I was born in Portsmouth on the south coast of England at lunchtime on 7th November, 1957, the same day as the Museum of Modern Art was opened in New York in 1929. I left school at 16, a move prompted by the admission of girls. I have worked as an electronic engineer most of my life, and for about half of that have run my own companies. A vague competence has seen one of my designs feature occasionally on the CSI TV programs, sell to customers such as Lockheed and NASA, and achieve senior membership of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
For 'fun' I studied for a Masters degree in art history which I attained in 2007. I left the UK in 2004 and have lived and worked in Singapore, Canada and Saraburi, Thailand for 8 years, where my wife, Ploy, still lives with our two adopted dogs, Pinky and Perky. In 2017 I moved back to the UK and I now live in Auchinleck, Scotland.
I started writing seriously once we were settled in Thailand, intially intending to write non-fiction books on art and electronics. Those books are still in the pending tray, and instead I first released an account of my travels since leaving the UK, Home Thoughts from a Man. This was followed by the first 'George' novel, George and the Rabbit, and its sequel George and the Armadillo. It am currently working on my fourth book, The Forgotten Tenors.
I can be found on Facebook: Home Thoughts from a Man
I am also on Goodreads: Goodreads - Daniel Ogilvie
Should you wish to abuse to me formally, rather than just vilify me incognito on my Facebook page, you can do so here: daniel@danploy.com This e-mail address can also be used if you wish to send me idolatory praise.
I have given a couple of interviews in the past: you can follow the links to them, below.
The Year of Writing Dangerously (scroll down for me).
Here are a few of my favourite things:
- Sportsmen: Gordon Banks, Gordon Greenidge, Ilie Nastase.
- Singers: Giovanni Martinelli, Mel Torme, Claudia Muzio, Kate Bush, Rosa Ponselle, Vic Damone, Cyndi Lauper, Teresa Teng.
- Guitarists: Jan Akkerman, Joe Satriani, Al DiMeola, Robin Trower.
- Composers: Verdi, Debussy, Puccini, Ravel, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Shostakovich, Bach.
- Colours: Yellow.
- Comedians: George Carlin, Frankie Boyle, Bob Newhart, Stewart Lee.
- Places: Saint Agnes (Cornwall, UK), Edinburgh, Rayong (Thailand), Monterey (California) .
- Painters: Rothko, Miro, Kandinsky.
- Radio: BBC Radio 3.
- Buildings: Flat Iron Building, New York.
- Actors: Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant, Walter Matthau.
- TV: The Fast Show, MASH, The Ascent of Man, Mock the Week.
- Actresses: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Helena Bonham Carter, Clara Bow, Gloria Grahame.
- Musicians: Midori, Hilary Hahn, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
- Books/Authors: Cannery Row, Hilary Mantel, The Ascent of Rum Doodle, Arthur Ransome, Tom Sharpe, Kingsley Amis.
- Films: Bad day at Black Rock, Airplane, Naked Gun 2.5, The Day the Earth Stood Still , The Day the Earth Caught Fire.
- Cartoons: Tom and Jerry, Roadrunner, The Far Side.
- Opera: Andrea Chenier, Turandot, Il Trovatore, I Puritani.
- Musicals: Carousel, West Side Story.
- Wine: New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Elysium, Guwurtztraminer.
- Food: Tuna steak, Champ potatoes, Yum Tua Poo, Spanish style chicken (a stew of chicken, bacon, tomato and chorizo sausage), Mutton Jalfrezi.
- Beer: Adnams Old, Beer Laos dark, Ringwood Best.
- Animals: Dogs (proper ones, not hairy rats).
- Weather: Thunderstorms.
- Transport: Hovercraft, Sea-planes.
- Flowers: Daffodils, Bluebells.
- Smells: Jasmine, Leather, Old Ironmonger shops, Freshly cut grass.
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