I live in the North East of England with my partner and teenage son. I played recorder as a child (I have a renaissance pattern alto in G which comes out very occasionally); moved on to the oboe in my teens (but in the end the reeds defeated me); changed it for a flute in my late 20s; and eventually committed myself to a bassoon only 2 years ago when I was already 53. Now it feels like what I always should have played.
The instrument I have is a Kohlert dating from about 1954-55 and, like me, has evidently been around a bit; but I`m very fond of it. It`s a light flame maple and the patterns in the wood are quite beautiful. I don`t suppose I`ll ever be able to play much of the classical repertoire, but I`m starting to sing with that voice now, improvising around all kinds of major, minor, modal and bluesy scales and melodies, and it`s great.

Apart from dabbling in music I read and write Spanish (and would like to speak it fluently one day), cook sometimes, try to keep the garden under control, take a sporadic interest in poetry, and work on being a partner and parent. I get out into the hills when I can. Zen meditation helps me cope with life in general, and perhaps one day I`ll be coming out as a Buddhist.
Since taking up the bassoon I`ve become fascinated by its personality in a way I never was with any other instrument. I`d like to make contact with other bassoonists, especially late starters like myself.