A-Z of Me, Ivan here ...

A-Z of Me, Ivan here ...

A – Ambition:

To stay happy and healthy, and do more good than harm in the world.

Saintly intentions.

B – Bravest thing I’ve done:

Proposing marriage scared me witless, fortunately she said YES!

The response I wanted, phew!

C – Chore I hate:

Cleaning up the studio when it is left in a horrible state by students.

So much better when you clean up your own mess :) 

D – Dream I remember:

Levitating in a grand high ceilinged house applauded by a gathering of top hatted Victorian gentlemen.

The nearest I could find!

E – Essential start to the day:

Brushing teeth (I am slightly obsessive about this, into my fourth decade with no fillings, so something is working).

Even Muppets know it's a good idea!

F – Fear of…

Confined spaces, I could never go pot-holing, if I can’t turn round in a space it freaks me out.

Please don't make me go in there.

G – Geographical location that is important to me

Beautiful wild places inspire me, I feel alive in the mountains, but I have a special affinity for the rugged coastline at the end of the Beara peninsular in County Cork (South West Ireland).

Been visiting here since I was a child.

H – Home:

West Worldham, a country cottage, far from the madding crowd.

I – Idol:

Muhammad Ali – A guy who stood up for what he believed in and overcame the odds.

Respect.

J – Journey – my best ever:

18 days walking the Annapurna circuit with my Dad in Nepal – along the world’s deepest valley surrounded by spectacular Himalayan peaks.

The Kali Gandaki valley.

K – Kick ass music track:

I suspect most of my favourite music doesn’t really fit the “Kick Ass” criteria, but I do have a soft spot for “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z (featuring Alicia Keys) does that count? New York is kinda special as I got together with my wife there.

L – Long for:

A glass of wine after a hard day.

A necessary poison!

M – Movie:

Depends on my mood, if I’m feeling Arty then Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Mirror” is hauntingly beautiful. For the less high brow moments I love a bit of Star Wars (the original is best).

Levitation dream sequence from Mirror- - perhaps that's why I love it.

N – Nickname:

The Ivanator! Given to me by a former student Ming (the Merciless).

Don't make me mad!

O – Outrageous behaviour:

In an attempt to prove they were fakes I (along with three friends) created a 21 metre wide crop circle that succeeded in fooling the “experts” and featured as a double page colour spread in “Crop Circles – Conclusive Evidence?”

Fame at last.

P – Pets:

2 Cats, 2 Fish (hopefully not inside the cats).

My furry friends, Scratch and Sniff.

Q – Quote from a movie:

"No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." Yoda to Luke in the Empire Strikes Back, a fine principle to live your life by!

Wise guy.

R – Recreational activity:

Rock Climbing – some might accuse me of a slight obsession. I love the pure focus on the present that you have to engage in when you are in a precarious position half way up a cliff.

Deep water soloing at Swanage, October 2011

S – Siblings?

One sister and two step sisters, 4, 6 & 8 years younger than me. 

Annie

Sarah

Emma

T – Television:

I try to avoid TV, but am partial to a fix of Spooks.

U – Undercover – what you didn’t know about me:

Gayle and I are just starting on a long journey towards adopting a child from an Orphanage in Ethiopia.

One day...

V – Va va voom – who gets my engine running:

Well, my wife of course. My celeb crush is Freida Pinto. 

Look familiar?

Are you lonesome tonight?

W – What makes me stop and stare:

The Rothko room in Tate Modern

Time out.

X –What makes you X (cross):

Noisy, messy eaters drive me nuts.

Control yourself man!

Y – Yummy, what I like to eat the most:

Fresh King Scallops seared in butter with a little garlic and a squeeze of lemon, the food of the Gods.

mmmm...

Z – zzzzzzz, what makes me sleep:

Paperwork

Remind me why I became a teacher.