Issuing supreme power to you...one moment.

My self-summary Propose an edit

I think of myself as a bit alternative. I love singing for fun - I love singing harmonies, world music, spiritual. Music is very important to me - I love listening to it too, at home and at concerts. I'm really into folk music (especially sung stuff), folky and chilled out pop. But also techno music makes me wild, I really lose myself in that music. I love dancing too, into five rhythms, salsa, dancing in clubs,...

I'm also into the environment - I love going walking in the countryside. I don't have a car as I'm trying to save energy/reduce pollution. I enjoy cycling everywhere locally, and enjoy keeping fit that way. Peace issues are also very important to me - I've been to various marches against war, anti-nuclear demos, etc.

I really enjoy life and at the moment I'm really spreading my wings, moving into new circles. I love meeting new people and making new friends. Friendship is very important to me and I have some long-term committed friendships. As one of the songs I enjoy singing goes:

Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. Circle's round, and has no end. That's how long I'm gonna be your friend.

I'd love to teach this to you....I'm particularly keen to meet people in Leeds or the surrounding area, West Yorkshire.

What I'm doing with my life Propose an edit

I'm a mathematician, so I spend my time doing mathematics research and teaching. My research is in algebra and combinatorics. I'm interested in questions like: how many ways are there to braid hair? What is the mathematics behind the associativity rule which says that it doesn't matter how you bracket a product: (2x3)x4=2x(3x4)? I love teaching and enjoy working with people. I've recently moved to Leeds.

I'm really good at Propose an edit

Well I guess I'm fairly good at pure mathematics, which is one reason I spend so much time doing it. I can sing reasonably well in a group (not solo!). I'm good at organising things, practicalities. I'm good at accepting other people as they are.

The first thing(s) people usually notice about me Propose an edit

I have long hair and wear glasses. I'm easy to talk to.

My favorite books, movies, music, and food Propose an edit

I love books by Ursula Le Guin. I also read Jenn Crowell's "Letting the Body Lead" recently and loved it. I like books where the relationships between the people are developed strongly and which have a strong story-telling style that draws me in and is enjoyable to read.

I like movies with an unusual plot, that are not predictable. "O Brother, Where Art Thou" falls into this category, and I'm in the process of exploring the Coen Brothers a little. I also like movies that involve escape/change from the everyday, especially if they play with time, eg Pleasantville, Groundhog Day....And I love romantic comedies, I thought Love Actually was brilliant. I don't like horror films, or violent films.

I love folk music, acoustic music. For example I'm really into Martha Wainwright at the moment, as well as Dido, Beth Orton, Sarah Maclachlan ("Surfacing" is just gorgeous). I also like some rock music, Coldplay, David Gray, REM, ...I'm keen to find more good music.

I eat mostly vegetarian (but don't always manage it). My favourite foods are probably things like: roast potatoes, vegetables and (good) gravy, baked beans, marzipan, chocolate, crumble (especially date and banana), although my usual diet is a bit more balanced than that sounds...

The six things I could never do without Propose an edit

My family, my friends, my health, mathematics, singing, dancing.

I spend a lot of time thinking about Propose an edit

Mathematics research problems, my friendships and people around me, what is happening to the world/environment, my plans for the future.

On a typical Friday night I am Propose an edit

Going to a movie, going to a nightclub and dancing, meeting up with friends for a drink.

The most private thing I'm willing to admit here Propose an edit

I'm not really a macho kind of man - more into the softer side of life.

You should message me if Propose an edit

you'd like to chat a bit, have some fun, talk about the important things in life, or the unimportant things....

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