I was born in Liverpool, but moved to Kent when I was quite young. I left England in my late teens and travelled in Europe for many years, living in Southern France and Italy.  

I returned to the UK and threw myself into study. Over a number of years I completed a BA Hons in French at the University of London, A Post Graduate Certificate in Education,  CELTA and more recently an MA in Education at the Institute of Education in London.  I became a teacher shortly after completing my degree and worked initially in Adult Education. I taught French and English and organised students’ trips to Northern France. I eventually set up and became Head of Newham Late Admissions Project in East London.  The project’s aim was to teach English and other aspects of the school curriculum to young people of 14-16. These were newcomers to the UK and from a wide variety of countries and backgrounds. The project grew in strength and size and diversity and although it was really hard work, it was incredibly rewarding

A few years ago I went to New Zealand and travelled from the furthest Northern point to the most Southern in an old car. I spent a short time in Vietnam and in Myanmar where I have a sponsored child.  It was then that I started to consider living abroad and I applied for a job as a teacher with the British Council and got it, I gave up my job in London and moved to Ho Chi Minh City. I travel extensively and experiences have included staying in a Pagoda in Ba Ria for Tet and travelling through the Central Highlands in the slowest, most crowded bus ever.