personal profiles

[tim]

SO glad that someone resurrected the thread - I STILL wish it was a locked one?? = Tim

[tim]

[Chaz Hunter]

I've only just spotted this thread so its only fair that I add my profile ;)
i was born in Holyhead, Anglesey in 1952 but grew up in a small village in Suffolk, went to Grammar School then  college...married at 21 but lost my wife to cancer 6 years later..decided to join the army for a fresh start, served in N.I., Germany, Belize and was selected to join a Special Forces Cadre a month before the Falklands War kicked off (thanks a bunch..I'm sure they knew in advance >:( )
In 1985 I joined the Avent company (formerly known as Cannon Babysafe) as an engineer, stayed there until 2000 when I fancied a change..so, I moved to Holland where I lived in Zevenaar (nr. Arnhem on the German border) and then in Middenmeer (North Holland). While I was there I found I had lung cancer and was fortunate to get treated straight away (cost me dearly tho' had to pay for it :'(), I'm now in remission and living in Tamworth, Staffs, I no longer work (incapacity) and so have plenty of free time :).
Apart from my lottie, my interests are, writing poetry, watercolour painting, diy and the internet.
That's about it really, just want to add that this is a brilliant site and I'm so lucky to have found it!
Chaz

[tim]

The unpleasantries of life seem to be very unfairly distributed. = Tim

[Mimi]

Tim, I couldn't have said it better.

[Garden Manager]

Blimey, hadn't realised this was still going.....couldn't remember if I had posted, and had to read through 11 pages.....(yes, I had, but it was back in December)....

Richard.........I quote...

Just to let you all know, I will be adding my background here shortly.  Watch this space.

Wasnt sure whether to do this or not, but having read other profiles I feel I dont want to be left out.

c'mon.......spill the beans....... :)

...oh, and PPL, used to have one of those....just couldn't afford to keep it going.....will have to restart it one day ..........

Yes Yes i havent forgotten. Only just realised this thread had been revived (didnt fancy tailing through all the pages to find it). Hovever it is late and i am tired so It will have to wait until i am NOT tired and can remember straight!

[tim]

Next time you lose it, use the search button - a really worthwhile thread?? = Tim

[tim]

I know - I do go on about it - but if so many folk have contributed, surely it is worthwhile? Would hate all that
effort to be lost.

BUT - the POINT of this note is to say ISN'T IT GREAT  to see so many new names on the board.

Wouldn't it be nice if they too were to put faces to the names?? = Tim

[Bionic Wellies]

Since finding this site I have been following the discussions/topics with great interest - I intend to try out some of the ideas presented here, they sound just the job.  Anyway, since you all seem to be keen to get to know the peeps that are out there ....

Born in '57 in Swansea (S.Wales) making me a little more than 21 years old  ;).  My first love was gardening (my parents' relatively small town garden) and then along came computers.  Found it quite difficult to decide between horticulture and computers as a degree - computers won - went to Portsmouth and latter to Poole.

Our college building housed computer, maths and psychology students and two strange rooms full of shelves with books on them - libraries, I think they call them.  (have loads of books now on many subjects).  Anyway, weird psychology students used to come down to our common room to select victims (I mean ask for volunteers) to take part in their experiments - have been married to one of them for 24 years now - some experiment!

Have 3 sprogs; Ist (son) is just finishing degree from drama college, 2nd (daughter) is about to jump ship this autumn to go off to university, 3rd (daughter) will sit A-levels next year and in 18 months intends to depart for a student life too.  Golly, what will we do with ourselves - PARTY.

Actually ... we are looking to throwing in the towel @ work (I'm a software engineer looking after some bits of a large network run by a news/media company) and get a smallholding somewhere (we are that advanced in our planning).  I am currently setting up a web site of the things we are doing and our experiences - will try to keep a diary as part of the site.

Have had an allotment fo 20+ years and have tried many different veggies - always willing to have-a-go at anything - some have been really successful (and I have continued to grow them ever since) others, less so (Alan hates turnips - Yuck! - The only good turnip is a squigged turnip  >:()

Anyway - A great site, made up of great people - keep up the banter.

-- Alan

[tim]

Well done you!!

Smallholding ?- like to make money?? Have you read 'How to make Money from an Acre'? Trouble is, so much is now imported so cheaply that it's a bit of a challenge. Was seriously considering doing it on retirement - with a guaranteed market on my doorstep. Thank God I didn't - the RAF left!!

Or do you mean allotment?  = Tim

[Mrs Ava]

Ooooo so jealous, tis Ava and my dream to one day jack it all in and vanish back to the Devonshire homeland, take on a small holding and live the good life!  Maybe one day..............................[dream mode off]........................

[Les_Woof]

You can all ask me whatever you want I'll tell you no lies!

Honest, trust me, I'm not a doctor!

;) :D ;)

[Les_Woof]

EJ

I think a lot of folks would love to throw it all in and lead the good life.  I know Sophie and I do, Teaching (Sophie) seems to be so hard these days and I really feel for her what with all the hassle teachers get these days.

i never remember being as bad as the kids are these days, the worst I ever did was spray my french teacher with silly string (but it was charity week and stunts like that raised money) I would never have dreamt about carrying knives and stuff to school.

And construction (well to coin a phrase its interesting but same sh1t different place, just glad I'm in management rather than on the tools)

It seems the older I get the more I love the land I came from (the Lakes) however we definatley would go up there to do what we are doing now it would definatley be out of the frying pan into the fire.

Smallholdings are the way forward however I think France or Italy will have more of a pull on us.

Heres hoping.

Thought for the day: "Never stop dreaming".

;) Les

[MrsFrog]

Hi everyone!

This is a brilliant thread, had also been dying to know more about all you lovely people!

My interest in gardening started in 1976, when my parents (dad: self-employed inventor, mum: sculptor) having no horticultural experience/knowledge whatsoever decided to embrace "The Good Life" and move from a city centre apartment to a derelict Elizabethan ruin in the country, complete with orchard and well (we only discovered the well when my brother fell down it, hairy moment!). We lived next to a wonderful couple, Bill and Jodie, who had dedicated a large part of their garden to vegetables. Mum decided that the future lay in herbs and goats milk, so set out a herb garden, and cajoled my dad into rebuilding the stables for the goats. Having got carried away with a new project, the fact that she'd ordered 3 British Saanen and an Anglo-Nubian called Kerry, Tania, Lucy and Tegs completely slipped mum's mind and the day they arrived was a bit hectic, was totally unexpected and the goatsheds were still uninhabitable, so where else to put them but the dining room! (It was empty, and with loads of straw made an ideal "temporary" home). This was, unfortunately, not as secure as it could have been, and on several occasions over a period of approx 18 months (the sheds weren't ready for a long, long time) all 4 escaped into Bill's veg and caused all sorts of havoc, which led to me helping him replant many veg, many times (!), cultivating a love of vegetable and herb growing (Kerry loved the witch hazel in particular, fought hard to save that little shrub from goat attack many times!) that persists to this day!
I now live a thankfully thoroughly normal life, I'm 33, full time mum, married to the most patient guy in the world, have 3 children of 12, 8 and 3 who have taken after my parents and are completely mad, a garden that's 25' x 25' and an allotment that is my sanctuary!

Looking forward to hearing loads about everyone else!!

Lisa (who's not really nosey!)

[Mrs Ava]

Still waiting to hear all about you Richard.  ;D ???

[tim]

I must be mad?? I thought that the profiles were worth saving. So  - I printed them off.
I won't ask you to guess how many pages. Don't try it! 64! = Tim

btw Campanula - did you notice that you have caused 3888 views? Could be a record?

[Mrs Ava]

And the thing is Tim, still sooooooooo many members haven't contributed...(and that includes you Richard!).  Thing is, it doesn't have to be much, just something so we know the kinda folks you are and what else is in your life apart from spuds, tomatos and greenfly!  ;D

[ken (69)]

Hi everyone..not sure if this is the place to introduce myself. Am new to this board but know some from the beeb. Was an auditor for 30years then 20 years jobbing gardener.Plus two years in the Army stationed in Edinburgh (where my clever nephew now teaches asprofissicks) Am an experienced gardener but not a qualified expert.Have been lurking for a while, and look forward to posting, although it;s going to take a year to learn these emoticons :-\

[Gardengirl]

Hi Ken,

Good to have you here - look forward to hearing all about your garden and maybe seeing a photo or two :)

Pat

[tim]

Ken - don't waste time on that - I've never used one & don't intend to!! Just say your thing.  = Tim

[Garden Manager]

Well its a long time overdue i know but i have now decided to take the plunge and give you a potted profile of myself.

OK so I am 26 and live in Dorchester in Dorset.  i first got into gardening properly when i moved to my current home about 7 years ago, the garden was overgrown and neglected (having been my paternal grandparents house) and much larger than than we'd had previously. I have gradualy become more and more interested in gardens and gardening and have recently been to college to study horticulture with a veiw to taking it up professionaly. This is my second choice career, having originaly studied Law on leaving school, however i later realised it wasnt for me. I prefer to be outdoors not stuck in an office all day!

My greatest influences in gardening have been my maternal grandfather who had a large garden in Bournemouth i visited regularly as a child, my mother who is a keen gardener (My dad is not!) and Alan Titchmarsh.

My main leisure interest outside gardening is following horseracing, particularly National Hunt (jumping) which takes place mainly in the winter.  I regularly attend meetings at my nearest course at Wincanton in Somerset.  This is purely for the spectacle as i do not indulge in betting/gambling.

My other spare time activity is my involvement in the Air Training Corps, in which i am a volunteer supervisor/instructor. I have always had an interest in the military and aviation, and after 6 years as a Cadet i have progressed to adult staff being first a Civillian Instructor, then more recently appointed to a uniformed post for which i had to pass an interview. This does not mean i have joined the RAF, but I will be wearing its uniform when on ATC duty. This i am proud to do.

Well i think thats about it. If you have any questions, please sent me a private message or if relevant start a new thread in 'The Shed'