Andrew is 63, and has recently retired from his own 25-year electronic design business. He has now taken an engineering job in the Langley/Slough area, working on television outside broadcast vans and equipment. Can't keep a good man down! He is also very good with mechanical and other work, and can turn his hand to most maintenance and repair tasks (he stripped down our completely seized marine diesel engine and rebuilt it - goes like a bomb!).

Jo is 51, and a writer and publisher.  Publishing sites are Sunpenny Publishing, Boathooks Books, Sunberry Books and Rose & Crown Books. My web site and graphics design site is Staithe Web Design.

Our daughter (31) is married to Phillip, and lives in Sunningdale, Berkshire. Our son (26) lives in Berlin with his partner, Nancy. We also have Andrew's siblings in Yorkshire, and Jo's family is spread around the world (South Africa, America, Australia). If necessary we can provide references from landlords, and from other reputable people in the UK who have known us for some time, including a well known author, Lucy McCarraher (Norfolk), respected architect and painter David Cullearn (Yorkshire), and award-winning television documentary maker Dee Taverner-Craig (Spain). (Haven't been asked for these yet, so would have to obtain them, lol!)

We have lived mostly in South Africa for the past 30 years, with bouts in England. We sold our last house and left on our yacht (www.chamchela.co.uk) to go cruising in July 2006, from Richards Bay, South Africa. After some time in Mayotte (Comoros Islands) we sailed to Kenya, and the boat was left in Kilifi Creek, awaiting our return (update: just sold to expand our business, Nov 2009)! But first - more work, and hopefully finding a house to buy.

In South Africa we have owned our own homes and a small-holding, on which we had horses (including rescues which I prepared for rehoming), ducks and chickens as well as numerous dogs and cats.  We had a breeding program with Persian cats for several years, though we have owned various breeds. We've also had dogs of all sorts - bull mastiffs, bull terriers, many pavement specials, an Irish setter, and a silly floppy golden spaniel!

We're non-smokers, and virtually non-drinkers; we lead quiet lives. We are church-going Christians. You are welcome to investigate us; we have no criminal records in any country of the world, and can even provide a police clearance certificate from South Africa (we had to get one to go sailing!).

Web Site © 2009 Staithe Web Design