: About Me

I moved to a place called Ely, in Cambridgeshire, in England, for two years in 1998 and forgot to leave. I write as a hobby, mainly second rate comic novels and slightly less second rate poetry. I also used to give third rate stand up performances but I sat down 10 years ago and have tried to avoid getting up at all, if possible, since.

In the real world, I have enjoyed a long and varied career working for anyone prepared to give her a reasonably interesting job in corporate communications and verbal branding; from the arts to the professions, technology and transport. These days I work for myself as an artist, drawing things on commission for anyone willing to pay. I supplement my income being a marketing consultant in my spare time. The two were meant to be the other way around but hey! When has anyone's life panned out the way they expect?

I spend far too much time reading, writing, listening to music and collecting kitch objects - usually toys - and not nearly enough time working.

A few of my favourite things are: Mr McGuire, Chewbacca the cat, Captain Scarlet, Dr Who and my car... Pending firstborn is also coming up fast on the rails.

My passion is ...

Drawing, writing, collecting toys (Dr Who, Star Wars, Supermarionation) and Mr McGuire

I know too much about ...

The Beatles

My childhood ambition ...

To be a famous writer

Why I write ...

Because I have to

My first job ...

Secretary in my Uncle's surveying firm... ah nepotism, don't you just love it

Celebrations & Holidays > Thanksgiving The history of Thanksgiving

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As a Brit, exposed to lots of Americans, I understand what Thanksgiving is but I've never really got to the bottom of why it happens, when the first one was, what's it all for? So far, none of the Americans I've asked seem to know or at least, be prepared to tell me. The answer I'm given is usually something non-committal like this. "Uh it's a day when you celebrate your family, so all families everywhere try to get together and have a meal* together." *Deep-fried turkey according to British TV chef, Heston Bluminthal (yikes that can't be true can it). Well yeah, I know that's what people ...

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