h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Being a Canuck, and twice posted to our maritime region (when military) I know the importance of a lighthouse ...

Anyway, it's been suggested a couple of times by mutual friends that I should get aquainted with you. If you're game, browse my PS, as it generally says who and what I am. And who I measure as friends. Near the end of the intro is an "envelope" that could bring you to e-mails. For a little better "one to one" meeting of each other.

At your leisure ...

Hi there

Lighthouses are amazing things For me they are amazingly beautiful and they stand firm doing the right thing whatever is thrown at them.

We have, I think come across each other in a number of conversations - certainly with Batty and Cal ...

What did you do in the milatary?

I've been up in a few lighthouses, including the most easterly point of North America (Cape Spear, Newfoundland). The view, the function, the history ...

I do precisely what I did when in the uniform, but now wearing a contracted company's smock. Repair and rebuild (to factory new state) radio, radar and any other electronic stuff they throw at me. Some is very old, 70s and 80s stuff, though I walked in when the 50s and 60s tubes (valves) were still in use. And some of today's stuff. No two days are alike. Always a challenge, keeping the aging grey-matter working.

And you?

I think its important to have a job which keeps you thinking.

My job could be summed up as helping others excell at theirs. Like you it means that no two days are the same (and in my case not often in the same place). I work with teams and individuals to make sure that they have the skills they need and then to make it possible for them to apply the skills. I work with some very senior people (main board of FTSE 100 (the UK equivelent of the Dow Jones) and some much more junior. Its good fun, a constant challange and hard work!

Based on your Personal Space - your grey matter is not that old - least not a whole lot older than mine!

Your line of work sounds very interesting, challenging, and most definitely rewarding. My wife and I have done a lot of community service and time (she's currently the Treasurer of the Parish Council, and a worker in a mayoral campaign). Between us, we have held positions of Deputy Mayor (very tiny community), Ward rep for the same area, created a pre-school facility, President and recording Secretary of a military family resource centre. (Running the steering committee and hiring a professional to then run it was a REAL challenge.) And canvassed for nearly every health-based charity we've met.

And then on Tuesdays ....

And yeah, I know, coming on 47 isn't that old. But some Monday mornings, I feel every inch of 95 !!!

you and your wife must be very busy! Its great doing something that helps the community. I get a lot out of my job but also out of the work I do for the community. Mind you the things I have done are probably not as important as those you have both been involved in!

Which have you enjoyed most? The pre school facility and the resource centre sound like really hard work but very worthwhile

I am only a few years younger than you and I know exactly what you mean about feeling old when its time to get up

It would depend on the day, and the grief coming in, as to which we enjoy more. They each have something unique to feel good about. But indeed, the creating something new, from the ground up, DOES feel more rewarding than carrying on with something that has been for years.

And ya know, most of our involvements haven't been out of any altruistic nature. It was more of being and living in teeny communities, having no children of our own, and seeing that is was always the same very few people doing everything.

I think that is true of any community - its usually the same people who get involved and make things happen.

Being part of a community is partly why I dont like living in towns - often no sense of belonging and wanting to do things together. Now we are in quote a large village and there is very little sense of community here - we do try and get involved in things but there is not a lot going on. However since we moved in we have made sure that the people who live in the four houses where we are get together every so often and at least know each other a little better. We are all set back a bit from the road so its quite a nice little grouping.

The main community outside work (where the same dynamic definitely operates) I see this happening in is our local theatre group. its definitly a community all united by a love of live performance, however out of a membership of almost 800 its only really about 50 who make shows happen and staff the premisis. Of that 50 there are probably less than 20 who are key to keeping the place going.

Creating something from nothing is one of the reasons I enjoy doing what I do with the theatre - its backstage and more recently directing for me. Taking a raw script and bringing it to life is an amazing feeling which is then amplified by the pleasure it brings audiences.

What projects do you have on the go at the moment?

At the moment, I have none. Milady of 22 years (married that 19 of them) is very involved with the church. And very soon to be up to her eyes in a local mayoral election. And anything that she takes on, I find myself lending time, services and resources to. Just the way it goes here, and really quite nicely.

As you can imagine, because of mutual friends here, I've seen you about, and now that you mention the theatre, I recall seeing a journal or two of yours ... As first time directing, if I recall. I often 'browse' a PS, but seldom read it in depth. Kind of preferring to know a person from one-on-one chats. So, that being the case, please do tell of your involvement with the theatre. Performance, managing, all of what-ever. My first "live theatre" was only a handful of years ago, at a small local affair ( http://www.stirlingfestivaltheatre.com ) That, and what Jack explained a year and two ago. But from him to me, it was more the technical side of stuff ...

Oh I am with you on the Personal Space thing - they only tell you part of the story and I dont know about you but I am never sure what to write!

Gosh - where to start with the theatre ...

Its been a bit of a long term passion for me - there is something very special about a live performance. I love being around it either to watch or even to be part of creating it for others.

My involvement is varied - when a student I used to get involved in any way I could with school shows. I acted a bit but hated it and eventually 'discoveded' stage management. I even considered doing that professionally and had a place at RADA (one of the UK's top stage schools) but could not afford to take it up.

For quite a while after that my involvement was strictly as an audience member.

In the last 4 years its been a hobby revived as I got involved in the local amature theatre. We are very lucky to have our own (small) theatre with some great facilities. When I joined I did not realise but it is one of the top theatres in the local area with a great reputation. Many of the shows we put on are certainly of professional standards.

Initially I was helping out back stage, building back up to stage management and all the other technical roles going. Then a couple of seasons ago I had a go at assisting the director with a show. I co-directed a couple of shows to get some experience and then this summer did my first show on my own. I really enjoy it so far - making something happen from scratch and enabling others to really do a great job. I still enjoy being part of other people's shows and hope to continue to do bits of both so I can fit it around my paid job!

Additionally I am a member of the committee who run the theatre. My role is about organising and developing the technical team. We are already seen as a team who are one of the best but we need to increase the team and make sure we continue to earn our reputation!

Like the communmities you describe there are a few members of the club who make things happen and I enjoy working with that team. We are lucky to have some great and very talented people.

So yes my interest comes from the techie and production perspective so it sounds like Jack and I have something in common!

Well thats a start ...

Wow !!! And I didn't even detect an in-take of breath anywhere !!!

Yes, it sounds like it's all something that you not only enjoy, but are really quite enthusiastic about. Which is always great. Next September, we'll be in the UK (as well as Wales, Ireland and possibly Scotland). Where is this theatre? If we are in the near-enough area, perhaps an evening show would also be a way to thank our local hostess.

It was a bit of an essay

You are coming to the UK - fantastic!

We are to the North ish of London ... Depending on dates you would be most welcome to come and see a show ... We put on six a year ...

Where are you planning on visiting?

Roughly guessing, September 8th to the 23rd, 2007. Perhaps a few days longer. Our first arrival will be Heathrow, and from there, visiting a friend in Essex. Who grew up in London and plans to show us what she can in several days. Then off to Cardiff, Dublin and maybe Glasgow, ... a few days or so each. And with a hostess at each point to act as guides to the real day-to-day world. Lastly, back to Chelmsford for a final day or two. Put what-ever pics to CD for safety, and then home again.

It's our gift to ourselves for our 20th anniversary.

Sounds like a great gift to yourselves and 20 years is well worth celebrating

Travelling and spending time with people who live in an area is certainly the best way to get a feel for a country. When I was lucky enough to travel to Seattle with work I stayed with a colleague and got a much better insight into 'real' American life and then when I went to Texas I stayed with Gosho (as in THE Gosho!) and got another perspective. I spent 5 years in Cardiff and love it as place to visit

Are you planning to meet up with anyone from here?

That's actually the whole impetus of it. Milady felt a bit bad that I haven't been able to attend any meets. So when the January one was on, SHE suggested the trip. Venus is my best and longest hootoo friend, living near Chelmsford. Tsarina is in Cardiff and has a large home. She also has a son-in-law who is a tank commander of the Windsor Guard. And as milady loves anything royal ... AyeBee, a pirate wench is in Dublin and threatened me with an @rse-kicking if I didn't visit. And a recently returned friend, Detective Armani, is in the Glasgow area. So yep, real-time friends, living in the areas, to show us their world as they live it.

Sounds quite a lady you have there and a wonderful trip too. Very exciting

Windsor is a great place to visit too ...

Indeed, she is a prize Lady. And apparently tolerant, ... again meaured by that 19 years just passed. (A tid-bit of trivia, ... my daughter from the first marriage celebrated her 3rd anniversary the same day we celebrated our 19th)

I don't expect we'll get to any place around Windsor of the higher-class. But as much of the grounds, the coaches (for milady) the horses (for me) ... A great day, I expect.

You like horses?

Love them. My family came to Canada (1850'ish) and were renowned horse breeders and farmers. And my first paying job was with the boarding stables of a number of racers. I was only 12, and they were all so BIG !!! Yet I rode them all.

When I lived at home we had a couple of ponies - I used to ride a lot too - mostly show jumping.

If I had the time and money I would love to have a horse again. Such magnifican animals