image from asymptotia.com * I was born in Santa Monica, California, to an English Jewish father and a Scottish kind-of-protestant mother. I have lived in Scotland, England, Wales, England again, Wales again and England again. I currently live in north London.

* As I have roots / family connections in Scotland and England, but grew up mainly in Wales, I tend to just say I’m British. This is usually seen as a cop-out by people who consider themselves purely English, or Scottish, or Welsh, so an argument often ensues. Pointing out that their own passport says “British” should be enough for me to win said arguments, but usually isn’t.

* At eleven years old I won my primary school’s “Mastermind” competition. My future in smart-arsery was thus sealed.

* I can click joints on the following parts of my body: toes, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, arms, neck, back.

image from answers.com * I once won a karaoke competition after performing a horrific rendition of Guns n’ Roses’ “Sweet Child Of Mine”. I don’t remember bribing the judge, but something dodgy was clearly afoot. Honestly, I was shit.

* I’ve never been on a rollercoaster.

* As a child I was scared of: a photo of an orangutan; a photo of myself as a baby with my face covered in chocolate; The Incredible Hulk; wallpaper with a cowboys and indians design; the dark; dogs.

* I support Manchester United and don’t care what you say.

* The first single I bought was Debbie Gibson’s “Only In My Dreams”. The first album I bought was Dire Straits’ “Brothers In Arms”.