Tramping
Cycling and cycle touring
Red Wine
Children
Basketball
Reading
Eating out
Lattes
Rain on a windless day
Thinking
The golden light of a sunny late afternoon
Single malt whisky
Snuggling around Debbie in bed
Laughing
The smell of rain on hot pavement
Sport
I was born in 1962, which these days is looking a long time ago. When I was younger I can remember trying to think how long ago 30 or 40 years was, and how it must feel to have lived that long. As I get older I realise that memories of things past are important.
I was born in Wellington New Zealand. I live here now, and may well die here. I like it as a place. I like being born a New Zealander. It's a unique perspective on the world. In part it's a "western" perspective - which, incidentally, is a term that makes no geographical sense to someone living in the South Pacific - but it's more and more a perspective that reflects where we're located geographically. Put another way, I'm not a European or Caucasian. I'm a Pakeha.
I really had a wonderful childhood and adolesence. I'm the oldest of three children, and the only male. I'm an Aries too. I'm not sure how much I fit characteristics of being Aries and oldest. Or male either, but I try harder on that one! I have great memories of family holidays and endless summers, of grandparents and neighbourhood gangs. I can remember a time before television.
I always did well at school and played lots of sports. Sometime in teenagerhood I think I became shyer, often happier with my own company. I'd wonder, at times and still do, why people like me. I discovered music around 16. It's been something I've loved ever since. I didn't discover girls until much later. Well, not entirely true. I knew they existed, I just didn't know how to sail across to them.
University changed me a lot. For the better I think. I started a science degree, which, deep down, I never really wanted to do, and then switched to finish a degree in English literature. In my last year of that I discovered Philosohopy and was immediately hooked by it. I spent the next two years completely studying Philosophy and got an Honours degree in it. It was the exposure to ideas though. The different views and ways of life, all filtered through a relatively turbulent time in New Zealand history and the angst and pleasure of late teens and early twenties, served in so many ways to make me who I am today. A few years later I went back to University and did a Master's degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies
In 1986 I left New Zealand, and with a friend cycled across the USA before going to live in London for three years. I would say to anyone, if you get the chance to travel, do it. Just go. Go with no agenda or no schedule. Travel for the sake of it. Travel because of who you might meet.
I've worked as a storeman in an ice-cream factory, as a labourer on a building site, as a cycle courier, as a painter and decorator, as a sports administrator, and as a web developer. That's my current job. I like it a lot.
I'm married to Debbie. We have a son called Matthew. Someone else is expected around Feburary next year. We have our troubles like every other couple. We're still together and in love. We've been living together over 14 years and married over 11. I like that.
This is my third online journal. I started my first over three years ago. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy!
Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
ok, ok, I know it should be five at least, but there's no way I can make up my mind past three!
Robertson Davies
James Ellroy
David Foster Wallace
Tom Robbins