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About me

About me

What I did in a previous life to earn such a good one this time round.....



I have no idea.

I'm just grateful for it.

As I've been building the site,
I've come to realise just how much I have packed in. 

I THINK, OR AT LEAST I'D LIKE  TO THINK, THAT I'M ACTUALLY QUITE A GOOD GUY.
SURE, LIKE EVERYONE, I CAN BE AN ARSEHOLE FROM TIME-TO-TIME.

I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN TO ALL CORNERS OF THE PLANET
(MORE THAN ONCE!).

BEIJING IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CITIES, AS ARE HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE.

Obviously I adore Switzerland.
Lived here almost 30 years.


Personality Profile Analysis

From 1986!

Self Image

A self  confident individualistic, gregarious, outgoing and persuasive person who likes to be liked and continually works to achieving his own goals by winning you over. Andy is socially aggressive and extremely mobile. Such a person has a tendency to believe that no matter what situation arises his ability to charm will win through.

This person is a good leader who can communicate well. Normally optimistic and enthusiastic, there can be a tendency to over estimate his ability. 

Quick and clever rather than intellectual, Andy dislikes routine and the nitty gritty, is a poor administrator by nature and may lack objective direction and follow through.

Likes the big picture. May be rather sentimental and likes to get involved. Andy is attitude expressive, can be persuaded as well as persuade and is impulsive and impatient to implant new ideas.

Rather noisy and animated, full of ideas and concepts though not particularly factual, he likes the limelight and works well for praise. More interested in people than anything else he likes the good life.

Andy can be shallow and change sides in an argument easily. Prefers short uncluttered relationships, is not always direct but rarely malicious. Very much an “I” and “we” person. He may make decisions out of impatience and to impress.

Self Motivation

Wants to be where the action is and is free from administration. Works for self aclaim and wants excitement and involvement. Requires freedom of speech, wants a democratic superior. Andy needs to acquire self discipline.

Job Emphasis

Independent - Selling to/motivation of people

Andy's job should require contact with a variety of people either on a one-to-one or group basis. Ideally there will be room and authority to act quickly and independently. The necessity for strict attention to detail should be minimal and administrative support and data should be supplied. There should be a requirement for poise, optimism and enthusiasm couple with the ability to change direction quickly and easily. The opportunity to travel should, if possible, be frequent. There should be demand to achieve tangible goals which should be clearly defined. The method of achievement should where practicable be left to Andy. Authority to command and discipline should be vested in the job.

Describing Words

Quick, clever, outgoing, gregarious, social, individualistic, persuasive, charming, talkative, animated, noisy, dreamer, imaginative, positive, generous, asks “who” and “what”.

Behaviour at work

Andy is happy with his self image and does not modify his behaviour at work. He may be viewed as marginally more compliant than he sees himself to be.

Behaviour under pressure

Andy raises his drive and assertion as a means of coping with pressure and at the same time becomes very independent and will not be averse to cutting corners or bending rules in order to achieve.

Many people think that I'm scary.
I don't.
I'm just a junkie.


adrenaline junkie

I'm so spoilt.
I've done so much in my life.
Been to so many places.
Had so many experiences.
Met so many great people.

Awards &
Recognitions


Claims to fame

Infamy, infamy.
They've all got it in for me.

1976
world record holder

Guiness Book of Records

1980
FIA Racing Licence

Formula 3

1991
FIA Rally Licence

Grp-A

1996
Parachuting

Static Line Licence

1996
Parachuting

Freefall Licence

2003
Diving

Open water diver

2003
Diving

Deep Water Diver

2003
Diving

Dry Suit Diver

2004
Diving

Rescue Diver

2005
Me

Laird of Glencairn

2012
Award

Troxxo Media

2023
Mr One of a Kind

Ronovatec

Spent my early life in England - Surrey and then Brighton.
Moved out of the UK in 1991 to live in Germany - Frankfurt am Main.
In Central Switzerland, at the base of Mount Rigi, since 1998.

https://www.luzern.com/de/
Vierwaldstättersee

 


No idea. I'm sure we deserved it though.
And, yes. It is. Sorry.

Lots of people used to say that I looked like or had a resemblance to Michael Schumacher. I don't but this was for 7UP for the fans at a German GP.

Life

Live it.

You get just one life and never know when it will end. Live it. To the full.

Says the man who has had 3 heart attacks - yes three! - and then open heart surgery.

THIRD OPERATION WAS 28th AUGUST 2025! For mitral valve surgery. Again.

So much for being a heartless bastard...


Graue Star

Known in english as cataracts.

Both eyes done.  Right one one week, left a week later. Right eye was no problem. Left eye they "shaved" more. 

Taking a while to settle down. Still very angry and red. 

4 weeks of eye drops then all should be good. 

https://andy.ambridge.com/index.php/babble/blog-life/172-eyes-grauer-star-2


Most of my travel (boasting here) as I've wandered my way around the planet, has been in 1st class. Yes, I know. Company expense account. My company.

I flew so often with Qantas that I knew crew on the routes. Nearly always in the cockpit for take off and landing. 

I was in 1st once, the steward walked in and said "hallo Andy", followed by the flight crew who said Hi too as they marched past to the cockpit.  

Captain stops and says "Andy, jump seat for Take Off?". The only other customer in 1st flips out. "Do you own the fucking airline or what?".

"Nope, just fly a lot". 


I have been sued by the BBC for using my own name!

For registering the ambridge.com domain name! Not at some little local court. No. Straight to the High Court in The Strand. Intimidate. They lost. Paid all costs. Your licence fee at work. Wankers.


Once flew New York and back just to have breakfast. Concorde. Both ways.
Free! Gratis! Nix! 

Cashed in some Air Miles.

Flying on Concorde was truely special.
To do it twice in a single day......

You flew at twice the speed of sound and up at 60'000 feet! You really did get to see the curviture of the Earth.


Oh. Fun fact for you all.
I don't have normal skin. Neither did Bob. Most people have 7 layers. Not us. He was born with 8 layers and suffered dry skin and I was born with 6.
Means that I bruise very very easily. Then they stay for a good while. My mother had a nickname for me - Panda. Even worse now with the blood thinner. 
I also DO feel the cold. Perverse that I live in a cold country eh?

Another fun fact. I'm named after a Danish King. Their first.

Gorm the Old, also called Gorm the Languid, was ruler of Denmark, reigning from c. 936 to his death c. 958 or a few years later. He ruled from Jelling, and made the oldest of the Jelling stones in honour of his wife Thyra. Gorm was born before 900 and died perhaps around 958 or possibly 963 or 964. Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorm_the_Old

https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=morris&book=scandinavian&story=gorm

https://thevikingherald.com/article/who-was-gorm-the-old-viking-king-of-denmark/416

Bluetooth? Yeah right.  LMFAO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Bluetooth


People

Should I name drop here?

King Charles III

Used to play on the beach together as kids. The "BAR" between St. Agnes & Gugh. Boat moored in the bay. 

Later on we've had a  beer or three more than a few times. Scilly. Agnes. GughTurks Head. Cheers Charlie. 

Had a fight or two with Harold Wilson over his dog Paddy.

Knew Sir Jackie Stewart and we once spent a week shooting at Gleneagles.

Worked with James Cann. 

I think I'm a people person - even if they can be real idiots (as can I). They seem to like me. I've had an ability in my life to lead people to places new, places they might have a fear of, places with memories. Physically and mentally.

People open up to me. Bare their souls.

For that, your absolute trust, I thank you greatly.



Kids

Me with my siblings.....

Tempus fugit.

Never had my own kids. Leider. Shade. Never found the right partner. 

Kids in the street will just walk up to me and either stare or start talking to me. I have to be very careful.

Friends kids seem to like me - even teenagers - and trust me possibly 'cos I don't go blabbing everything to their parents. Or I've never grown up. 

Who knows?

Me?

Not.


Bob's girls

Have tried to be the good/fun uncle to Bob's girls as they grew up. 

Image Gallery

 

 


What is light without dark?

I don't do fear

That's maybe why I've had multiple heart attacks


I've lived a life.

I've been called various things in my life - some really great, some not so friendly.
Or complimentary.
By any stretch.

Some, very well deserved.
Every coin has three sides.*


So who am I?  What am I?

Not sure that even I fully comprehend or really know.

I do know that I have a deeply deeply dark side.
I have kept him very very very well hidden.
From friends, from family.

From Bob.

Even from me.

Secrets will always be secrets. 
(I know. I've signed the 
OSA and BND)



(*) - Take your coin.
Heads, Tails and the Edge.
Try and make it sit on the edge.

Now spin it. Fast.
It's a beauty to behold.
But it won't spin for long.
Can't.