Sections
DONATE
SUPPORT WWW.JOLLOFNEWS.COM
Account Login
On The Spot: Michael Scales, Retired Businessman and Friend Of The Gambia
Thursday, 01 December 2011 21:28
Michael Scales
In our this edition of On The Spot anchored by PK Jarju, Mr Scales talks about his childhood days, battle to stay alive and lots more.
Who is Michael Scales?
I am a father of five and a businessman. I first worked in a local shoe manufacturing business after leaving secondary school. I climbed rapidly in the promotion ladder and at 17 I was the youngest white collar employee.
Michael Scales
When I was 19 years old, against the wishes of my father, I left to tour Northeast Scotland as a singer in a rock n' roll band. It was a very enlightening life experience which has taught me some very harsh lessons about living in the UK.
When my singing venture failed, I returned home to work as a labourer for Glaxo. One day, my project manager took me aside and insisted that I sought a career in sales. He said I was a naturally gifted salesman and threatened to sack me if I did not quit and look for a sales job.
From the age of 21, I worked as a direct salesperson selling anything including delicatessen, children’s sweets, double glazing, photocopiers etc. I have the distinction of being the top salesman for every company I ever worked for or owned.
At the age of 46, I started MSR Ltd, a business equipment company, with just £1248 and a £1500 overdraft. At its height, it was turning over half a million pounds a year. I won LAWTEC awards for innovation. At a chance meeting with the Mayor of Banjul, Samba Faal in April 2000, I gained an interest in sharing this extreme wealth with the poor in West Africa.
I established the Jantabi International Ltd, but due to severe life threatening illness in 2003 which left me severely disabled, the commercial business was sold. However, I still retain my interest in Gambia and Gambians.
When were you happiest?
When I won the Northumberland open golf championship at the 14th attempt. In the final against my considerable opponent, I was 3 holes down with just 5 left to play.
I finished with 3 pars and 2 birdies to snatch victory by 1 hole. This level of happiness changed my life to a mental condition of being a sports winner. I wish everyone could win just once in there life. It is a wonderful feeling that reinforces the spirit and galvanises the soul.
What is your greatest fear?
Throughout my life I have always feared being destitute. The feeling of having nothing in my pocket when others have plenty has haunted me all my life. I thank God for all that I have been given through either sheer luck or the ability to earn.
The worst was when I was out of work through illness as a young married man. My 8 year-old daughter was given an Easter egg by her friend and I did not have a penny. I wrote out a cheque for £5 to buy an egg for her friend knowing I had no money in my account. I quickly recovered and left my sick bed to find a job with great success. I needed that stimulus. God works in mysterious ways.
What is your earliest memory?
I was about 12 months old and in my cot in my parents’ bedroom. I could hear footsteps coming up the stairs. It was dark and everyone was asleep I cried for my mum and she took me into her bed.
Later, it turned out that I had a hearing defect similar to tinnitus. I later had my adenoids out in hospital which cured the problem. About the same time I was in my pram in the garden which was quite steep. A little girl pushed me down the garden and the pram hit a stone and I went flying through the air. Luckily, my mum came out of the house at great speed and caught me in mid-air. Story of my life, I have always been lucky....laugh.
What is the trait you dislike most in yourself?
I am always suspicious when buying anything. I can argue for discount till the cows come home. My wife calls me “knock off Nigel”.
What is the trait you deplore in others?
Deception.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Breaking wind in an arts class in school. I broke the silence and fouled the air for which the teacher caned me in front of the whole class. My class enemy, Jimmy Wills, was laughing the most. But as the cane came down it flicked his ear and drew blood from which he screamed in agony and was cried profusely. I turned defeat and embarrassment into victory and elation. I laughed so loud that the teacher gave me six more strokes. Even then I was still laughing which made him very angry. Jimmy's mother stormed into the school and punched the teacher. Whoaaaaaa!!!!
What is the most expensive thing you ever bought?
A house costing £200,000 and a car costing £78,000
What is your most treasured possession?
My honorary citizenship of Gunjur.
What would your super power be?
An international brotherhood of internet citizens.
What is your favourite smell?
Banjul.
Which word do you over use most?
Tomorrow.
If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would it be?
Hmmmm....Not sure. Possibly the English summers that I recall as a child. The English climate is not the same. The light has changed and the sun burns. I recall fields of wild flowers that have now gone. You hardly ever see a bee or a butterfly or a curlew.
What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you?
I don't love you anymore.
Have you ever said I love you and didn't mean it?
I have never truly understood love. It takes so many forms. I have used and abused it too many times in my life. But it has also abused me. I have loved and lost so many times. These days it is not part of my conscience. But if my wife asks then I will say I love you. But next week who knows? Life is full of uncertainties and I suppose I am very insecure. I like that condition and I have made such a condition my protection. I used to think it was important to love and be loved and to be remembered after death. Now I just don't think it is important. I think life has been devalued within my lifetime.
Which living person do you despise and why?
I don't think I have anyone in mind. I don't hold grudges.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Marilyn Monroe.
What has been your biggest disappointment?
I have a short attention span. I love adventure and variation too much. Being long term ill is a great inconvenience to someone like me who likes to have the ball.
If you could go back in time where would you go?
Crystal Palace FC, Selhurst Park, and retake my football trial. I walked away halfway through the trial. At 17, I was too young and immature but as you get older, such opportunities squandered come back to haunt you in your dreams.
How do you relax?
I like a good war film. The Big Red One is my favourite closely followed by Full Metal Jacket.
What is the closest you came to death?
In July and August 2003 at ITU, Lancaster. I was admitted with a form of pneumonia but they failed to diagnose underlying sepsis and other complications. I was on a ventilator for 28 days with kidney failure 3 times in 6 weeks. I lost 9 stones in 3 weeks and was less than 4 stones at one stage. I spent 43 days in intensive care and 107 days in hospital.
Twice, the clinician came to my bedside to tell me that things looked bleak and whether I would like to make a will. A priest gave me the last rites twice. At the worst stage, I was struggling for breath and was completely paralysed. Sometimes I fell half out of the bed held only by the intravenous lines and electrical wires. I was that weak I could not even lift the single bed sheet.
I was hallucinating and believed I died and met God in His garden. This was supported later by two independent consultants in there legal evidence. It is a fact that God asked me to return to Banjul and pray in the mosque in my dream, which I did precisely 12 months later.
They say your whole life passes before you when you are about to die. With me it was like a multiplex cinema all playing back my whole 54 years at high speed. That was scary.
As I Ieft ITU, the consultant who saved my life advised me that I was expected not to live more than 9 months. I asked him if I would be able to fly as I had something to do in Banjul, but he said that was unlikely as I only had a 15 per cent kidney function and 60 per cent scarring to both lungs and extensive neuropathy in both legs and arms. And as fate would have it, I am still here.
What is the single thing that would improve your life?
A new kidney.
What is your single greatest achievement?
Starting a business with hardly any money and creating such a profitable and worthy enterprise against all odds. Not only that but providing employment and training to so many people by which they have fed there families and built worthwhile technical advanced and profitable careers.
What keeps you awake at night?
I sleep only three hours and often work on my computer through the night. These are predominantly issues related to my friends in and out of Gambia. Over the past 6 years, it has been my pleasure to speak privately with many Gambians about their concerns.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
What goes around comes around. Ecclesiastes Chapter 23 is a great instruction.
A time to live, a time to die.
A time to sow and a time to reap what you have sown....
Is it better to give than to receive?
To give more is better than to receive less.
Which living person do you admire the most?
Bill Gates.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who lived.
Written by PK Jarju
Jollofnews Poll
Who do you think should be the next President of The Gambia?
Follow us on Twitter
-
Cuban offshore oil attempt failsSpain's Repsol oil company says a first attempt to find oil off Cuba's northern coast...
-
Ex-PM, Islamist give Egyptians stark election choiceCAIRO (Reuters) - One is a former military man proud of his links to the...
-
Gambia Reach Finals To Make History(FIFA) – Gambia have won their way through to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup...
Comments
I did not seek this attention.
But was approached in a spirit of friendship by both Yusupha Cham and PK Jarju...who asked if I would entertain these searching questions.
I have always considered it a mark of personal respect to encourage and support the free media. Openly.
That in all my dealings with them {the free media} I have insisted they publish any contributions nomatter how small either asked for... or given in good faith or to good causes such as Chief Manneh's family and the Gamotrap Ladies..etc.
Regarding donations to Gambian political parties.
My position has always been to take sound legal advice.
That advice states that for a foreigner{mysel f} to donate to a Gambian political party...runs the grave risk of making that party void.
I have never donated to any Gambian political party.
My hands are clean.
M V Scales.
You sound so depressed.
shit on me...if it makes your day.
Do I sound bothered?
He took my sows ear and made it into a silk purse.
Thankyou...
Pardon my language....but my African wife say's I am the toughest Mudda F'r she has ever met.Laugh....
As Charles Dickens..Mr Macorber said..."something always turns up".
Lets remain optomistic.
Life does not allow us any alternative.
African's know this more than anyone
Money never bought anything but trouble.
Lets try to be happy...and have fun.
RSS feed for comments to this post.