Last Reviewed: April 2025

In early 2016 I suffered a stroke, which was a pivotal event in my life. Nearly ten years on, I am as recovered as I ever will be. My left limbs have limited functionality and my hand and foot have none.

I have a ex-wife and a grown-up, left-home daughter. I keep them out of the blog, just to respect their privacy.

I live in a rural location just outside Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. I am about 20 miles from Stonehenge.

Pre-Stroke:

My academic background is physics and astrophysics. I studied to degree level and still find these subjects fascinating.

In my first job, as a scientist, I ended up focussing on IT and my subsequent jobd have been IT proper. Starting as a programmer, I dabbled as a Project Manager but settled on architecture and design. I have worked for banks in both London and New York City. In the few years leading up to the stroke, I took a career break. I was very active, my first love was bicycles and I became a mechanic.

Stroke:

In February/March 2016, I was in hospital for five weeks. I was unimpressed by the standard of the care I received, and this experience has flavoured my writing. Up to that point, I never made use of the NHS.

I was left with a damaged left side. I left hospital in a chair and have learned to walk again. Long-term, my hand and foot are immobile, everything else on that side is weaker.

The damage to my hand means that I no longer write, don’t drive, and this blog, which started off as a recovery journal, is typed one-handed.

My vision was also affected, and I usually prefer to listen to web pages rather than to use my eyes. My technology allows me to listen to most posts, but not comments (which I normally skip).

I have hypertension and diabetic, presumably one caused the stroke, although no firm cause was discovered. These too, are subjects which I have written about.

Post-stroke:

The stroke had less obvious effects like my stamina, my mobility, but also anxiety. Having previously commuted large distances, I now develop software from home, for a local consultancy.

Following the stroke I also performed voluntary work, which ramped up during the COVID pandemic. This work ended when I started working again, full-time.

The stroke meant exposure to both the UK’s health system, and its benefits system, at a relatively young age. My experiences are absolutely a part of this site.

I always followed politics but mostly avoided getting involved with any political party. I once dabbled with the Green Party – I fell out with them eventually but they indicate broadly where my sympathy lies.

I am happy to say that as my health has improved, I blog more of a pot-pourri of subjects. I enjoy writing creatively, when time permits, so hopefully you will find something to your taste. I try to inject humour into my writing, where I can.

I penned a more detailed biography when I started the blog, in 2017. Please bear in mind its age if you choose to read. I no longer maintain the page.