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Bob & I

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.

I'm so spoilt. I've done so much in my life and been to so many places, had so many experiences. Met so many great people.
You get just one life and never know when it will end. Live it. To the full. Says the man who has had open heart surgery

 


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

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". 

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

Cashed in some Air Miles.


I think I've lived.

Way to go still, don't worry.  

Nowadays, I don't have a pot to piss in but then I have no heirs either. You can't take it with you.

Living life is more important than accumulating money. 

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. I DO feel the cold. Perverse that I live in a cold country eh?


Life

Getting ready for a boys night out. It's not just girls that share the bathroom!

People

Had a fight or two with Harold Wilson over his dog Paddy. A beer or three with Prince (now King) Charles more than a few times. Scilly. Agnes. Gugh. Turks Head. Cheers Charlie.

Should I name drop here? Knew Sir Jackie Stewart and we once spent a week shooting at Gleneagles. Worked with James Cann. 

I like to 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.

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

Life

Rhea & Woofy

Kids

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

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

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.

I just enjoy it.

Getting old. Rhea (left) is now in her 20s. As are Bob's girls.

Tempus fugit.
Life

Dogs

I don't have kids - my time went into dogs.

Dogs have been a core part of my life as long as I can remember.

I am a dog whisperer.

Take a look at the mutts tab in the menu

Life

In the air

I am a fully qualified free fall parachutist.

I love freefall. Adore it. What a buzz.

From the man who was always scared of heights. Still is!!

Originally done for charity. 

Done a lot all over. Where, when and why, I cannot say. OSA 

It is one of the best things you can do with your clothes on.

It's a shame it's no longer allowed in Hong Kong. That was real fun. A privilege.


Raise some money, have some fun. Take spare underwear in case.

https://ukskydivingadventures.com/charity-skydive 

Wikipedia

Life

Choppers

Spent a lot of time doing this. Hanging from a chopper. Not just police ones.

Life

Concorde

Flew Concorde to New York and back once just to have breakfast.

Free. Paid nothing. Used up some Air Miles. Yes, it was stunning. Mach 2. Who else has done that?


My local roads.
You like it slippery with a woman? Why should a car be any different. ;-)

On Terra Firma

Fast Cars

I've owned some of the very best. I am, sorry was at a certain time, an Audi guy, so I've owned probably every version of any RS they ever built.

I've owned multiple Lancia Delta Integrales (yummy), even Ferraris.

Have both a FIA Formula 3 and a FIA Group A Rally Licence. Many years. Never got F1 leider. Close but no cigar. 

The latest fun car? GR Yaris. Now that is a rally car for the road. Read the test reports. Stunning.

How much fun can you have with your clothes ON? THE best set of wheels I've ever owned. By far.

Shame

Money talks, money walks. Car went back to the leasing company. Cheap 2nd hand old diesel Skoda it is. Oh well.

Life

Father, Bob & I,
plus the house where I grew up.
The race boat.

When you pull a boat, brakes. Look at that soot!

On the Water

F3 Champion Water Ski Racing

England to France and back in 1 hour 9

foto needs work

Trying to find some images!


Canoe

Thanks Father.

He bought Bob & I dilapidated wooden canoes. Which we then rebuilt. I've canoed all over the place. Rivers, Sea, Abroad.

Canoed to France and back once. It took longer than an hour 9. ;-) 

 

Life

Would be rude not to...


Boats

On or under the water. I don't care.

This was my Windy 35 HT. Used her a lot. She was known all over the lake. 

Life

Flying and a Whale Shark.

Under the Water

Ask any woman. Being wet is where it's at.

Can't hear people's senseless yacking for a start.

Been very lucky.  Most of my diving has either been Middle or Far East, or Maldives. I've done lots of it. Night,  Deep, V Deep, Rescue, Other.

Different gases (Air, Nitrox, Trimix, Heliox), different depths, different reasons.

Love it

I have to say a massive Thank You to the people who infected me with the diving bug.

Daniel Willberg

http://www.willberg.eu/

Thorsten Thorandt

https://www.xing.com/profile/Thorsten_Thorandt

Dominik Ruhl

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominikruhl/

Life

I read this back and realise just what an adrenaline junkie I have been over my life!


Switzerland

Neutral

Home. How lucky?

I always had a thing for Switzerland. Went there with the school on a skiing holiday as a teenager and then in my early twenties used to go to Grindelwald regularly to ski with Bob. (Short drive from Frankfurt where I was living at the time.) Well, to ski like an Englishman with zero talent. Zero skill. Zero knowledge.

I still get the "Andy, you ski like a tourist" comments from time to time even though I've been here 20+ years. 

To be fair to me, nearly everyone I meet wants to practice their English. Or show me how well they speak it. I do actually speak German and the local Swiss German. French has gone out of the window as has my shite Latin and even worse Italian. 

I came across an article that lists "42 Fun Facts About Switzerland". Have to be honest that 1. it is fun and 2. contains some unusual oddball facts! Have a read and a giggle.

Spoilers......

Switzerland Has 7000 Lakes

The Most Innovative Country in the World

The Least Obese European Country

 

link - 42 fun facts about Switzerland

Record Breaking Switzerland

Good job I've had work done

Life

What is light without dark?

I've lived a life.

and then some.......

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 ass 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. 
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.

This life?

So who am I?  What am I?

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

Not sure that even I fully comprehend or really know.

I do know that I have a dark side as we all do. I keep him well hidden.
From friends, from family.
From Bob.
Even from me.