GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 46 - February 2020

the house and although I can produce something decent, I just feel I haven’t got that spark of talent that I can see in other artists. But I’m still persevering, so I remain optimistic! If someone from out of town were visiting you, what’s the one place you’d definitely take them to see? We’re very lucky in that we have some really gorgeous parts of the U.K. within an hour’s drive. We can very quickly get to the Lake District, the Peak District and Snowdonia (National Park). We’re also less than an hour away from some decent-sized beaches if you fancy a walk by the sea. It can be bracing (code for cold and windy!) but also lovely in the sum- mer. We’re also very close to two big cities in Manchester and Liverpool so if anyone visits who’s into boutique shopping or fine dining, we’ll take them there. Similarly, For as long as I could remember, all I want- ed to do was join the Royal Air Force as a pilot, so my studies were focused on that – lots of math and science subjects. Nothing “artsy”! In the end, I failed the medical due to an irregular heartbeat so that was the end of that! Spent the next few years trying to work out what to do with my life. Probably still haven’t resolved it! What are your hobbies? I love walking and hiking. I think it’s very important to get away from the noise and bustle of urban life and try to reconnect with nature. It’s a bit like clearing your cache. I can get back to work with a slightly clearer mind, or at least a clearer focus on what’s important. I also have a lingering desire to be able to paint. I have all the equipment and have attended lots of courses, but still struggle to be happy with what I churn out! We buy a fair amount of original art work for for those into soccer – we’re surrounded by Premier League teams and grounds if that’s your thing! And we’re less than two hours away by train from London. So although there’s not much in St Helens per se, we’re very well placed to cater for any visitors who come our way! If you were stranded on a desert is- land, what three items would you take with you and why? My espresso machine. A solar panel to generate power for the espresso machine. A huge, refrigerated, vacuum sealed pack of hundreds of kilos of freshly roasted coffee. Why? I like coffee. If you could invite any five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be? Isaac Newton, Dalai Lama, Win- ston Churchill, Dara Ó Briain, Miriam Margolyes. Name three things that people reading this magazine don’t know about you. 1. I’m an ex professional opera singer. 2. I’m a trained barista. 3. I’m undertaking training for my private pilot license. Imay still be tempted to sell (my site) if someone came inwith a decent offer . I’ve put a lot of time andeffort into the site and wouldbe sad to see it go , but the right offer would compensate! G P W A t i m e s . o r g 52 GPWA AFFILIATE INTERVIEW SERIES Andrew F. | Fortune Palace