Why I'm Not Eddie, Graham, or John (It's Not Personal, Guys)

Some forty years ago, during my studies at Leeds University, I spent a year in France, working as a language assistant in a French lycee (grammar school.) It was situated in the departement of Lorraine, which is next to that of Alsace, which borders Germany. Due to its physical location Alsace has been alternately French and German during its history, depending on who had won the latest war involving the two countries. Inter-country feelings can run high.

At some point during my stay there, I along with four other language assistants from the area (two Germans, a Scot, an American, and me, a Brit - there's a joke there, somewhere) visited a picturesque town in Alsace. We dined well that evening, food- and drink-wise. We walked around before retiring to bed, in the same hotel we dined at. Apparently later that night, when we were all asleep, some youths were being rowdy outside the hotel, and disturbing some of the hotel's overnighters, and leaving them in a bad mood. There was no ensuite in the rooms so, next morning, it was a case of walking the corridor in your dressing gown, with towel and toiletries. Imagine my surprise when I was accosted in the corridor by an elderly man with the salutation "Sale boche !" (Filthy German) Being English, and being totally unaware of why I was being attacked, I stood my corner and replied (in French) that he could call me a filthy Englishman if he wanted, but I wasn't a German. He kept on, other people heard the raised voices and gathered round, and eventually the manager appeared. The end of it was that the misunderstanding was cleared up (the elderly man had thought the 'rowdies' were those dining well in the restaurant i.e. us) and we were compensated in the level of our bill.

Move forward forty years, and I'm again accused of being someone that I'm not. I try to be a wysiwyg person, and don't like others labouring under misapprehensions about me.

Born (and later christened Geoff) in March 1952 I was born a Pisces. At the time of my birth the sign of my astrological ascendant (hence the 'rising') was Libra, which means I'm led to seek justice and fairness. Before diagnosis as diabetic last November I knew nothing about low-carbing as a health option, other than having heard of Atkins. Nothing about Gary Taubes. Nothing about being sold a 'pup' about a so-called 'healthy' diet.

My 'education' has been a swift one. I'm passionate about people being able to make informed choices about their health, and have no problem if someone makes an informed choice to follow a moderate or high-carb diet. Or chooses to avoid saturated fat. What I do have a problem with is people who seek to stifle knowledge. Thankfully, in this modern age, it is only a question of time, as knowledge of the benefits of low-carbing spreads, before this option is more widely known.

Until the death of Jon Lord in July, I was unaware of the existence of this blog. Googling either 'Jon Lord' or 'Durham Concerto' I found this blog entry http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/jon-lord-rip.html

Ironically it was a post on another diabetes forum that prompted me to google, by a certain Sid Bonkers, another Lord fan. Scrolling down after finding that Durham Concerto video (thanks for that Eddie. It was great to hear it) I started my education about 'antis.' Until then I'd simply noticed how certain posters always seemed to be disrupting threads.

Fast forward to September, when I'm reading entries (here http://www.ravnskov.nu/newsletters#May 2012)  by Uffe Ravnskov, one of the big cholesterol myth-busters, when he referenced that Youtube video of Hitler berating low-carbing. I've seen that video of Hitler several times, each time captioned differently, simply because it lends itself to that. One about Lewis Hamilton winning the championship I can remember clearly (since I'm a Lewis fan.) I thought it offered light relief on a diabetic forum. Apparently eagle eyes related to this blog (not mine, despite my forum avatar) also posted the video some two hours later.

This sent certain 'antis' into paroxysms of delight, as they felt they'd uncovered my 'true' identity, as a former member of the forum.They couldn't be further wrong. They must think only a handful could be as (insert whatever adjective you wish) as us. So any new appearance must be a double of someone they already know.

I think they should get out more.

I never was a 'filthy German.' I've never been Eddie, Graham, or John. I'm Geoff. Libra Rising. librarising. Get used to it.