Twenty things about me.

1. My name is Robert and I'm 59.

2. I'm 6'1.

3. I was born in Bethnal Green in London.

4. I'm a dad of two boys, Tom 24 and Stephen 19.

5. Retired police officer.

6. I'm more of a night owl than early bird.

7. I'm a literature nerd.

8. My dream home library would have dark oak floor to ceiling bookshelves and a cosy reading nook by a large window.

9. I was a paper boy when I was eleven.

10. I’m Grumpy in the mornings, Happy during the day, and Sleepy at night.

11. The best birthday present I received was tickets to see Pink Floyd.

12. I hate Kindle. I'd rather hold a book in my hands to read, I love turning the pages.

13. I adore horses and loved riding as a kid when I spent summers at my grandparents in Ireland.

14. I have a hair shedding hairball named Sadie who is a bacon fiend.

15. I enjoy playing the piano, I learned when I was seven.

16. I went to Japan when I was 23. I love everything about the culture, the food, the history, the etiquette, the landscape, the architecture — all of it.

17. I had always wanted to teach history until my best friend joined the police and talked me into it.

18. I love gardening, I can cook reasonably well, and I enjoy sketching.

19. I was raised Catholic but now I despise religion. I see no good or purpose to any of it.

20. Laughter is my best medicine.