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INTERESTS
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Over the years I've been involved in a fair few activities. One or two have fallen by the
wayside (I used to be a fairly keen chess player for example) but I try to keep up with as many as possible.
I've always been interested in photography and you'll find some of my photographs
around the site, but I often take slides and, as I can't scan these, I've had to rely on some of Dawn's photos in places. |
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Books
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I've always read as much as possible - including, I'm told, the side of the
Cornflakes box if nothing else was available!
These days I probably read more Science Fiction and Fantasy than anything else.
Reading Anne McCaffrey's Pern series probably got me started on this along with R A Heinlein's work but it was certainly JRR Tolkein's, The Lord of the Rings, that got me totally hooked.
Now days some of my favourite authors are David Eddings, Raymond E Feist and
Janny Wurts for Fantasy SF/Fantasy books. Terry Pratchet's, Disc World books, you either love or hate but I find them extremely funny and increasingly philosophical. Patricia Cornwell writes excellent Crime fiction as does Collin Dexter (of Inspector Morse fame) |
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Music
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I wasn't very interested in "pop music" until I was about 16 - which is amazing
when you see the size of the record/tape/CD collection now!
Various bands and singers have been favourites over the years. I was an early
Beatles and Hermans Hermits fan until I went off music for a while. Gilbert O'Sullivan got me back interested (yes! I'll admit to owning his records). Abba, Queen and SuperTramp have all been important. Nowadays I have many likes but one stands out
above others. Chris de Burgh
(CdeB to the initiated) has to be the most gifted singer/songwriter since Lennon and McCartney. The depth of feeling and expression he puts into his songs is beyond comparison and his performance in concert is exceptional. If you think that he only did Lady in Red there are many excellent unofficial sites that you can look at. I'm pleased to report that The Official CdeB Web Site is now restored to its former status and there is also the CdeB mailing list and Yahoo group if you want to be more active.
Supporting CdeB in concert we saw Martyn Joseph, another excellent and
underrated artist who I would urge you to listen to.
A different sort of music but I also enjoy the comic operas of Gilbert & Sullivan.
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Football (or Soccer
if you prefer)
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I'll admit to being totally useless as a player but I've been a We won the Auto Windscreen Shield a few years ago and we have had many wins over the top sides.
Rotherham's nickname is The Millers so that is where my IRC
nick Millerman comes from.
When I was 17 I qualified as a referee but that didn't last. I
value my health too much! |
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Computers etc.
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I've been interested in home computers since the old Sinclair ZX81 appeared in the early
80's. I used to do some simple programing myself but that has got too complicated to be a hobby. Now I'm far more likely to be found playing games! I spend I reasonable amount of time on the
Internet. I have been a member of the CdeB mailing list since 1997
and I took over as moderator of the list in February, 2001. I'd
like to think that we're a friendly group who always make newcomers
welcome. There is also the #CdeB channel on IRC (undernet) which
I visit when I can.
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Bell ringing!
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I couldn't finish without mentioning this! I'm not active anymore
but I used to be a church bell ringer - much to the amusement of my friends. You may not know that the English style of bell ringing (Change ringing) is different from anywhere else, although there are some English style rings in Commonwealth countries and the USA.
English bells are hung slightly differently to give the ringer greater
control over the bell so that he or she can make it strike in a precise sequence. |
