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So where to begin? I was born 42 years ago in a small town in Zambia, Central Africa, near the Victoria Falls and border with Zimbabwe. My parents named me Aidan - friends call me Aids or Dog. 5 years later my family moved to South Africa where I lived for the next 29 years. I am the eldest of three children and have a sister and brother, who are 9 and 11 years younger than me. After leaving school I joined the South African Police Force, primarily as a stop gap to help decide on where my future lay. Somehow I drifted into a Specialist Unit, qualifying as a Fingerprint Expert and Scene of Crime Technician, where I spent many hectic but happy years until 1997. Recently divorced and prompted by three trips to Europe I decided to move to England. I spent sometime temping in a wide range of jobs and travelling, before moving into an IT Career at the end of 1997. Around this time I met the love of my life, Innes. We married in 1998 and were blessed, not long after, with our first child, a daughter who we named Eleanor. In August 2001 we took a 6 month working holiday in South Africa, which stretched into 2 and a half years, and saw the arrival of our son Callum and the start of my career as a freelance photographer. We returned to England in 2003 and settled in Innes' childhood home, on a farm in a village in Shropshire. (Coincidentally situated 20 odd miles or so from the area of the Midlands where Tolkien grew up and completed his military training). My passions are travel, reading, photography and music. In South Africa I was fortunate to be involved with 2 very special friends and musicians and enjoyed writing, performing and recording with them. Music has taken a backseat now but the camaraderie and creativity it gave me, has been replaced by something equally addictive and rewarding; a life in Middle-Earth. |
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Around August 2005 I began searching the web for a resource that would distract my daughter. Ellie had become a Tolkien devotee after watching the Jackson trilogy and reading The Hobbit. I had been a fan of the Master since I was 9, but even though I'd read his books countless times found many of her questions needed research. A 20 minute school-run can be quite exhausting (even frustrating) if you don't have the necessary answers to hand! I stumbled upon the Plaza via a web search and that was pretty much that. The bug bit hard and before I knew it I was more immersed in Middle-Earth than I had thought possible. I chose to join Rohan, because for me the Riders embody many of the values I hold dear, and I guess because they most readily bridge the gap between Middle-Earth and our Earth. Never having RP'd before I threw my self in at the deep end - encouraged by the many helpful and friendly members of the Kingdom. (Rock, Ithil, Eleowyn, Tal to name but a few). Much to my surprise I was awarded Newbie of the Month and an SCR in December which made up for all the socks and handkerchiefs I got for Christmas. So here I stand before the Golden Hall, staring out over the plains of Rohan. There's a blizzard blowing in hard form the White Mountains: my vision is limited and the future seems a little unclear. But, whatever it holds for me, I know it will be inspirational and exhilarating - the adventure of a lifetime. |