I love music, film, literature and intellectual conversation almost as much as I love parties, wine, talking complete bollocks and making a tit of myself in public. I am secretly really shy, but nobody believes me as I spend a lot of my life on stages playing music in various bands, but then everybody is secretly shy aren't they?

I believe that life is too short to do anything that doesn't make you feel vital and alive; I want to wake up every morning and bounce out of bed excited about the day ahead. The minute my job becomes a chore, I always want to seek out something more fulfilling...and do.

I love travelling and have spent literally years wandering all over the world. I'm never happier than when I know I can leave work life behind for a bit, hit the road with some musical instruments and meet new people in new and exciting places.

I do a bunch of things: the bill paying comes from working in Television and Film post-production, the fun (and the odd bit of cash) comes from playing in bands and shows. I play the piano, bass and guitar, but mostly piano at festivals, pubs and corporate gigs all over the country and occasionally abroad.

I used to work as a Lecturer and Course Leader in education, and nowadays I work as an education consultant for colleges and universities running media courses, designing their new degrees for them.

In the last year I've made a good start on a novel, but I think it may be quite a long time till I finish it.

Music is my thing, but I'm pretty good at cooking and highly skilled at the art of conversation.

My accent: I'm Scottish. I would imagine the next thing they would notice is my shaved head, though I don't look like some sort of Scottish thug or anything. I don't think I do anyway.

I consume a broad range of cultural products, ta very much. I love the work of people like Will Self, Jonathan Coe, Julian Barnes and Ian McEwan but I also love your Roddy Doyle's, Nick Hornby and Dickens. Don't ever ask me to read any bloody Jane Austen OR Lord of the Rings though.

Film wise I like the usual geek-boy films: Cohen Brothers, Darren Aronofsky anything written by Charlie Kaufman. I'm actually quite partial to a good rom-com. Maybe not Bridget Jones, but certainly Notting Hill, but I'll also happily settle down to a Bruckheimer action film with bugger all plot and excessive pyrotechnics. It all depends on the evening really. Sometimes thinking is good, sometimes optional.

I love Music from every genre. I studied classical music at University and DJd dance music for years. Nowadays I just love anything interesting. In saying that (there's a theme here) I know no shame and am just as into big cheesy sing-along tunes as I am weird esoteric music.

I love cooking, for some reason all my male friends tend to be the one's who do the cooking in relationships. I cook lots of Thai, I love trad. French when I'm out of an evening, also love your simple British comfort food like Shepherd's Pies and Bangers and Mash. Anything really - love to cook for large groups.

Piano, Bass, Guitar, Laptop, Hat, Bed

Music, existence, happiness, food, location.

Very rarely at home. Gigs, festivals, concerts, parties. Though I do actually LOVE when I get a Friday at home with wine film and food.

Why would I admit a private thing to just ANYBODY? I prefer to carefully choose the recipients of my most private thoughts.

You're looking for an unflinching companion on your adventures.