I'm an English teacher living in Glastonbury. I'm into books, films, red wine, and relentless cynicism. I've recently discovered that there is plenty of time to get everything done provided that sleep isn't a priority. I'm mostly pretty grounded but capable of doing the totally random from time to time.

I am fighting against the bizarre suggestion that I might now have to become a mature and responsible member of society. I like my job, and during the day I take it very seriously, but whenever possible I don't bring it home with me. I have no intention of living for my job - it exists to support me, not the other way around.

I'm looking to meet new people, without necessarily having any fixed agenda in mind. I don't feel the need to validate myself by being in a relationship, but I'm very much open to that if the right person comes along. I don't think people should start with the desire for a relationship, then find someone to fulfil that desire.

I tend to be pretty firm in my convictions, and I won't shy away from a debate for fear of hurting someone's feelings. If I think you're wrong, I'll say as much. Richard Dawkins is something of a hero to me. I love his rational approach to big issues, and I admire his willingness to challenge what's conventionally seen to be acceptable to say about religion.

To the continued surprise of an alarming number of people, I don't own a television and haven't done for more than two years.

I'm in my third year of teaching since finishing my training, and I'm thoroughly satisfied by my choice of career. I work at a friendly but slightly chaotic boarding school in the Somerset countryside, and I'm in danger of becoming part of the furniture if I don't look for a promotion somewhere else next year.

Ideally, I'd like to tweak the above slightly, adding sixth-form to my teaching and an improved social calendar to the rest of my life. I'm tempted to move at some point, maybe to Bristol or Bath.

Self-deprecation, apparently. I'm not so good at telling everyone how wonderful I am.

If you're going to force me to think of something, I'm really good at bluffing my way through the day with a board marker and a dog-eared copy of whatever novel took my fancy. I'm far too good at sarcasm to be allowed near impressionable young people, and my eyebrow-raising skills are formidable.

That I have a beard. It isn't much but it tends to be mentioned quickly. After that I hope people notice that I actually listen quite a lot.

There are too many books to mention. My favourite of all time is "The Great Gatsby" but recently I've been getting into Iain Banks and Neil Gaiman. Also Chuck Palahniuk, Ken Kesey, Robert Ludlum for sheer escapism, and almost anything I can pick up. I end up having to find a bookshop every time I go abroad, because I can't carry enough books in one suitcase.

When I get the time to watch a film, I always intend to choose something high-brow and thought-provoking and find myself watching something with Samuel L. Jackson and explosions instead. There's very little music I won't listen to, with the exception of rap and the deliberately middle-of-the-road stuff that's sold so that people have something to buy for Mother's Day. I'm getting more into stand-up comedy, as well, and in the last year I've seen Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey live. I've actually seen Bill twice, he's that good.

When I get the time, I love to experiment in the kitchen - it's been far too long since I cooked myself a decent curry. With the exception of the occasional pizza, I don't buy ready meals, and try to cook something wholesome for myself each evening, probably as a result of growing up in farming.

My books, my friends, my independence, my holidays, my music and my corkscrew.

Nothing much. Vegetating is very underrated. When I do express conscious thoughts, it's mostly bizarre hypothetical situations. Well, have you ever seriously considered how you would secure your house in the event of a zombie attack? Didn't think so.

Working and going to bed early, unfortunately, since I get to work on Saturdays. When I have a free weekend I'll go to the pub and sit in the bar to see who comes in, and I'll stay for a lock-in but clubbing isn't really my scene. I'd like to be doing more with my weekends, so I'd be an easy convert to someone with a hobby I haven't tried before.

I didn't like "Apocalypse Now". This probably means I have to recant my masculinity or something, but I just didn't get it. Four hours of Marlon Brando mumbling does not a great war film make.

I also sleep more than seems reasonable to most people. I could probably spend a good twelve hours a day asleep if I had the opportunity. I'm aware that this contradicts the beginning of my profile.

Oh, and like most atheists, I'm lacking any kind of valid system of morality, and I'm depressed because of the inherent lack of meaning in my life.

You can deal with the fact that I'm an English teacher. I get very twitchy about horrible spelling and grammar: I'm a lesser person for it, maybe, but there it is. If you have no idea what an apostrophe or semi-colon is for, we probably won't get on very well.