From a young age I wanted to be a pilot. Dad would take us to airshows at Tern Hill and we would cover our ears as a pair of English Electric Lightnings roared by. I've been a flight instructor and more recently an aerial survey pilot. This magnificent light twin is the Cessna Chancellor. A very capable aircraft that I flew for Surdex Corporation.
Starting with Airfix kits I graduated to building model planes out of balsa as a teen.When we came to the USA I put together a woodworking shop in the basement, along the syle of New Yankee Workshop. Now, with my new career as a HS Engineering teacher, I spend more time 3D printing, coding with Arduino and generally experimenting with projects that may work for my students.
Engineering →
I have purposefully built exercise into my daily routine my entire working career. This usually involves cycling. Along with swimming and the occasional 5K I manage to stay in shape. Running used to be my passion but I'm finding it hard to stay injury free. Now, rowing is the next big thing I have a Concept 2 rower and post my times on their Global Ranking site.
I'm a whole food plant based eater. I LOVE veggies and fruit, but not all out alien from planet Vega. I avoid processed foods and LOVE my diet. It's made easier by my wife who is a very creative chef.
Health & Wellness →
Whimsical poems are my jam. AI can probably do a much better job, but then what's the point.
High hopes were crushed for my one and only publication, ‘NatureVerse Poems’ available on Amazon. It may have sold five copies, haha. I'm putting a couple of them on this site so you can get an idea. Let's see if we can break 100 copies !
I think poems are a good way of consolidating your thoughts in a poignant and lucid manner, as well as sending up anyone that takes themselves too seriously. Go on, click the link and read about Frank the Seven Legged Octopus.
Poetry →
I'm nostalgic for the past. Can't resist looking at a black and white photos of yesteryear. Since joining a WhatsApp group with some of my cousins we started sharing photos. I'm inspired to curate them here with some anecdotal stories to illustrate our life's journey. Along with celebrating the greatest generation, our wartime parents, we can relive our glorious and carefree boomer years. In this picture, Ann, with raised hand, may be saying, 'hey, my wellies are on the wrong feet'. My nickname was Johnny bags, and my sisters still call me Baggy :)
Family Archive →