An educated Scouser with an interesting background and a story or three to tell. But you might have to get me drunk first. JD and coke, please!

Brought up on a council estate in Liverpool, I managed to escape from a place with little future when my mum sent me to Liverpool College, where I discovered I had one of those brain things. A scientist from the day I got my very first chemistry set as a nipper, I’ve never been able to switch off my life-long thirst for knowledge.

As an officer in the British Army, I got to travel all over the world, doing lots of interesting sports, observing new cultures and shooting people. Thankfully not much of the latter.

Though I was brought up with a strong belief that Mancs and Scousers should never mix, I couldn’t have found this further from the truth. I’ve lived in Manchester for six years now and have never found anywhere more interesting, friendly and welcoming. It’s my home.

By day, I work as an analyst for a big firm in Trafford Park. Nowhere near as exciting as some of the shit I have done, but it more than pays the bills and I could do it in my sleep. (I occasionally do it in my sleep.)

I work hard so I can afford to follow the passion in my life: Music. I recently completed an intense 18 month course where I learnt so much about the intricate art and science of Sound Engineering. This has broadened my mind enormously. I’ve recorded albums from scratch and engineered live sound in massive arenas. The excitement I’ve felt is hard to convey.

I also know that this is where my future lies, one day – when I can afford it. Now I’ve spent all this effort trying to get there, I’ve realised “there” is always just another few steps away. I would be a fool to drop everything to chase the dream right now, but it’s always in my sights and in my heart.

I love to create new music and to DJ. I’m good and getting better. Now, if I could only somehow make days which were twice as long, I’d be able to do half of the things I want to do, dammit. My compromise is to sleep less. It can be hard work, but candles do have two ends, you know.

About a year ago, I discovered parkour, which is similar(but not identical) to free-running. Through it I have gained a better understanding of myself and my place in my surroundings. It challenges me in ways that the other areas of my life do not, and has kept me fit when the lazy option has been a tempting alternative. Where I come from, parkour would be called “attempted burglary” and attracts a tariff of six month’s imprisonment.

I’m the deep, honest and loyal sort of bloke. There’s a lot about me and this is about all I feel comfortable telling you without knowing you first. What’s the point in spilling everything? –  cos there’d be nothing for you to ask.