Carl’s in sub-tropical heaven with his new way of life Down Under

Mar 12 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LIFE couldn’t be better for Carl Forman in Australia.

Camping, the great outdoors, shooting, hunting and four-wheel driving are his hobbies.

Oh, and he enjoys a cold beer with his barbecues and a bourbon and cola when out on the town.

Carl sums it up: “I have lived in Brisbane since 1995 and I have to say it’s close to nirvana.”

He was born at 11 Ayton Road, Longwood, on September 9, 1959, and went to Golcar Junior School, where he admits he never seemed to be too far from trouble.

A change came in 1965 when the family moved to Newsome Road and Carl transferred to Stile Common Junior School.

He never really enjoyed junior school and was glad to move to Newsome High in 1971.

Carl remembers: “It was funny that the school was called Newsome, given that it was nowhere near the place. That was corrected in 1973 when Newsome High School was built at Newsome and a lot closer to where I lived!”

He left in 1975, but only after having to spend an extra year in school due to the fact his birthday was after August.

“Worst luck,” says Carl.

He joined the Royal Air Force in December, 1976, and served most of his 14 years overseas in Central and North America, West Germany and Southern Europe.

Emigrating to Australia, he found the air force there was going through a restructuring, so took a job in the Middle East.

He maintained a home in Australia during that time, which he describes as “good money but poor life”.

Carl returned to Australia for good in 1994 and started work for General Motors building cars.

“Bored me to tears,” he says.

He moved to Queensland in 1995 – a state he describes as heaven – and after three years as a prison officer joined the state police and has been there ever since.

Carl says: “Our climate is described as sub-tropical, which means that the daytime temperature very rarely drops below 21°C (70°F), although the nights do get cold.

“We do however have high humidity, which I don’t mind. Our top average is about 30°C (86°F) …. nice.”

Carl has been divorced for eight years and both his children are grown up.

“The only things I miss from the UK are Walker’s cheese and onion crisps, meat and potato pies and Lincolnshire sausages from Adam’s butchers in Spalding,” he says.

He came over to the UK in 2004 for a family problem, when he had a reunion with old mates.

“It was so good to see the old faces. I have to thank Dale King for organising the reunion.”

Carl had a great holiday in Hawaii last year and took an emotional trip to the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor.

“I would love to go back again this year,” says Carl.

You can contact Carl by email on cnk.contracting@hotmail.com