I have always lived in the Midlands having been born and raised in South Birmingham and then in 2000 moving to the outskirts to a little unknown place called Redditch in Worcestershire.

Although Birmingham has a pretty bad name for itself I can honestly say that I loved growing up there. We were on the outskirts in what you would probably call middle suburbia. I went to school just literally down the road from where we lived so no car journeys for me in the morning every day was a walking day, including when it snowed! Meeting a couple of friends on the corner of the road and then walking together to the school gates.

After junior school I went to a senior school which again was within walking distance of where we lived but this time in the opposite direction. again meeting a couple of school friends on a different corner of the road and then onwards to meet others and finally all walking down into the school grounds.

Many people often refer to their school years as being the worst times of their lives, but I have to say I really enjoyed my school years and when I left school I went on to Art College (Now those were superb years), Bournville Collage of Art and Design to be exact and yes that's Bournville, as in the chocolate... the collage was situated in the village of Bournville where the Cadbury factory is. The campus I was assigned to was right on Bournville Green!

After Art College I went straight in to employment as a Graphic Designer and after a few years I became freelance working for various Graphics companies and Advertising agencies plus lecturing at North East Worcestershire College for a couple of years on the Graphics courses where I met my life long best mate who I still see and speak to to this day. He actually purchased a house along with his wife literally just down the bottom of the road where we lived in Redditch. Eventually I started my own Advertising Agency in Birmingham with a few colleagues, which was pretty successful even employing a few people and enabling me to purchase my own property.

In my teens to late twenties I had a thoroughly enjoyable time going out and about most bank holidays all over the UK in our cars with various friends not to mention I grew up in the 80's in what could possibly be the best time for music. Birmingham was such an amazing place for bands at that time... I remember seeing Duran Duran in their very early days at a notorious club under Broad Street called 'The Rum Runner' and the New Romantics fashions... it was just wild. I have some amazing memories of growing up in that era!

I have to say meeting Neil broadened my outlook in so many ways. Over the years we've been together we've visited a fair few places meeting up with friends he's made over his career even to somewhere I never ever thought I would say I've visited and that's Northern Ireland. A wonderful place with very friendly people and not to mention Sweden of all places, where we were invited over for a wedding.

obviously meeting Neil introduced me to The North East and we have regularly made journeys up here to visit his family and friends even bringing my Mom up here with us and spending Christmas here with Neil's family, probably one the best Christmases I've ever had.

So all in all, I may be 'born and bred in the heart of the Midlands' but I'm so looking forward to becoming a resident of the North East and making a new life here!