What do you want to know??
Age: 22 1/2 (again!!!)
Married: to the wonderful Jo - my childhood sweetheart (she says I’m the child)
Kids: 2 both boys - Rick 22 and a hairdresser, Sam is 19 and a wanna be student/bartender/drain on my finances.

Until the autumn of 2005 our family included a dog and a cat. Unfortunately Lucky (the cat) had to be put down in July and Jake (the dog) in September. Lucky was 18 when she had to be put down with kidney failure. She had been a healthy cat until she disappeared for a week, and when she re-appeared she wouldn’t eat and had to be put down. This was a complete shock as we used to joke that we would bequeath her in our wills to our childrens childrens children. She seemed to be immortal as she had already had to have her tail amutated. Jake had been ill for about 18 months with a growth in his ear. He was 12 years old and we were companions of his for 11 of those.

We now have a bunny called Barry.

What do I do?
Currently occupied in a Call Centre as a cover manager. For those in the UK and who have seen the advert, I find it offensive to liken us to chickens. Most people come to work to do the best they can. Shouting, screaming and swearing at us gets you nowhere. We will help you if we can - if we can’t we will try and point you in the right direction.
Before you knock us - walk a mile in my shoes.
Anyway enough of my ranting there is to be a special section just for that.

What do I like to do?
As you can tell from this I’m a bit of a geek. I spend a lot of my free time (what’s that) on computers. I used to work as an IT manager and then tried my hand at the self unemployed bit - which didn’t work out at all. I still enjoy programming (database (MSAccess in particular) is a passion). I am now trying, after many years, to teach myself web programming - HTML, PHP MySQL etc hence these pages. Any help welcome.
I also like to rant (a special section is coming soon).
My one claim to fame is that I have been broadcast on national radio in the 1990’s, while playing with a band called Device. We were on a Tommy Vance’s Rock Wars. We won our heat, but lost in the final. I still try and play (bass guitar), however it has been that long I do sometimes forget which way round it’s supposed to go!

What am I listening to/reading?
Reading - Terry Pratchett, Tom Clancy, Conn Iggulden.

Listening - This is a constantly changing list:

  • Rush - a fantastic rock band (who happen to be Canadian) and just celebrated their 30th anniversary (I WAS THERE). They will always head this list
  • Emerson Lake and Palmer - the first progressive supergroup (not everyone’s taste)
  • Jaco Pastorius - the Godfather of Bass
  • Lindisfarne - Geordie Folk Rock and a great party
  • Count Basie and Duke Ellington
  • The Clash, Neil Young, Mussorgsky….
  • Also just been re-aquainted with Albatross by Fleetwood Mac. For those of you too young to remember it’s currently used in the M&S adverts
  • Kaiser Chiefs - anyone that can use ‘Lairy’ (a good Yorkshire phrase) in their lyrics is OK by me
  • Also check out Mardy Bum by the Arctic Monkeys - again using Yorkshire, a song with the lyric:
    “That on a day like today when you’re all argumentative
    And you’ve got the face on”
  • Rodrigo y Gabriela, fantastic guitarists and great live. Only 2 guitarists but sound like a full band icluding drums! Check them out

Anything else you want to know, then just ask … I might not tell you, but you won’t know until you do!!!