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About Chuckolate |
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This is the story of how an Ottawa Indian came to be in South Lanarkshire! It will tend to be a bit wordy, as storytellers are like that! I first came over to Britain in 1970 in the US Air Force. I had joined the Air Force to avoid getting drafted into the Army and going to Viet Nam. Instead I spent 2 1/2 years in Suffolk at a base called RAF Bentwaters. Just before I finished my enlistment, I met a girl from Ipswich at a rock concert! I went back to the states and she went over a couple of months later. We got married over there in 1973.
We came back to the UK in 1975 to be near her family. We had a little boy and in 1980 when he was about a year and a half old, she died. I was a single parent for several years. Then in 1987 I got married to a woman with two kids of her own. We had a daughter who is now 23 and lives in the states.
I was working for a frozen seafood company in Ipswich who was moving to Scotland. They brought me up with them, so I came to Scotland in 1993. My wife and I separated almost six years ago and are now divorced. Shortly after coming here I got involved in the folk music scene and shortly after that I was asked if I would tell some stories from my culture at one of the folk festivals. Since then I have become known as a proper storyteller. Then, 5 years ago, I was voted onto the Scottish Storytelling Register out of the Netherbow Theatre in Edinburgh, thus becoming a professional. It was the end of a long process, lasting about two years! I do stories for folk festivals during the summer and during the rest of the year for schools. I mentioned that I was disabled, I don't think of myself as disabled but know that being honest is important. 16 years ago I injured my left knee while ceilidh dancing. Then almost 12 years ago I had to have my right leg amputated just below the knee after developing a blood clot on the inside of my knee. It limits me a little, but I still try to do as much as I can and most people don't even realise I have a fake leg. I even still like to ceilidh dance! I hope none of this has put you off and I look forward to hearing from you soon. So there you have it, an Ottawa in South Lanarkshire! We call ourselves Odahwah, So I'll end this now. As my people say, megwetch, Chuck |
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Interview with Chuckolate |
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What do you like most about where you currently live?
Where I live is 20 minutes from Glasgow, 40 minutes from Edinburgh and 1 hour from the highlands! What more could I ask for! |
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What do you enjoy most about your current job?
I love telling people about the culture of my people, the Ottawa tribe. People's faces when they hear my stories, especially kids! |
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What are your favourite leisure activities?
Listening to music, watching sports like Baseball, American football, F1 and WTA. Also like History and Science. |
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Where in the world are your favourite places?
Mira Mare in Mexico, Big Sur in California, San Francisco, Scotland. Luckily I live here! |
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Where in the world would you love to visit?
So many places, so little money! China, Japan, India, Thailand, Oz, New Zealand, Antarctica, Africa, Russia, etc. |
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What would you do on an ideal date?
Spending time with that special someone. Doing anything or nothing. It's who you're with not what you're doing. |
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What are you looking for in a partner?
Someone who will be there when either of us need somebody, yet would understand if I wanted to go off and be on my own. My other half, basically. I'll know when I meet her. |
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What makes a good relationship?
Understanding, trust, love, humour and of course a sexual compatibility. |
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What makes you laugh?
Many things. Mostly life and the funny things that people do. Animals can also bring a laugh! |
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What music do you like?
Everything from classical to heavy metal. Mozart to Muse, so to speak. Not into country and western or R and B or soul. |
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What has been the highlight of your life so far?
So many! Being there when my daughter was being born, my grand-kids, seeing 3 sunrises and 2 sunsets in 24 hours. Seeing a blue whale from an jet. So many things! Meeting Billy Connolly several times and chatting to him. |
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What are you looking forward to in the future?
Finding the right woman, making a space flight. Selling my first book! |
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Relationships |
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 | I am looking for friendship or a casual relationship or a serious relationship. |
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| My relationship status is currently divorced. |
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Appearance |
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| My eye colour is grey. |
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| My hair is grey. |
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| My body type is slightly overweight. |
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| My height is 5' 8" / 173cm. |
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| My ethnic origin wasn't listed as an option. |
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Politics |
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| My politics are left of centre. |
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Qualifications |
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| My qualifications include a qualification which was not listed as an option. |
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Employment |
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| I'm self employed. |
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| My employment sector wasn't listed as an option. |
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| My income is less than £10,000. |
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Lifestyle |
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| I'm a light drinker. |
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| I'm a non-smoker. |
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| I don't follow any special diet. |
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| I am disabled. |
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| I am spiritual. |
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| I practice my religion. |
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| My interests include animals and antiques and arts and books and computers and cooking and countryside and family and movies and music—listening and photography and spirituality and sport—watching and theatre and travel and TV. |
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Children |
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| I have children (not living at home). |
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| I may want to have more children. |
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Housing |
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| I rent my home. |
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| I live alone. |
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