About

I am a British ex-pat now living in Jacksonville, Florida. I came to the USA in 2000 and lived in Arlington, part of the DFW Metroplex in Texas, for seven years.  When my wife landed a position with a law firm in Jacksonville, we upped sticks and moved to Florida.

I am a former journalist with The Birmingham Post, England, and had a short spell, as a reporter, with Adweek in the United States.

My roots are in Stoke-on-Trent, where I was born and raised; hence my life-long support of Stoke City.

I attended Manchester University and began living in Manchester permanently in 1973. I completed my doctorate in geography in 1977.  It never quite brought me the rewards I envisioned but it did provide me with the ability to spot a charlatan at 50 paces and a loathing of cant and hypocrisy.

I am not a political animal.  I do not see the world in terms of black and white but rather as a spectrum of colours, some of which I prefer more than others.  However, I do believe in truth, justice and fair play. 

It was my birthday on Friday, June 13.  I am not prepared to divulge which milestone was reached but suffice it to say that more than a few miles have been travelled on life’s journey.  The celebration of another year passing, far from plunging me into a state of ennui, kind of galvanized me into seeking a fresh challenge.  Well, here it is; my own blog page with which to rant and rail against the world and probably provide much needed relief for insomniacs.

In the weeks, months and years to come, I hope you may find some amusement, perhaps even some good old-fashioned common sense.

And so, “Cry ‘havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war!”

 

E-mail: calpalUSA@gmail.com