My Dad bought us ZX Spectrum as our family Christmas present in 1982 and pretty much ever since I wanted to work with computers. I’ve spent 26 years as a professional software developer so far, so I guess Yes.
I have two older brothers so I was always playing catchup. That sibling rivalry definitely provided motivation.
Cake, cake with a side of cake.
I got a hamper to celebrate a work anniversary several years ago which included some lovely herbal tea. It’s still in the cupboard.
The highly entertaining race reports.
I find this a tricky one to answer. Are the great and the good worthy of more admiration than the meek and the mild? However, special recognition must go to my wife for putting up with me.
Compassion and greed.
It has to be my little ones. They drive me crazy, but they’re so precious.
Lucky, determined, happy and grumpy.
I’ve done all sorts of things over the years, but with a young family time is limited and so it’s pretty much just running right now.
I can imagine all sorts of great things to do if money was no object, but a typical weekend has us finding plenty of activities to keep the kids busy along with a race or a longish run and I’m satisfied with that.
I’ve always fancied spending some time in Australia. We have some friends in Perth and I think I’d like it. The Derbyshire Dales are lovely though and my feet aren’t itching that much.
I’m going to go with a running one here. I did the Grindleford Gallop in 2014 and then again in 2015 and at 21 miles that’s a long long way for me. Most definitely a challenge and incredibly rewarding. I got injured in the 2015 edition (just as I was heading down into Edensor) and like a plonker I just carried on for the remaining 7 miles which along with other changes in life at the time led to me not running for the next 6 years. Hoping to do it again next year as the culmination of my comeback.
I hope to always be a better version of me and I constantly find inspiration from all the people around me including all my club mates.
I stream all my music and my choices are incredibly eclectic. Given the nature of our household it’s as likely to be Peppa Pig as Miles Davies.
It’s an oldie but goldie for me: Dr Strangelove. Peter Sellers is just incredible in all the parts he plays in it.
My wife saying “Of course” when I asked her to marry me.
My very first interaction with Matlock AC was back in 2013. I had just moved to Derbyshire having spent the previous 10 years or so on the Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire border. I joined a few folks on a Thursday night who had gathered at the Robin Hood Inn before heading up to White Edge. This was a bit of a shock to my system having not really encountered an actual hill before. Nonetheless, it would be great to have a few more runs over the moors during the summer.
