What is your current state of mind?
Cautiously optimistic.
What is your greatest fear?
Letting down those I respect or care about, or those who are relying on me.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Becoming emotional about too many things - I blame my Celtic ancestry.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty, arrogance, (and giving two answers when one is asked for).
Who is your hero and why?
I don’t believe in hero worship. Everyone has faults.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Piety, perhaps.
On what occasion do you lie?
I am a bad liar, so very rarely, to protect others.
Name one thing about you that few people know?
I’m a very transparent person, sometimes too transparent. I have very few secrets.
Which words of phrases do you most overuse?
“Our strengths are our weaknesses and vice versa” - but it is worth over-using, because it is very true.
What talent would you most like to have?
To speak more languages. My youngest daughter is learning Mandarin and I am very jealous.
What’s your most evocative childhood memory?
Holidays spent on the beach in North Cornwall, building sand castles, and eating sandy cucumber sandwiches and jam doughnuts.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
By far and away, my children. My wife had something to do with that as well, of course.
What makes you happy?
A free day at home, with no obligations to do anything or go anywhere in particular.
When did you last cry, and why?
I am a bit of a softie - the Celtic blood again - so in truth lots of things bring tears to my eyes.
What is your greatest regret?
Not making even more of my time at university.
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Someone who looks as though they are my much older brother.
What’s your best joke?
A man is walking down the street when a desperate-looking young guy comes running up to him. “Have you seen a policeman anywhere?” he asks. “No, sorry” the man replies. “OK,” the young guy says, brandishing a gun. “Stick’ em up”.
This article was originally published in the 28 January 2010 issue of Media.
Cautiously optimistic.
What is your greatest fear?
Letting down those I respect or care about, or those who are relying on me.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Becoming emotional about too many things - I blame my Celtic ancestry.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty, arrogance, (and giving two answers when one is asked for).
Who is your hero and why?
I don’t believe in hero worship. Everyone has faults.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Piety, perhaps.
On what occasion do you lie?
I am a bad liar, so very rarely, to protect others.
Name one thing about you that few people know?
I’m a very transparent person, sometimes too transparent. I have very few secrets.
Which words of phrases do you most overuse?
“Our strengths are our weaknesses and vice versa” - but it is worth over-using, because it is very true.
What talent would you most like to have?
To speak more languages. My youngest daughter is learning Mandarin and I am very jealous.
What’s your most evocative childhood memory?
Holidays spent on the beach in North Cornwall, building sand castles, and eating sandy cucumber sandwiches and jam doughnuts.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
By far and away, my children. My wife had something to do with that as well, of course.
What makes you happy?
A free day at home, with no obligations to do anything or go anywhere in particular.
When did you last cry, and why?
I am a bit of a softie - the Celtic blood again - so in truth lots of things bring tears to my eyes.
What is your greatest regret?
Not making even more of my time at university.
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Someone who looks as though they are my much older brother.
What’s your best joke?
A man is walking down the street when a desperate-looking young guy comes running up to him. “Have you seen a policeman anywhere?” he asks. “No, sorry” the man replies. “OK,” the young guy says, brandishing a gun. “Stick’ em up”.
This article was originally published in the 28 January 2010 issue of Media.
