Born in Wigan, England and educated at the local secondary modern school and Wigan Technical College. Attended Bangor University from 1982-1985 studying Botany gaining a BSc 2:1 with Honours while having lots of fun volunteering on the student entertainment committee. Continued my studies at Bristol University from 1985-1987 gaining MSc through research on rust fungus using electron microscopy. Got married and went to work for British Telecom in Leeds in the billing section. Separated from first husband in 1989 and decided to do a PGCE at Bath University specialising in Secondary Science. Got a job at Priestlands School, Lymington teaching Science to students aged 11 to 16. Met my second husband and got married in 1994 before going doing a Fulbright Exchange to upstate New York for a year teaching Science at Cincinnatus Central School. Came back to the UK moved house, had my son 1996 and continued teaching at Priestlands. Lost both parents within 18 months of each other and decided I had been bitten by the travel bug and packed up the family and moved them to High Point, North Carolina, USA. Taught Maths & Science from 2004 to 2007 at Penn Griffin Middle School as part of the Visiting International Faculty program. Left the USA for New Zealand in February 2007 arrived at Whakatane High School for a year of long term relief teaching Science. I was lucky enough to get a job at Opotiki College. So here I am in a place I love finally found my Taurangawaewae (Maori for the place where I stand) living a life style I could only dream of when I was growing up miles from the beach in the industrial north of England.