I grew up in Helensburgh, Scotland.

After various adventures ranging from floor-sanding to studying Russian intensively for a year, I became a teacher and worked for several years at a school in Falkirk. I left in June 2000 to recover from M.E.

I am married to Kate, we have two sons, Liam and Owen. We live in North Ayrshire.

One Sunday in May 2002, Kate and I went for a run in the car. It was a great day, sunny and warm. We did ‘the triangle', Glasgow-Crianlarich-Glasgow, up the side of Loch Lomond on the A82, back via Inveraray. We got out a few times; to look at the view and get some air. We just stopped.

The following day I sat down to write and wrote a poem. It survived the night. This first poem led to another and another and so on. I thought I might reach five, ten. In the end I made it to fifty-seven. I think I must have about a hundred and fifty-seven now. They're still coming. Nothing happens for a while, then suddenly it hits you. Like slow lightning.