I'm a card-carrying old-fart, enjoying a new lease of life as the big five oh looms, thanks to the love of my life Ann Marie.
I run a small business providing expert legal services, play competitive foosball, and have been known to get artistic on the 3-string balalaika with a recorded CD and closing on 100 live appearances.
The business provides expert evidence to the courts on drugs issues, carrying out surveys at festivals and other events to monitor drug consumption and prices. I have been involved in research into illegal drugs since 1982, and started the business in 1991 while working in Welfare Rights. Previously I had been involved in political campaigning on drugs issues, but now simply seek to inject a dose of truth into the arguments of those on both sides of the debate.
Foosball takes up a lot of my spare time, organising tournaments in the UK, operating the odd table, international coordination and playing tournaments - I don't get much time to practice these days so my ranking has gone down from No 33 in the World in 2005 to around no 200 nowadays.
Boris and his Bolshie Balalaika emerged in the late 1980s playing Hendrix covers on a 3 stringed electric balalaika, eventually technology caught up and allowed a midi-band as backing and recording the CD - Psychic Revolution - for Delerium records. Boris played nearly 100 gigs supporting bands including Hawkwind, Gong, Poisoned Electric Head, Ozric Tentacles and many others. One claim to fame is that in 1991 a young boy band called Take That appeared lower on the bill at St Helens Show! BBC Sessions for Mark & Lard still exist somewhere in the archive...
I have 3 sons, James (22), Rob (21) and Zac, who died at 6 weeks of age in 2006. Hoping for more kids if the gods allow it. I was married for 25 years (and 12 days) - quite long enough to put me off the concept for life, but am very happy with my new partner Ann Marie, whom I've been with for 2 1/2 years and expect to spend the rest of our lives together - if she will still have me...
James has just finished Uni and has a good job lined up. Rob is a master-foosball player and has just won his first 'proper' World title, spending most of his time travelling round the world.
Find out more about Boris and his Bolshie Balalaika at
www.myspace.com/borisandhisbolshiebalalaika
or the official website at
www.bolshieboris.com
To find out more about foosball go to www.britfoos.com or www.table-soccer.org
