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A little bit about me ...
(Updated 2.2.08)
Well, what would you like to know
....
Born in Southampton, Hampshire on 4th November 1972, which makes me 35 years of
age, I went to North Baddesley Infants and Junior School until I was eight years
old, when we all moved to Nursling, about three miles down the road.
I spent three years at Nursling Primary before going to Mountbatten School in
Romsey. I can't say this was the most enjoyable time of my life but, after
a year at Taunton's College, I finally moved away from education and out into
the wide working world.
Starting off at Hobbs The Printers in Millbrook before taking a night-time
petrol station assistant job at RoadChef Rownhams motorway services. I
spent about 18 months there, serving the night-time public. It was then,
in 1992, that I found my first long-term employment with the Inland Revenue.
At the time, I did not know it was going to be long-term as I was only offered a
four-week temporary post but on arriving at the Southampton 6 office, I
discovered that the person who was successful in the application did not show
and I was offered it instead.
My Revenue time was good - the job was never that great and the pay was
typically ordinary for the Civil Service post - but I made many friends in the
multiple of offices that I worked in. After Southampton 6 closed, I was
transferred to Portsmouth 1 in Southsea but got back 'home' in 15 months to
London Provincial 9/Southampton Parkside/West Hampshire Area (it changed it's
name so often, I didn't know whether I was coming or going). Spells in
Andover and back down in Portsmouth on relief were fun - but I was getting bored
so took the chance to go to Winchester for a period.
As it transpired, it was not the wisest move. Thankfully (?!?), I got
promoted and became a Revenue Officer at the dreaded Portsmouth Contact Centre.
It was probably the worst move of all as I waded through a couple of years
there, answering non-stop calls.
But during this time, I found love with Catherine and after a whirlwind romance,
I moved from the south and, with a transfer through work to Chapel Wharf Area, I
set up home with her and the girls, Hannah and Molly.
Catherine and the
girls on holiday in Bulgaria in 2005
Unfortunately, after some really great times, we split up in June 2006.
There were attempts to get back together again - quite a few actually - and
things were looking up when I arranged for her and the girls to come to
Australia for New Year 2007 while I was working out there for Sky during one of
the 'back together' stages but there was always a cloud over us and we broke
again shortly after I returned home. It looked like it would be a
permanent end that time - but, when I returned from my first trip to Sri Lanka,
I needed to call her about a letter I had received. It transpired that we
both missed each other as much as the other and I am glad to say ... we are back
together again, engaged and looking to get married in 2009. We never make
things easy!
During the 'good times', we suffered some difficult times as well and one of
those was my departure from the Revenue back in June 2005. But things
could not have turned out better as I have secured a new full-time job with Sky Sports
Television, becoming a cricket statistician to the commentators. The highlight so far has
to be my three month tour-of-duty in Australia for the Ashes Tour. An amazing experience.
And during the autumn of 2007, I was asked to work for Ten Sports (on loan from
Sky) for the England ODI and Test series in Sri Lanka.
My family are now all together again (well, sort of). Mum, Dad and Rachael
have all moved to Bury and Dad is enjoying his new 'job' with Ramsbottom Cricket
Club as their first team scorer. Mum has joined the ladies committee at the club
as well and Rachael is working hard and ..... well, more of that later!
2007 could only be described as a year of mixed emotions. My split from
Catherine and the girls being a low - the highs being the tours of Australia and
Sri Lanka. I moved house twice - to a beautiful apartment in a small
village just north of Bury called Summerseat (a one-road-in and one-road-out
type village) but the place didn't have Sky which I needed for work. So I
am now up in the Rossendale Valley in Helmshore, not quite as nice as the
converted mill but it is comfortable, pleasant and I can see sheep and the West
Pennine Moors from the kitchen window.
So I think that is about it ... enjoy my website.
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