Originally from a picturesque village on the southeast coast of Cornwall here in the UK, I grew up close to the sea and enjoyed all the benefits of summers on the river and coast. But winters were long down there, and work brought me to London in 1987.
By 1989, I started my freelance career in the IT industry and haven't moved from London since then. Living in NW London near Wembley, my partner and I have easy access to the capital. Being a short distance from excellent public transport, including Heathrow, travel is not usually a chore.
I still get to Cornwall from time to time, and I probably appreciate it more now as a "tourist" than I did as a teenager!
In the late '80s and '90s, London was an exciting place; it was where I met my late husband and where I put down roots.
In 2010 I had the opportunity to buy an IT company from the owner I had previously worked with. The IT industry was changing, racing from on-premises systems to the cloud. That gave me opportunities to shape the business and explore other interests.
Life changed dramatically for me in 2018 when my husband was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer, and three months later, I was on my own. Inner strength, a supportive family and my pet dog kept me going, and I came out the other side not only stronger but also knowing that time waits for no one. Life should be enjoyed while you can.
Apart from enjoying public speaking, I am a passionate believer in diversity and the human spirit, and I love supporting selected charities.
The Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 had its own challenges. Running an IT support business meant EVERY one of our client's staff needed to "work from home" and I must have shipped a lot of laptops and webcams that spring. And, of course, travel was off the agenda as well.
"Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." – Ibn Battuta.
I won't bore you with my adventures here, but I have explored a lot. It's not just the scenery and places you visit but the people, cultures and cuisine that make for the experience. I'm not knocking those who have a "favourite place" they venture to regularly. I've got a few of those. But experiencing other locales often makes you feel very humble, many times grateful, and continually thankful.
And I'm now resuming my adventure. Having met a fantastic man from Croatia who moved to London and became part of my life, I'm continuing my life's journey, personally and in business.
I know that the years to come will throw up new challenges and adventures, and if you'd like to be part of that, feel free to get in touch.