I was born in Lewes, East Sussex in the United Kingdom, in 1958 into a family whose roots in the town can be traced back more than 300 years. After attending local primary school, I was fortunate enough to attend Eastbourne College where I thoroughly enjoyed academic life and sports. After graduating from University of Warwick I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and persevered with a professional career in London for a few years.In 1989, I moved to Bangkok and worked for a while as a fashion model, a television extra, a news presenter for Radio Thailand and a teacher before securing a permanent job with an international accounting firm.I lived a carefree, hedonistic existence in Bangkok for ten years. For most of my time there I lived in King Mansion in Sathorn Road, the sort of hotel where police and immigration department raids were not uncommon. Many of King Mansion's residents were eccentric; many sought the anonymity only a cheap hotel could offer. Residents got murdered, disappeared without trace, died in horrendous accidents or simply got arrested for their nefarious activities.

Living there taught me a lot about human life. It was a place where bizarre stories would frequently be heard in the coffee shop. Needless to say, my life in Thailand was fun.