I’ve never been comfortable with titles, grades, certificates and awards. Nothing against them, they’re just not for me. I haven’t turned grades down from people I respect but have upset and subsequently fallen out with people that run awards ceremonies because I wouldn’t associate with them or accept their awards.

I know who and what I am so don’t need recognition from others, I know what I’m both good and bad at and that sometimes I’m a twat with an awful sense of humour.

I don’t like to put anything between myself and those I teach so I’m not a leader, but a supporter. I like to support and encourage people to become strong individuals and find their own path. This way we can share my knowledge and be friends for life. The only time that doesn’t happen is if they try to elevate me unnecessarily to suit their own ambitions and I refuse to act the ‘Master’ for them.

You can’t win with some people but as long as they move on to something or someone more suitable it’s no problem it only becomes one if they try to change me and that’s never going to happen.

‘If you sleep on the floor, you’ll never fall out of bed’. – Turkish proverb.