I spent last night in hospital cause I had an epileptic fit and fell in the river. See I’m still wearing my hospital band and see my ankle, it’s very swollen. I have fits when I get stressed. Two men in the boat shed came running and pulled me out. There’s definitely a god who’s looking after me.
I started living on the streets in Wellington when I was 10. There was just the Blanket Man and the Bucket Man and a few others who were homeless back then. When I came here they started calling me the Christchurch Blanket Man. Not because I only wore a blanket. But because if there’s anyone who needs a blanket, I’ll find them one or share mine.
I was brought up by the Home of Compassion but no-one could handle me and I ran away. I was molested by a priest and also one of the nuns. My father abused me too, before I went into care. That’s what happened back then.
I want people to understand how all the stress in my childhood brought on my epilepsy and why I’m like I am, and live on the streets. I told my story to the Abuse in Care Inquiry.
It can be annoying when people recognise me from the documentary I was in. But mostly I don’t mind. Frank had come down here to do a documentary on the changes to the walk and cycle-way and then he saw me sweeping.
If you’re around on Sunday Mornings’ I run a coffee cart. We give free coffees to the homeless and also sometimes clothes. That’s what I’m most proud of.