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.