The "A Conversation with a Jolly Old Bloke" Story

It was an ordinary day. Standing in the water in the afternoon sun talking with my new friend from England. Bloke's (guy's) name is Derek. He and his wife Pearl are on Holiday (vacation) in Barbados as are Carol and I and our friends Jerry and Just Sue. Met he and his wife a few days ago while in the Caribbean Sea, escaping the hot sun. Didn't take long before we were like old friends. Derek and Pearl live on the Isle of Wight, a country and the largest island of England. It is located in the English Channel, about two miles off the southern coast. Has a very rich maritime history. Both Derek and his wife are retired teachers, she being an elementary teacher and he a high school geography and history teacher. His teaching career includes stops in England, 3 years in Barbados, 1 in Saudi Arabia, then stops in Belgium, Scotland, and finally retiring in England. We spent endless hours in the water both cooling off as well as telling each other our life's stories. Needless to say, his seemed more interesting than mine; at least to me. Took me about an hour before I could understand his English accent or dialect. Told me about his days in the British Navy and playing futbol (soccer) until he was 54 years old. The futbol league constantly made him get his doctor's permission, since he was playing with guys more than half his age. Endured 7 knee operations and finally both knees replaced because of his futbol career. We had a great discussion about the English health care system and both he and his wife can't believe President Obama can't convince our population that we need something similar. Most European countries have government run health care systems and love it. Spent last evening enjoying dinner and an evening of steel drum music with them at a nearby resort. Seems that no matter where we travel, we always meet the most interesting people. Makes our travels as much a history lesson as a vacation. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.