Hello, I’m Mike Coatesworth: I was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. A difficult childhood marked my determination to become a writer. A serious car accident left me partially paralysed, in a wheelchair, having to re-learn everything, challenging me to make something out of my life. After my accident, I studied Information Technology at Thomas Danby College - a college for students with learning disabilities - from which I graduated with 17 diplomas. I have now retired to the beautiful countryside of Newtownabbey in Northern Ireland.  Sat here writing; I look up momentarily to stare out of my open living room window across the romantic Irish countryside with its different shades of lush green fields, no wonder they call this the emerald isle.   Although I’m in the countryside, I’m also not too far from the coast and occasionally the breeze from the sea carries across the open spaces.  On my left, as far as my eyes can see are the open fields with a few rustic farm houses to add to the beauty.  Farm animals graze or rest without a care in the world, and rarely is seen anything faster than a horse trotting across a meadow.  I’m woken early in the morning around five am to the sound of the local wildlife in search of food.   Here at this précis moment is peaceful solitude, where the only sound is from rustle of the leaves on my trees as the slight breeze from the ocean carries inland causing the branches to gently sway and the birds whistling tunefully outside my window.   My wife Betty is pleased that our door is always open and the teapot always on the cooker; and the steady stream of visitors are welcomed with a nice cuppa.   I’m happier than I’ve been in years, and I’ve bought myself a new laptop and I mostly sit in the garden typing away.  I was taken to the Knocker war monument the other day which is high in the hills and the view across the green meadows and ocean bay were fantastic I watched as the boats and ships sailed in and out of the harbour in Carrickfergus.  Yes I couldn’t think of a nicer place where we are both happy to spend our remaining years.   Well…?   Time for a Cuppa!   Mike

College 17 City and Guilds in Computers, English, Maths