The things you did or didn't know about me. 

    Nothing on this page will alter my perception of you, it may however alter your perception of me.
It may answer a few questions, or it may make you want to ask a few questions.  Please feel free to do so.
All I ask, is that you remember I am the same now as I was before.  You just know a little more about what makes me tick.
 
  Right.  What do you want to know? Let's get the boring bits out of the way first.  I was born in 1958, white, straight, single, Pagan, a biker and a therianthrope. A What? A therianthrope.  You know, a were-beastie,  someone with lycanthropic tendencies.
 
" So what you're trying to say is that every full moon you change into a snarling, savage creature and bite someone's throat out?"

 Sorry to disappoint you, but no.  You have been watching too many second rate horror films my friend.  When was the last time you heard of a wolf killing someone?  Think about it.  There are no wolves living as an indigenous species in this country any longer.  As for America, well let's have a look, shall we?

Most folklore and fairy tales, however, tell us that wolves kill humans yet wolves are extremely shy and fearful of people, even when in the company of a large pack. Humans have never been one of the items found on the menu at any 'wolf cafe'.

Though quite capable of ripping apart even the strongest of men, not a single documented case exists of a wolf having killed or even severely maimed anyone in the wild. This is because the wolf in the wild, even when in the company of a large pack, is extremely fearful of people. It is rare that it even knowingly comes near them.

 Wolves are very shy animals, and are afraid of people, avoiding us whenever possible. Even though people are expanding into the few remaining areas where wolves are found in large numbers, there has *never* been a documented case of a healthy wild wolf deliberately attacking a person in North America

Wolves are shy, submissive animals. There has never been a documented case in North America where a healthy wolf has ever attacked a human.
 

That is just a few odds and sods, picked up from various sites, but do you get my drift?  

    "Chances are, 200 years ago, I would have been burned at the stake after undergoing torture, for admitting to the animal side of my existence. Whatever, we all have an animal side to our personalities; it's just that some of us choose to acknowledge this more openly than others.

" MegaDog."

   Let's clear things up a little.    Shall we say that I try to live my life according to the credo of the wolf ?  Not such a silly idea when you think about the way "normal" people live.  Wolves don't go around mugging other wolves.  Wolves don't commit murder or rape.  They don't rob, cheat or steal.  They only kill for food, not for amusement, like some other "advanced" animals I could think of.
A little food for thought.  Whilst prowling around the ‘web I came across this, by Ben Goodridge.  It seems very apt.  So, without further ado, here we go.

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM WOLVES 

Eat plenty in each sitting.

Well, I have to agree with that one.  Man or beast, sustenance is vital.

Always drink lots of water.

With the chemicals that go into today's water, I'm not too sure about drinking it.  Still, it hasn't killed me yet.
Beer, on the other hand, is quite pleasant, but not if drunk to excess.  I have a very nasty tendency to turn "savage" when drunk, so I keep alcohol down to a minimum.

 Food is better when it's shared with all your friends.

Once again, I agree.  There's nothing quite like sitting around a fire with a few trusted friends and having a good talk whilst eating.

 
   Mate for life.

In these days, where morals seem a thing of the past, this can be sound advice.  For someone who has had three "mates" die, you begin to wonder if it's ever worth "trying again".  Still, that's me.

 
   Remember that there are other kinds of creatures in the world besides you.

Both a warning and a reminder.  Some creatures are quite capable of hurting you for the sheer pleasure of it. ( Man springs to mind.)  You are quite capable of hurting other creatures. So try not to.   It takes all sorts.

 
  Don't go after game that is stronger than you.

Bit of common sense this one.  Sort of  "Don't kick a tiger up the arse."

 
  Know the difference between predator and prey.

Once again.  Know your limitations.  If you sense a situation where you are likely to be the "prey", do the wise thing and get out quickly.

  Stick with the Pack.

Hmm.  This depends on your definition of "pack".   There are times when you have to leave the "pack".  I will leave this one to your choice.  Personally, I prefer to be a Lone Wolf, but still have strong affinity with the "pack".

 
  You're never going to catch everything you chase.

This is another "know your limitations".  Some things are better left uncaught.

 
  Save something for later.

In "human" terms, a little something put aside can be more than useful, should you fall on hard times.

 
  Self-preservation is the only reason to hurt someone else.

I totally agree with this one.  No one likes a bully.  I am certainly big enough to "push folks around" but, thanks to the "wolf" side of my nature I choose not to.
 

  Never be less than what you are.

"I am what I am".  If people expect me to change, just to fit in with their lifestyle, then they will be disappointed.

 
  The stronger you are, the easier you'll survive.

The good old "survival of the fittest"  As true for man as it is for beast.

 
  Keep your spirits high, and your tail low. It saves energy.

Kind of a "stay happy, and annoy no one".  Does the trick for me.

 
  You can never go by appearances.

Too true.  Some people have been "afraid" to come over and speak to me because they didn't like the look of me.  Certainly a case of "judging the book by its cover"  Just because I happen to be a big, tough looking biker, doesn't mean that I will give you any cause for concern.

 
  Don't be afraid the question the authority of an Alpha.

Ask yourself " Why is he the alpha?"  As above, you can never go by appearance.

  Some humans are friendly, but some can't be trusted.

I think this a question of picking your friends carefully.  The people I call friends can be trusted.  If they give me a reason to distrust them, then they are no longer friends.  Simple as that.  I am not the forgiving type.

 
  If your prey gets away, hunt again tomorrow.

As in life, there is often another chance.  What you can't achieve today, you can always try to achieve tomorrow.  Don't let every disappointment get you down.

 
  Trust your sense of smell.

If not literally, then metaphorically.  If something doesn't "smell right", then there is a good chance that it is not right.  Instinct isn't dead in humans.
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 When all's said and done, I prefer the company of animals to that of most humans.  It's not that I don't like other people, it's just that I don't like ALL other people.  As much as I enjoy bike rallies and the like, I am quite content to spend time alone, or with animals.

"So.  You're one of these zoophiles then?"

That all depends on your definition of Zoophilia.  One definition states:-
Zoophilia; the love of animals in any or all of emotional, spiritual and sexual senses.
The emotional and spiritual senses, most definitely.  The sexual sense, well, let's put it this way.  The penalty for any kind of sexual relationship with animals in this country is life imprisonment.  You would spend less time in prison for showing your hatred and killing someone, than you would for showing your love of another species.    So shall we leave it at that then? 

The biker bit.     

I had my first bike around the age of  eleven.  As far as I am concerned, I still get the same enjoyment out of biking now as I did then.  It's true.  Bikers never grow up, they just get bigger and better toys.  If anything I seem to be regressing as my bike now has stabilizers fitted and has become a trike.  The pleasure of riding through the countryside has to be experienced rather than described.  It's the feeling of being "at one" with the places you ride through, rather than just "passing through".   If you see a cottage with a smoking chimney, then a few seconds later you can smell and taste the wood smoke.  As you climb and descend hills, the air temperature varies.  All this is lost to the unfortunate car driver.  The exquisite pleasure of an angry wasp trapped inside your crash helmet.  The horrible sensation of icy cold water trickling down your shirt.  This too is lost to the fortunate car driver.  It's a question of the pleasures outweighing the discomforts.

"Do I look upon fellow bike club members as my "pack" members?"

    I suppose in a way I do.  The club has a hierarchical structure, to some extent, although we don't have an "alpha".  The club is run more along social lines as opposed to a strict regime, as some clubs do.
    I guess to some people, the sight of fifteen or so bikes pulling up gives them a similar sort of wariness to the thought of fifteen or so "wolves" arriving.  Due to popular misconceptions, fuelled by the media, they expect bikers to behave badly.
    OK, not all bikers are perfect and well behaved, there's no point in trying to say otherwise, but, as a club we have always been welcomed back at every place we have been to, once the "locals" have got to know us.
    I have found that if I arrive alone at a pub or campsite, then there is no problem with my having travelled by motorcycle.  If, however there happens to be three or four of us, then the same campsite that I used when alone, suddenly has a no bikers policy.  It is now illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sex, race and to some extent sexual preference, but acceptable to discriminate on the grounds of your choice of transport.
    Am I a different person when I travel by bike?  

The Pagan bit.     

Yes, I am a Pagan.  I will not attempt to preach at you or try to convert you, I'll leave that to the christians.  What I will do, however, is provide you with a link to at least one Pagan website and leave you alone to explore it at your leisure.
  

As I said.  One link to a Pagan website.

Oh, all right then.  Two links.  I'm too good to you lot.

The mundane bits.  

  Music. 

    I do have a soft spot for Jethro Tull.  Contrary to popular belief, not all bikers like heavy metal.  I can't stand it.  To me, it's just a bloody row.
    Jazz, on the other hand, is five people playing a different tune at the same time.  I can't understand jazz at all.
    The music of French speaking middle America, Cajun and Zydeco, is my preferred listening.  Not to everyone's taste, but I like it, so there!
    I also play the flute and the guitar, though not at the same time.

  Food.     

I do have a weakness for a good curry.  Anything containing mushrooms is avoided like the plague.

  Television.     

You're not going to believe this one.  I do not have a television.  There is so much bullshit on the box, that it annoys me to try and watch it.  So, I choose not to share my living space with the "goggle box".  I do have access to a 'telly, but I just can't be bothered with it.

  Likes.     

Predictably enough:-  wolves, bikes, camping, fishing, dark forests, building trikes, good food, good company ( on occasions ), life in general.

  Dislikes.     

People who try to be what they are not.   The majority of British road users.  Those involved in the "sport" of fox hunting.  Football.  The Black Lace record "Agadoo" ( you don't know how much I despise that song.)  Paedophiles.  Most green vegetables.  The crash helmet law.

  Favourite places.     

I don't have a specific favourite place.  It all depends on so many variables.  The weather, the mood you are in, why you are there.
    I love the roads around the Elan Valley, in mid Wales.  Savernake forest is a place where I can spend hours at a time.  The Shetland Isles are both spectacular and beautiful.
    If I have travelled there for pleasure, rather than for work, then I am glad to be there.  If I didn't like the place, then I would move on. 

    Well, that's me.  Take it or leave it.  I am happy with my chosen lifestyle.

That's about the size of it.    

If there's anything you'd like to ask me, or tell me, please feel free to     "let me have it".  Pointless to say that any flames will be ignored with the utmost disdain.  True to my type, I have a very thick skin.  "Heard it all, forgot most of it."

Most enlightening.  Now would you please get me  BACK?