This week, I turn 39. Woohoo! Balloons! My pupils think I’m old old, while older people tell me I’m still young—so I suppose I’m at that awkward in-between stage. One silver lining of COVID for me is realising I much prefer solace to excitement. I’m a physical education teacher, staying active not to compete in ultra-endurance events but purely to keep my middle-aged metabolism ticking over.

Dogs are my world, and if you’ve had any nosiness and checked my profile, you’ve likely guessed that already. I live on a farm and have the privilege and luxury of endless land to explore, rivers for my dogs to swim in to their hearts' content, and vast, green, rolling Scottish hills for our adventures. We can walk for hours without encountering another soul—just us and the beautiful countryside. You’re more likely to find me taking photos of my dogs, taglining a beautiful sunrise, than catching me taking a selfie.

In my younger, more adventurous days, I swam with sharks, skydived, and even bungee jumped. But now, I’ve traded adrenaline for long, peaceful hikes with my dogs. The thrill of a quiet morning in nature beats any rush I’ve experienced.

As for the basics: Am I good-looking? Probably not. Am I cool? Not anymore, if I ever was. I'm bald, though somehow still have more hair than I’d like. Not as tall as I wish I were—a failed sportsman, perhaps—but let’s call it adequate enough for a happy, successful life.

These days, I’ve swapped noisy nights out for peaceful evenings with books and writing. 9pm bedtime? Absolutely. I self-published a book—because patience and rejection aren’t my strong suits—and, to my surprise, it became a bestseller. Now, I’m slowly working on a second (emphasis on slowly). Writing feels like a creative outlet for me, where I can put knowledge and imagination to work and create something of my own.

So, if you’re into dogs, creative writing, or just fancy some random, semi-intelligent chat, I’m really just looking for a friendship (let’s be honest, a passive chat buddy). Feel free to say hello.