The Night Before - Monday 7th April
It's 7.30pm on the evening of my latest adventure.
"Tomorrow I take off to... I know not where.
Tomorrow I become a secret millionaire."
I am more apprehensive than I have been for years, which is partly why I am doing this. It's a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to leave who and what I am, and who and what i 'was' behind to be no-one other than me. A role I haven't played for a long time to anyone outside of my family and friends. This ten day adventure, although living a part-lie, will be just 'me'. No 'image', no history, no reputation, no achievements, just Carl. Just, how will Carl react to new people in a new place and possibly some unique events?
Already I have endured pre-undercover filming on my old estate.
A recurring theme in my pre-trip interviews has been my tale of how as a young lad I laid on my garden gate looking into the distance, to an escape, a future away from the Wyther Park estate. I also spoke of how my attention would be diverted to the corner of my street where I would stare in the hope of something or someone coming around the corner, a new face, a friend - anything, but nothing ever did.
So now I think of this opportunity and the way that it has 'come around the corner' and although I am now in my home behind my electronic gates as opposed to laying on my gate, I have decided to get off my gate and meet this opportunity full on. I want to see where it takes me and not simply lie here, comfortable and content as this potentially fascinating if a little scary event just passes me by...
