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I have been retired since 1st November 1999. For the previous 32 years I worked in various roles within the IT departments of Barclays Bank in London and Cheshire.
The picture above shows me with two of my favourite toys, although the sprite has been sold. Another is my computer. You can get more information about these in the relevant pages (see menu on left).
I enjoy walking and used to try to get a good walk in most weeks with a friend and his dog. These walks tended to be in the hills around east Cheshire, Derbyshire and north Staffordshire. Unfortunately the friend recently moved to South Wales so any walks will be on my own for a while. I also try to get out for strolls in the local rural areas. Click here for a description of my Christmas day 2004 walk. To supplement the walking I have joined a gym and go there a couple of times a week.
I enjoy doing crosswords and other puzzles. That's not to say I'm any good at them! I usually get to attempt four or five crosswords a week with a successful completion rate of about 75%.
I spend a lot of time online on the computer. Much of it spent in the idf50, Fifty Plus and SagaZone forums (see link on right) where my moniker is bunnysan. I also spend a lot of time on the computer researching my family history. I have a web site dedicated just to that - see the link on the right.
back to top of pageIn early 2007 I was diagnosed with testicular cancer and have been keeping a journal of my experiences. This is obviously a serious condition but I have not felt unwell as a result of it and am now in remission. The Seminoma Saga
In January 2009 I went to my GP because I had become concerned about my water works. He arranged a PSA test which showed a high count. Tests to verify whether I have prostate cancer and if so how best to treat it showed that I have advanced prostate cancer that is incurable but manageable. More details in my Blog (see link on right). There may also be a problem with my bladder. This is under investigation.
back to top of pageMy younger brother Mike died 12th December 2005. He was just 55. He'd been afflicted with Myotonic Dystrophy for many years and became progressively disabled. He'd been in hospital for week or so before his death with a chest infection but had seemed to be recovering. He collapsed suddenly and the medical staff were unable to resucitate him. Mike leaves a wife Moira, son Peter and married daughter Joy.
Mike remained cheerful despite his affliction and continued as best he could to play an active part in the life of Newington Free Church, Ramsgate. My youngest brother Geoff played a major part in Mike's care, particularly with the heavy side of helping Mike get around.
The three of us, Mike, Geoff and I, grew up as mates. There is less than three years between our ages. Mike was always competitive and was always keen to beat me in sports and games. He'd usually succeed in tennis and often succeeded in table tennis, chess and draughts.
We all went to Chatham House Grammar school in Ramsgate. Mike went on to get a BSc in Maths and a BEd from University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His first teaching post was with the Junior Leaders Regiment at Dover, Kent. His next post was at another school in Dover for a couple of years. He then spent 13 years at the Geoffrey Chaucer School in Canterbury, Kent. Mike remained at the Geoffrey Chaucer School until his condition prevented him from continuing.
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This is my wife Julie. We married on a blustery, cold 16th October 1971 at Newington Free Church, Ramsgate, Kent. |
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This is Matthew our elder son. He was born on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, in 1973. He lives in Openshaw, Manchester and works for the Cooperative Bank at the Pyramid in Stockport. Matt's Facebook page |
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This is Andrew our younger son with his fiancee Donna. He was born in Hazel Grove, Stockport in 1977. He currently lives with Donna in Marple. Andy works as a chartered accountant in Manchester.Andy's Facebook page |
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This is Trinket our tabby and white, neutered tom cat. Trinket went missing on 7th March 2004. We still miss him. He used to earn his keep by catching mice the bodies of which he'd leave in the porch or on the drive way. He also used to blot his copybook by catching small birds from time to time. |
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This is Smudge our new cat. Matthew bought us Smudge on 13th May 2004 at eight weeks old. From a distance he looks as though he is just black and white but the black has feint tabby markings of a sort of grey brown hue. He spends much of his time outside. He was neutered and chipped in March 2005 following injuries to his hind legs. The injuries were minor, just abrasions, but they came just a day or so after advice from the vet that whole tom cats had a much larger territory than neutered ones and were therefore more likely to get into fights and to have accidents. |
Matthew and I went down to Thanet for a surprise party for my mother on her 80th birthday. We stayed with my brothers in Ramsgate. The party was at the Bell Hotel in Sandwich on 27th March 2004. To see some pictures of the party click here.