I currently work for UMN in Nepal as an unpaid missionary, seconded from BMS World Mission. My role is as Graphic Design Advisor in the Communications Department at UMN based in Kathmandu.

 

I arrived back in Nepal in January 2012 having previously spent 3 months at the beginning of 2011 working in the Communications Department. I am here for an initial 2 years with a view to extending that to 4 years.

 

I have spent over 20 years in the graphics and design industry, most recently spending the last 8 years working for AGI Media in London specialising in the home entertainment industry. I worked as an artworker for Universal Studios and Disney, and in my final 18 months as an account lead for Paramount, SaraLee, Hit Entertainment, 2Entertain and BBC.

My hobbies include film, music and books. I love watching films, old and new, classic and mainstream and have an extensive collection to prevent bordom setting in!

 

I have a wide range of tastes in music, with my favourite artists being Genesis and Phil Collins, but I also like Coldplay, The Killers, U2, Keane, The Beatles, Dire Straits, Paramore, Embrace and many many more.

 

I enjoy reading fiction, with authors such as Stephen King and John Grisham probably being amongst my favourite. The book I will happily read over and over again (and I have done already a number of times) is 'The Time Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger. Also the Ripley books, 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', 'Ripley's Game', and 'Ripley Underground' by Patricia Highsmith I love reading again. Recently the 'Millenium' series of books ('The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' etc) by Stieg Larsson were the books I couldn't put down.

I love all forms of sports, but not so much taking part these days as just watching. I am a fan of Reading Football Club, having been a season ticket holder up until this (2011/12) season (due to leaving the country) for over 10 years. I've seen the dramatic rise of the club from mid table level 3 team, all the way up to an 8th place Premier League finish, and where they currently reside as one of the top level 2 teams.

 

I also enjoy athletics and cycling. In my younger years I was a keen athlete, running distances from 100 meters up to cross country's. I specialised in the 100 meters with my all time high being a time of 10.90 seconds.

 

I have cycled from John O'Groats to Lands' End (the length of the United Kingdom) 3 times. In 1990 I completed the near 1000 miles in 10 days, in 1993 I did it again and this time in 6 days, and then in 2009, quite a bit older and larger, again in 10 days. I currently have no plans to do it a fourth time, but I've said that twice before!