Just an average guy who has always been in love with words, life and people. Now retired and taking time to smell the roses as I go along. I am, of course, open to making friends but not just to have a list of avatars on this page. If we can share thoughts, ideas, entertain and enlighten with a lot of smiles thrown in, then I will welcome you with pleasure and, metaphorically, open arms and warm heart. In a short time here, I have been made welcome and met some good, interesting friends. As for writing, I did it all my working life in sports journalism. I published one (failed) novel and have also written on other sites. My forte is the longer story where I can develop characters, lifestyles and situations. But I dabble in poetry and immensely enjoy the challenge and requirements of writing concise lines to convey a story/situation or describe a person. Similarly with micro and flash fiction on here. So, thanks for reading this bio, hope to see you around, and I wish you happiness and good health.
Interests Reading and writing (hands up those folk that guessed those two), red wine, good dining, playing golf (no longer young enough for my past exploits of soccer, cricket and boxing), whiskey and whisky, travel, holidays in the sun, exotic islands, family, theatre and friendship. I am not a bike or car nut: it's only transport, hopefully in as much comfort as my meagre funds will allow.
Favorite Books I do not have a favourite book. There are too many good ones to list (see author sample below). But I like detective (even old pulp, gumshoe fiction), thrillers, mystery, romance (oh yes I do), humour, autobiographies (sport, media, film, NOT politicians - ugh!)
Favorite Authors I admire many writers. Here's a sample: Ian Rankin, Richard Stark, Peter Robinson, John Harvey, PG Wodehouse, Roald Dahl, Tess Gerritsen, Val McDermid, Agatha Christie, Robert B Parker, Jeffrey Deaver, Dan Brown, Lawrence Block, John Connolly, Michael Connelly, Simon Kernick, Stephen White, Stephen Booth, Ernest Hemingway, Lee Child, Peter James, Harlan Coben. From the old school: Dickens, Poe, Wilde, Aesop and some Shakespeare (what a plethora of phrases he supplied to the English language that still survive to this day!).
Favorite Movies This is wide-ranging from musicals (eg Chicago, Chorus Line, Cabaret) through classics (eg Brief Encounter, Citizen Kane, Wizard of Oz, High Noon, Rebecca, Gone with the Wind, On the waterfront) gangster (eg Goodfellas, The Godfather 1 and 2) and so many more like Dr Zhivago, Dr No, Moulin Rouge, Funny Girl, The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Love Story, 10, Arthur, The Odd Couple, Days of wine and roses, The Deer Hunter, Taxi, etc etc
Favorite TV Shows Not really a TV watcher but have followed some series (MadMen, CSI, Law and Order etc). Dip into The Simpsons and British quiz shows. And, inevitably, too much sport (if that's possible).
Favorite Music Love music, love singers, love live performances, recordings, YouTube, iTunes. Taste goes from classic (eg Pavarotti, the showman Andre Rieu), country (oh so many including Tom T Hall, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Crystal Gale, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, John Denver et al), old pop (Elvis, Buddy Holly, Neil Diamond, Connie Francis, 50s and early 60s, Status Quo, Queen), crooners (Sinatra, Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mathis), stuff from 30s and 40s (big bands, swing, Jolson etc), to some “modern” performers but NOT rap or Punk.