A child born into the cradle of the Govan shipyards in Glasgow. Banker by profession, humorist by inclination, author by osmosis --- can't ever take myself too seriously. Greatest infleuncer ----the life and travails of Sir Wimston Churchill, the ultimate maverick. Scottish comedian Billy Connolly is the standout laughter benchmark.  Early authors, Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, John O'Hara and Richard Llewellyn, plus Palgrave's `Golden Treasury of Poetry'. Latter day authors, dozens, but major names , Lee Child, Stuart MacBride, Tom Clancy. ( and anything by or about Sir Winston Churchill). Clambering swiftly aboard this strange mesmerizing beast called social networking.    

Still breathing--- major, major plus that.