User Profile

I'm a Glaswegian and still live in the West of Scotland near the Clyde coast. I've been writing song lyrics and playing guitar since my late teens, although I do not think of myself in any way as a serious guitarist. I do take the songs themselves seriously though and they have been an important part of my life and a means of expression for a long time. My inspiration came originally from the beat groups of the 1960's such as the Beatles and the Kinks and many others. I continue to be inspired by their work and see albums such as Revolver as the yardstick to be measured by. I occasionally play at poetry or folk clubs in the area.

I work for the railway as a signalman in an older type of signal box. I enjoy the job and I like working alone. I like the traditional nature of the work, the observance of it's rules and regs and the feeling that this is something that hasn't changed all that much really, at least from the operational point of view. Of course the 'business' side is always changing.

My other great hobby is aviation which is something I became obsessed with from about the time I learned to walk. I like reading about the great air aces of the first and second world wars in particular and the early jet age. None of this is very pc I realise but I doubt if I'll ever repent or give up this simple pleasure from which I've gained so much enjoyment. I am part of an online community who fly using the flight sim 'Forgotten Battles' by Ubisoft. Often we fly in online wars against teams of 'axis' players, recreating the air battles of the 1940's. I spend quite a lot of time researching and writing up add-on campaigns for this game which are then posted for download by other users.

I also spend a few evenings a week doing some voluntary work with children with special needs at Barnardos. I find this very rewarding personally and even when I feel tired after doing shift work with the railway this part of my day gives me a lift.

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