares! I balance delicately on my surfboard. How do I know that there isn't a creature lurking in the depths beneath me, waiting to make that strike, or is it only my favourite shark tooth necklace that I lost here last week?
If I'm that worried, why am I here? That damn movie! It's not as if the fibreglass great white was convincing! But it was scary enough to put my subconscious mind into overdrive.
For years I deprived myself of the sea. I knew I had to do something about it when I filled the bath with too much water and wouldn't get in. And even when I did, I sat at the shallow end scanning the water for a dorsal fin.
My experience on a beach in Ibiza did little to help. It was too hot and I was turning into a human barbecue. The water felt so good and I forgot my anxieties.
I stopped swimming when I heard a voice in the distance, "Come back, come back". I stopped and tried to touch the floor with my foot. Too deep. Uh-oh...sharks. Something brushed against my leg... and I swam back to the beach like an Olympic swimmer.
A few years later I took my son to the beach and realised how much fun he was missing out on because of my fear. I had to get back into the water.
I was determined, so when an enthusiastic friend told me "Surfing is fun". I tried it! I liked it! It's ironic though, from below the surface, a surfer looks like a great white's favourite food."
An interview with the author
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
My life has revolved around music. It serves as a true pleasure in life, and by being a musician, has exposed me to unforgettable memories. I now work with young people and amongst other things, pass on to them the knowledge of music. I have many other interests - far too many to mention - but all revolve around a creative streak and humour.
What's your story about?
It's about my overactive imagination and what can happen as a result. Following a visit to the cinema I would never look at the sea as I ever did before. My obsession grew around sharks and their behaviour.
Fear can play tricks on the mind, so with increasing knowledge on the magnificent beasts that sharks are, I was able to return to the sea, that I had deprived myself of.
What did you find most rewarding about the workshop?
The whole process was very rewarding. I have a certain level of the skills that were being taught but I feel that the delivery of all aspects of the workshop was well tailored to obtain a satisfying result.
