What I like
Books, books and more books
I like all sorts of books, both fiction and non-fiction, sometimes also technical stuff. Some of my favourite kinds of books/authors are:
- Children's fiction: Judy Blume, Meg Cabot, Tamora Pierce, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, J.K. Rowling, Jacqueline Wilson, and more.
- Crime: Reginald Hill (my hero!), Ian Rankin, Elizabeth George, Peter Robinson, and more.
- Fantasy: Robert Jordan, Terry Pratchet, etc.
Sport
Mainly cricket and football, though am thinking of renouncing one-day cricket because of the stupid rule changes.
Web design
I've been interested in Web design for a few years, but got serious about things like standards compliance and validation since 2005. You can see and download my free templates from the Downloads section. I also take on paid Web design work.
Freeware/open source
I support open source software development, and do my bit to contribute by using such applications and also releasing my Web designs online.
Photography
Especially using a solid, low-tech manual SLR camera, with a wide-angle/telephoto lens. However, developing and printing costs being so prohibitive, I have moved on to digital. So far I have been able to afford a 4 MP Kodak, but am looking forward to a digital SLR some day.
The mountains
Have trekked in the the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the Himalayas in India, but the Lake District in England has to be my favourite place.
Macs!
I keep promising myself that my next computer is going to be a Mac/PowerBook—someday it'll happen. I used to own an iMac, but I gave it away to my sibling in an alarming fit of generosity.
Computer games
I am partial to adventure/exploration, RPGs, some RTSes, and some FPSes. My favourites at the moment include: The Sims 2, Deus Ex, Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Total Club Manager, Prince of Persia (the original!), Buggers (!!) (a Space Invaders-type game where you shoot aliens and duck their fire)... and there are dozens I can't recall right now!
Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocs
Oh, yes!
Crochet
Yup! It's simple and produces some really beautiful stuff.