In reality I am a reindeer, my antlers grow large and I shed them once a year. I have worked hard all my life. My home is on a lush green hill surrounded by a fertile valley inhabited by many less fortunate friends, relatives and aquaintentices and hangers on.. Many of whom failed to plan for the future and have achieved nothing in life. These same friends and relatives have not progressed, yet they expect others to bail them out when ever necessary.
One sunny afternoon at the begining of the rainy season, I watched the clouds accumulating in the far distance and realised that there was an on coming storm. The rain started in the late afternoon and it rained and it rained and it rained. The next morning I awoke and looking around I discoverd that I was now on an island rather than a hill. The valleys were flooded and the water was rising fast. I decided to swim across the valley to dry land. Just as I was about to go in to the water a rat called Roland said please Mr Reindeer can I climb on to your antlers so that you take me across the water with you. No sooner had Roland climbed aboard when Janette the gerbil ran up and said can I come with you, I'm not a strong swimmer so she climbed aboard. With in minutes serval other creatures with hard luck stories climbed aboard. My antlers were full. I got in to the water and started to swim but with all the weight on my antlers it was difficult to keep going. About half way across I thought I was going to drown. Then without warning mother nature took control and my antlers were shed.

With appologies to Aesop

Nihil Desperandum Illegitimum Carborundum
Never let the bastards grind you down

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