Why Gooner

I’m a lifelong Arsenal supporter. Arsenal’s nickname is the Gunners, and the fans are known as Gooners. One day, many years ago, a friend called me “Gooner” in conversation. Someone overheard it, repeated it, and before long, the name stuck. It spread so far that even people who didn’t know my real name called me Gooner. In the UK, that’s still what most people call me.

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Why Sharky

In 2014, while taking a short break in Spain, I became seriously ill and ended up losing a large part of my right leg. The scar looks like I’ve survived a shark attack. A few friends in Spain told people exactly that as a joke, and the nickname “Sharky” has been with me ever since. In Spain, that’s the name people know me by.

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A Little History

I was born in Walthamstow, London, and moved to Fareham, Hampshire, when I was four. Fareham is where I grew up, went to school, had my first girlfriend, and started my first job. Since then, I’ve lived in Orlando, Florida, and now in Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain. I’ve always enjoyed getting out, meeting new people, and trying new things.

In September 1990, I had a life‑changing car accident. I spent three months in intensive care and a year in hospital rehab. I still deal with the after‑effects today, including the loss of sight in one eye and memory problems from brain damage. After the accident, I decided to start working through my Bucket List. Travel quickly became my biggest passion, and I’ve fallen in love with escorted coach tours and cruising. I spend a lot of time planning future trips and imagining how I’ll spend my lottery winnings when my numbers finally come up.

When my mum became ill in 2007, I became her full‑time carer. In 2014, I took a short break in Spain, and that’s when I became seriously ill with Necrotising Fasciitis and Sepsis. While I was in intensive care in Madrid, my mum passed away in the UK. Recovering from both the illness and the loss took a long time.

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Work Experience

I’ve had more jobs than most people have had hot dinners. At fourteen, I had a paper round and worked part‑time in the local paper shop, cleaning, stocking shelves, and doing a football pools round. At fifteen, I moved on to weekend work at a garden centre, first as a yard boy helping customers, then as a cashier. I left the garden centre the same week I left school.

After school, I began a three‑year apprenticeship with British Gas, becoming a Gas Service Engineer until my car accident in 1990. Subsequently, I worked for British Gas and Transco in office roles.

After leaving Transco on redundancy, I moved to Orlando, Florida. Back in the UK, I became a website designer for companies including The Dixon Group and Wandsworth Borough Council, and I worked for British Telecom trying to break their website (successfully, I add). I also worked as a Senior IT Technician at Alton Sixth Form College.

Between the bigger jobs, I’ve worked at ASDA as a customer service assistant, at Travelex as a Travel Money Advisor, behind the bar in various pubs, and even taught computer lessons at the local library.

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Life In Spain

I now live permanently in Los Alcázares, Murcia. My doctor in England agreed it was the best thing for my health. The warmer weather helps my breathing, and the flat boardwalk along the Mar Menor gives me a chance to get gentle exercise with plenty of places to rest. Between late April and early November, I usually go for a morning swim in the Mar Menor, although this was curtailed for a couple of years because of my health.

In 2018, I spent 12 days in a Murcia hospital being treated for Deep Vein Thrombosis, which made exercise more difficult. I still swim when I can, and for longer distances, I rely on my scooter rather than walking.

In 2021, I had a hernia operation. Unfortunately, I was discharged too early and ended up back in the hospital for another 11 days with an infection. Never a dull moment.

Since recovering from my time in hospital, I have not always enjoyed the best of health. I haven't always been able to get around as I used to, walking miles every day and getting up early and staying out late, drinking, carousing, and enjoying myself. What hasn't changed is my love of travel. I have been doing as much as I can while I still can and intend to do so until I am no longer able to. I may not travel as fast and do so many crazy things while I am travelling, but I am travelling and seeing as much as I can to the best of my ability. Walking stick in one hand, camera in the other.

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