: About Me

Having suffered from the writer's itch for as long as he can remember Michael Carroll is delighted to have found Helium, although he asks that you don't hold his past lives at sea, and on the fringes of social work, against him. As he says, "Every experience provides something for the writer."

 After traveling the world in the days when ships had more leisurely itineraries Michael became a mature student. Not sure that he was either mature or a student he did gain his degree in Behavioral Science, and, more importantly, was pleasantly surprised to discover that he could write.

Having to earn a crust he got sidelined in various aspects of unqualified social work for more years than he cares to remember.

Fortunately this provided an opportunity to hone his writing skills still further. As clients, family, other professionals and, crucially, judges read his reports he became acutely aware of the need for absolute accuracy. He learned quickly to differentiate between fact and opinion.

Michael admits that social work had some good points but his happiest times during those years were as a freelance district correspondent for his local newspaper, the Halifax Courier. Given the freedom to report on all those feelgood community events staged by local charities, churches and voluntary organizations his faith in human nature was somewhat restored.

An avid reader he will try just about anything, his current favorites being maritime history, Spanish studies and anything he can get his hands on about language. Michael gained credits, at the universities of Leeds and Hull, in Journalism and Maritime history respectively.

As a member of Helium's Editorial Advisory Board he is continually astonished at the sheer amount of, previously useless, knowledge that is tucked away in his head. 

Currently living in Spain, and struggling desperately with the language, Michael has once again turned his thoughts to writing. Already published in print in such magazines as Bowlers World and Sea Breezes, as well as a couple of Andalusian English language newspapers, he is keenly interested in the rapidly changing world of Internet publishing. "It is exciting to work at the frontiers of a new world of communications." he says, "My endeavors today really can shape tomorrow's reading habits.”

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My passion is ...

To constantly learn something new

I know too much about ...

Wasting time

My childhood ambition ...

To grow up

Why I write ...

I would dearly like to know the answer to this one

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Anything related to Spain, Maritime History, Language and just about anything else

My first job ...

Apprentice asphalter. I hated it.

My inspiration ...

Conversation

Sciences > Zoology Why are honey bees vanishing

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Imagine a world without honey. Just when people have started to appreciate the health benefits of natural foods the honey bee appears to be disappearing and, as is so often the case, no one really knows why. What is certain is that honey bee populations are dwindling rapidly.  Like human beings, bees live in near proximity to great numbers of their fellow creatures. Close contact will always heighten the risk of cross infection and bees are susceptible to a variety of diseases. Foulbrood, a bacterial infection, has been known for at least a century, and there are other more recently d...

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• Professional Journalist
• Editorial Advisory Board
• Marketplace Approved Writer
• Helium Charter Member