Home » News » Two out of three aint bad

Two out of three aint bad

Published 23 March 2009, Posted in Northland / 1 Comment Two out of three aint bad

A story by Ken Williams

After head injury, fortunately, I lost a lot of my inhibitions. 

Life is short, so just live it – the philosophy ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’ is a good one, and has made an amazing four months for me.

I always wanted a house before I was 30, but always had an excuse not to get one.  So, in October, realising I had only five months to achieve my goal,  set out to have a sale and purchase agreement before Christmas.  I saw an amazing house, the agent said, “they will never come down to your budget”.  You don’t ask you don’t get – so I put in a cheeky offer, and at 3:30pm on Christmas Eve, I had a contract!

So, what is next on my list? 

Since my injury, I have got into photography, and always wanted to spend a day with Emirates Team New Zealand.  So, I sent an email directly to Team NZ, and within 24 hours I had a reply from Grant Dalton inviting me to the base. 

WOW!  I flew down the next day, had a tour of the base, met many of the crew members, and spent the day with their photographer Chris Cameron.  Grant and Chris are nice guys, and they worked hard to make a day I would never forget.  It is really surreal being in the base, everything is just huge!  I then spent the morning on the water with Chris photographing the boats as they trained, literally within metres of them at times.

It was an amazing experience – people have to win a draw against 10000 other people to do this sort of thing, and I just asked!

The third item on the list.  I purchased a rose for a certain somebody on Valentines Day, to no avail.  Oh well, you can’t win them all, but two out of three aint bad!

So, put the, I can’t and the excuses away, and just try something.  Get cheeky, ask (in the nicest way possible) and you never know what you will get. 

Put the I CAN in to life, every day.  I did, and I have done two things I never achieved before my injury.  Next is a half marathon, the Tongariro crossing, and the Franz Josef Glacier.  All after renovating my house of course.

Hey, if I achieve two out of three of those things it will be an amazing year.


1 Comment

Posted by Pauline  on  01 April 2009  at  06:54 PM

Good on you Ken that is the attitude ask and it shall be given . You are an insperation to other people that have had accidents , so well done keep up the good work and all the best for the future from this family Pauline , Charlie & Daniel Skjoth

Add your comment





Your email will not be displayed or used.
Your privacy is important.

Notify me of follow-up comments?


Next entry: Traumatic Brain Injury and the Caregiver

Previous entry: Kids with Arthritis

Main News

News Categories


Have some news to share?
Send it to our editor

Recent Comments

kim silvey on 07 July 2011 says:

Minnie’s presentation on Be Accessibe was truly inspiring. disappointing to see those most in need of ‘enlightenment’ were absent….a great build up for the RWC and way beyond so up to those who did attend to be vocal! and spread the Be word!

From the entry 'Into battle for the disabled'.

kim silvey on 06 June 2011 says:

this exhibition is stunning - a credit to the artists and their work and so worth a visit…

From the entry 'I take my hat off'.

Rosie Gallagher on 05 May 2011 says:

Sounds like a fab event for a great cause! We’ll be hosting a dinner! smile

From the entry 'Dine at Mates Rates for MS - and Win!'.