#TenThings about author Raymond Carroll @raymie1970

Today’s #TenThings guest is Raymond Carroll. The first two parts of his four part series: ‘Only Raising Dust On The Road’ are available now – more details below.

#Ten Things – Raymond Carroll

I am a Scotsman (as well as being a citizen of ‘Planet Earth’). I am not a separatist, or a nationalist. I was born in Scotland, and Scotland is the place that made me. I am British because of an ambiguous ‘treaty’ that was signed in 1707, and my granny was born in Dublin so I have Irish roots.
I was born in East Kilbride, Scotland in 1970.
I am married to a Thai national and have two teenage, Scottish/Thai children – a boy (13), and a girl (17).
I haven’t had a drink of alcohol in nearly 18 years.
I love travelling and have lived and worked in many countries since I was a teen: Jersey (Channel Islands), London (UK), California, Egypt, Canada, Dublin (Ireland), Thailand and Taiwan. Even although I have spent my whole life (47 years) trying to escape Scotland’s damp and dreary shores, she always draws me back again, in a kind of ‘love / hate’ relationship. I currently reside in Scotland.
Over the years, I have lived on the streets, been a thief, gone to prison, worked hard and been honest. Today, I describe myself as being an honest and hard-working family-man.
I started writing when I stopped drinking 18 years ago.
When I am not writing, I am a self-employed builder/joiner/handyman
I enjoy hill-walking and hiking/trekking. I love the Scottish mountains. And I love Nepal. In October 2012, I completed the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (a 17-day trek that rises to an elevation of 5416m – 17,769ft); in October 2017, I made it to Everest Base Camp (5364m – 17,598ft), before almost dying and being huckled out of the mountains by helicopter suffering from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).
I am anti-Westminster, and a punk rocker/hippy punk, and anti-establishment at heart. And although I believe in integration and unity (a world without borders) – I also believe, paradoxically, that we Scots blew the opportunity of a lifetime when we rejected Independence in 2014. I am not anti-English, I have loads of English pals, having lived and worked in London and Bournemouth in the 90’s.