• Born – 10^th September 1962
• Place – Penicuik, 69 Carlops Avenue
• Primary School – Cuiken Primary 1968 – 1975
• Secondary – Penicuik High School 1975 – 1980
• Work – Post Office Telephones, British Telecommunications, British Telecom, BT & Openreach part of the BT Group – Okay the same company since 1980
• Interests – photography (just starting so don’t ask me anything Techie I’ve not got a clue about apertures etc. But I will learn, so watch out David Bailey),
  • Computers, I.e. Software such as web designing software & photo manipulating. But I also love using Excel & getting it to do things no one else can do.
  • Interesting but pointless facts, for instance did you know that shoe sizes were originally calculated using ears of Barley? i.e. 8 barley ears = size 8! I do love the show QI with Stephen Fry.
  • Old films I’m talking films where actors used to act not full of special effects. Films like “Two Way Stretch”, “Operation Petticoat”, and Passport to Pimlico” & “I’m alright Jack”.
  • Old & custom motorcycles. I’ll be honest I’m not into modern race type bikes. They look like plastic training shoes & the people who ride them look like “Power Rangers”. It’s all flash & speed, nah not my scene at all. Don’t get me wrong the innovations are great etc. I just prefer to see the gubbins of a bike. I just personally prefer metal to plastic.
  • Genealogy – again just started on this one building up the family tree. But already I’ve managed to get back to 1652 on my Fathers mothers side of the family. And there’s a Mungo Garlick in there!!! What a fantastic name. On my mothers, mothers side it looks like I could be one of the original Penicuikers! So hopefully I’ll be able to say that you’re all “incomers”!!!!!!!!!!
• Musical Tastes – at heart I suppose I’m a Rock man. But my tastes are pretty eclectic really. Boy & Girl Bands are about the only things that don’t interest me in the slightest. Oh & DJ’s pretending that they make music by “Sampling” real musicians work. Sorry but putting oven chips in the oven & opening a Fray Bentos pie. Doesn’t make me a Michelin Star chef! And DJ’s are exactly the same. Some are good and play music that suits the occasion. But stars I think not. I must point out I'm not talking about your mobile DJ & talking about stuff that hits the charts.
  
  As a teenager the Stranglers & the Jam were my idols. I was also a very big fan of Genesis in my twenties. I was extremely lucky to have a great English Teacher called Mr French. He introduced me to the Blues. And my mother was a Jazz fan (Oscar Peterson, Stephan Grapelli, Cleo Lane etc) so I’ve grown up with Jazz. My older sisters listened to the likes of The Beatles, Cat Stevens, The Humblebums etc.
  
  During the 80’s I listened to a lot of “Indie” music. Cocteau Twins, “Early” Cure, Alien Sex Fiend & Bauhaus etc. in the 90’s I listened to more guitars based bands. And more recently I’ve been enjoying the resurgence of real musical talent in the charts. Songwriters & actual musicians at last being heard. All thanks to the “Download Charts”. But I’m an old fart at heart, & still enjoy musicians playing instruments & singing.
• Likes / Dislikes – my pet hate is Bad Manners, people not saying please & thank you. I like unusual & interesting people; I suppose you'd could call them “Geeks”. People with a passion for something are usually more fascinating. I was never that good at Chemistry but I have a deep respect & fascination with the subject. One of my big dislikes is Bigots & Racists. Oh and football fanatics, actually sports fanatics total. It’s a game, only a game to be enjoyed & then left to memory.
• Religion – think I’m leaning towards Quakerism. The more I read about them the more I like.
• Nicknames – I quite like nicknames I’ve had a few in my time. Most people just call me “Hodge”. I’ve been known as “Sheridan Poorly” I quite liked that one because I was always sick (until after 20 years of hassling doctors!!! we found out I had an intolerance to Lactose). I’m much better now & rarely ill (unless I eat something with hidden lactose in it!). Scoots was another name for a while, it kind of went cap in hand with the Sheridan one. Plus I owned a Vespa PX200 for a couple of years.
• Dreams / Ambitions – ocht I’ve got loads - to rebuild a classic British motorcycle preferably a BSA. I’m talking a proper nut & bolt restoration, with no time restrictions. To learn how to use a camera properly not just point & click. To get a couple of cats. And to get my wee hoose sorted oot with an attic conversion. And a whole pile more.