Ever felt like there was something missing in your day job? An itch that needed to be scratched? A set of skills left untapped?
Don't get me wrong. I've been working in software services businesses for a long time and it's challenging and rewarding. But there is a creative and performance side to me that doesn't really get exercised. And so I decided to train as a celebrant, initially with the Academy of Modern Celebrancy and then with Humanists UK.
As a kid, these skills were natural to me. From winning school public speaking prizes to performing as a 12 year old in a musical on ITV, I loved nothing better than entertaining an audience. And humour was often at the heart of it. Life moved on ... university, a graduate career in IT, a shift into sales and management. And I snapped up any opportunity to be in front of people - as a trainer, speaker or leader.
But now I get the chance to use my creative and performing skills to give people memories that they'll cherish for a lifetime. What could be better than that!?
My partner and I live in a small Cotswold village and we love to travel. A few years back, we took a couple of months off and travelled around the world, visiting nine countries in 57 days. What an experience! But closer to home, I'm a huge lover of Italy, which we try to visit once each year. When I'm not travelling, I'll be spending time with friends or my two grown-up daughters, watching rugby or getting creative in the kitchen.