Although these days I seem to spend a lot of my spare time messing about on the computer, I still try to get out and pursue a few other hobbies. I am a member of English Heritage and the National Trust and between the two have managed to view most of the ancient monuments and stately homes in the surrounding counties, as well as those further afield when I go on holiday.

I'm a keen birdwatcher and have several feeding sites around the garden. As well as the more common garden visitors like blue and great tits, robins, dunnock, thrush and many more I've had the great pleasure of watching the daily visits of a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers who eventually introduced their offspring to the peanut feeder.

When I'm not busy with DIY and general maintenance work on my cottage, I like to combine two of my hobbies and walk to the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. I have been a 'Friend' of the Reserve for more than 10 years and would recommend it as a great place to see a wide variety of wildlife.

Walking the network of public footpaths and bridleways of South-East England helps to blow the cobwebs out of my brain. Even on a crisp winter day it's a joy to strike out across the fields away from the busy roads and enjoy rambling through woodlands and open countryside.

Gardening is another hobby of mine.. rather an essential hobby really.. otherwise I'd be living in the middle of a jungle! Becoming a member of the Royal Horticultural Society gives me free entrance to a number of beautiful gardens throughout the country and Chelsea Flower Show on one of the members days each year in May. It's a truly magnificent event and worth the trials of travelling to London in the crush!

When I was a child we had no TV... just a radio, I was reared on programmes such as The Navy Lark, Hancock's Half Hour and of course The Archers. Having returned to the fold of Archers Addicts after a break of more years than I'm prepared to own up to it amazed me to find so many of the cast of my younger days still playing the same characters.