I hail from Donegal, Ireland, a rain sodden, muck ridden, green but otherwise hospitable and beautiful place, I am 43(and sometimes feel every day of it!), main occupation is Telecommunications Engineer specialising in point to point microwave SDH radio links, part time farmer, sheep & cattle, although it's more of a menagerie than a profitable enterprise! Feel like Judas Escariot when it comes time to sell stock, they eyeball me when they go on to the trailer, and I feel like a snake's belly for days. However, all animals have a happy life while they're with me. Smoked a pipe for 24 years, gave up last year during a flu. Chewed 1/2 tonne of nicotine gum since. Don't drink, except wine at dinner. Raised in a rural area, grew up on farm, animals were, and are my friends. I don't draw a line between them and us. Technically qualified for my day job. Hobbies include computer building, fixing computers for friends, music composition, sort of, rehash classics into something eminently listenable. Most aspects of science from Palaeontology, Geology, Particle Physics to all things Cosmological. Born into a Christian Family, make a point of attending church at least once a year, believe in a deity, not necessarily the one promoted by my Church. To dismiss a higher intelligence is, IMHO, arrogant. People I admire are Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, Stephen Hawking and my big favourite, Patrick Moore from the BBC's Sky at Night program. The first two I can't meet, the 3rd is probably impossible to meet, and the last hopefully some day I'll meet! My father was my best friend while growing up and sadly lost him to prostate cancer in 1990. Regret he never saw my nippers. I'm married to Kathleen, have a 3yr old son Christopher & a 1 1/2 yr old daughter Emily, jewels, all 3 of them. I found out, luckily just in time, a man should not have to live his life alone. I respect people, who follow their own advice before giving it to others, and I respect those who have an enquiring and open mind.