Biography
Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, moved to Newcastle in 1989 aged 18, and then to Finland in 2001.
After 22 years in Finland, returned to UK to settle in Scotland in 2023.
Employment history includes
British telecom (customer service/call centre)
International early education center, Tampere (teaching 3 year olds)
VeraVia Tampere (costumed event promotion)
University of Tampere (science outreach teacher to schools)
Historic Scotland (Steward/Guide)
Freelance musician and performer
Skills
Languages:
- English language (native)
- Finnish Language (Fluent)
- Yorkshire dialect, Geordie dialect
I have also studied the following to a basic level with reasonable pronunciation but not conversational fluency:
- Chinese, Russian, French
Musician:
- Bodhran, folk harp, tin whistle, fife, pipe and tabor, rock drum kit, other percussion
- Singing: rock/pop, classical/renaissance, medieval and folk (Irish, English, Scots and Finnish folk songs)
Technical/Scientific
- Sound technician
- Chemistry/laboratory work
Vehicles:
- Motorcycling
- Driving
- Cycling
Martial arts:
- Taekwon-Do (red belt)
- some experience of sword & shield / spear & shield fighting (dark age / Saxon / Viking re-enactment)