User:BillMaddock

London born in 1944, living in Sydney, Australia since 1974. Believes Australia is the best place in the world – too good for the bleedin’ Aussies! – a back-handed compliment that every Aussie will recognize as such.

Quite intelligent but as thick as two planks, and with a sense of humour to die for.

Delightful and accomplished daughter Elizabeth (Australian - well, no one's perfect), born 1980.

Great fan of self-help hypnotherapist Paul McKenna, of philosopher Sir Karl Popper and of Boston Legal. Alan Shore’s advice in the fourth series that “Well then, tomorrow you simply need to believe in yourself” I find inspirational.

Felineophile (= gets on well with pussycats).

Good Contract Bridge and Texas Holdem Player, but not as good as I think I am. "The artist is nothing without gift, but the gift is nothing without work." - Émile Zola.

Favourite general: George Smith Patton.

Favourite politician (a contradiction in terms, admittedly) and statesman: Sir Winston Spencer Churchill. Like Patton, Churchill never ceased being a child, in the best sense. Oh, and like me.

Since age of six, a lifelong West Ham United fan and tragic!

Would support English cricket team if we ever had one. Come to think of it, that’s never stopped me supporting the English football side.

Favourite football players: Sir Geoff Hurst, who I once saw running, resembling a gazelle, and the late, incomparable Bobby Moore, both of West Ham and England.

Oh, and Christiano Ronaldo, I suppose; George Best, certainly; and ManU’s incomparable and imperious Eric Cantona, for introducing his studs to an opposing fan in the famous kung-fu kicking incident as much as for his manifest skills and will to win. Carlos Tévez, another child, too.

Favourite English cricket players: don’t be silly!

BSc in Applied Maths, Hull University, 1965; MA Pure Maths, Sydney University, 1989. /my subpage