This is the section of the website that is dedicated to ME. I'm the webmaster, and the wonderful creator of all things on this site, unless they happen to be liable, in which case 'someone else hacked onto the site and did it.... really.
Hey everybody. If you happen to be reading this, there is a very good chance that you actually know me in some way or have been told the address by someone who does know me. If not.... let me introduce myself. I'm James Henderson. I'm a 22 year old, Chemical Engineering student from Glasgow, Scotland. This is quite a large page, so it might take you a while to read it all. Skip the boring bits (that doesn't give you the excuse to skip the entire page) if they don't interest you.
At this stage I'd probably shake your hand. Don't ask me why, but its an immediate reaction now whenever I'm introduced people. Does it piss people off? I dunno. I'll ask them sometime. Also by now I'm desperately trying to remember your name, as I was too busy not screwing up introducing myself that your own name has gone awol. Never mind....... I'll either pick up your name later on in general conversation, or just attempt to never refer to you by name in conversation. :-) Ok, I might take a stab at it, or more cunningly ask someone else who knows you.
Anyways, I won't detain you any further from the pages content..... enjoy learning about me.
Badminton - This game has always been a hobby. Badminton is a very easy game to pick up. Running around after a shuttle-cock attempting to get it onto the floor on the other side! Badminton can be played in either singles or doubles, and both games are very different. It is alot of fun, especially if you get 4 competitive players! I play in in the Uni's social badminton group every Wednesday, and its a great way to get to know people. I now know quite a few Malaysian/Chinese players who are really good, and that we play with on Fridays! I have broken at least 4 rackets, which might indicate I'm a little destructive!
Squash - I picked up this game while on holiday in the south of France. Two grown men/women/mixed locked in a small white painted room chasing a small rubber ball around the room and attempting to hit it onto the back wall again. If you want to play squash, then you have to prepare to SWEAT! Squash can be painful at times. I have watched or been, hit by a racquet, hit by the ball (it stings I can tell you), people running into walls, and people diving. I almost exclusively play Steven Lyon as I can't beat him, yet I really enjoy the competition. Am the proud founder of the Chemical Engineering squash ladder whose dedicated site can be found here.
Volleyball - I have played Volleyball since Primary school. I kept it up through out Secondary and at one point I even played for Glasgow Junior squad. Unfortunately I haven't played in three to four years now, as my school team shut down. Volleyball is a hard game to play, but if you persevere it can be alot of fun. Volleyball really needs alot of time to get used to and what's even more difficult to find are other people who are good at the game. It is normally played in a 6v6, or 4v4 format, and can be fast, furious and fun. It can also be described as a painful sport, and for those who don't know why it is because you have to take a hard inflated ball which is travelling at 40mph and probably more on your forearms. Repeat this action many times over a 2 hr period and you get very sore forearms. I'm not sure now if I will ever play again, as it takes too much organization, but I would like to try. A slightly better version is Beach Volleyball. Basically on a court lined out with rope on sand. Its much better as you can throw yourself about crazily and not get hurt.
Tennis - this is more of a seasonal sport. Picture the scene if you will ............. It is a clear summers day, in the background the theme tune to Wimbledon is just fading away, in the foreground the telephone rings..........Let's play tennis. I play on council run ash courts, so although I get to play for free, it is extremely lucky to find more than one net up.
Table Tennis - A sport so fast and furious you get dizzy after 4 games. Table tennis takes a lot more skill than you might think of at a first glance. I only get to play at my mates house, but when we do play it can be very competitive. However to reach any height of success you invariably have to be of Oriental nature and have the ability to speak Cantonese, Mandarin and a few other Chinese dialects.
Pool - this is not really a sport, but something that I spend a lot of time in the Gamezone at Strathclyde Union playing. A big cheer for whoever invented pool, it's a great way to socialise without having to speak and no sweat is ever built up. It can also be the best laugh with your mates, especially in teams!
Golf - I have played the Royal and Ancient game since I was about 6 and as of yet, I can honestly say I have never abided by the total rules of the game. I play on the Girvan golf course, Ayr Dalmilling, Ayr Seafield, Deaconsbank, and just recently Torrance House and Langlands in East Kilbride. Golf can be utterly frustrating when learning. Watching as other people hit their small white ball 2 miles down the course, while your mighty effort either goes 5 yards, or worse doesn't leave the tee while your club connects with thin air. However in those brief moments when contact is made and the ball is taking a long flight down the centre of the fairway, then the entire game suddenly makes so much sense. You are at peace and harmony at nature. You only have good will to all men and animals. The green is in reach and as you swing back you know that you can putt out in 2 if only you can get a good hit again. Sadly, at the top of your backswing the concentration goes, and thump, you have a nice sample of the course, freshly dug up, flying promisingly towards the green. The ball on the other hand has rolled 3 yards in front. You are back to wondering why you bother playing at all, but hey, that's golf!
Indoor Climbing - This is so cool. I only got into this sport around December 2001. Its a real challenge. The basic premise is to climb a wall. Sounds simple, but it is quite tough. Its a really good way to exercise, and once you are a bit more confident you can take flying leaps for the next handhold. I love just hanging from my arms from the overhang and then pulling myself up. Its a really cool thing to try, and I can get 2 people into my local climbing centre, so if you're interested just give me a call. I love bouldering, which is climbing without ropes. You don't go up high, but in a way, its more challenging. However, the only hang up is that equipment to buy for yourself is quite expensive. I spent over £100 just getting boots, a harness, and a chalk bag.
When it comes to books I have read many different authors, but at the moment I haven't found anyone more entertaining or humorous than Terry Pratchett, especially his Discworld series.
Others - Doug Naylor, Michael Green, Nicholas Rhea, James Herriot, Roald Dahl (Short Stories).
I basically love books with good humorous characters and involving storylines. I don't mind reading the odd spy novel, or something a bit more different, but I prefer comedy. I mainly read on holiday, but I try to read a wee bit before I go to bed, even if it is half a page. However, if u keep reading half a page, then you don't follow the story at all.
Currently reading Number One Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander Mcall Smith
Recommendations - Life Of Pi, Catch-22, Discworld series
So.......what music do I like? These bands are not in order of preference! - Afro Celt Sound System, Athlete, Badly Drawn Boy, Blink 182, Blur, Chicane, Coldplay, Phil Collins, Crowded House, David Gray, Deacon Blue, Del Amitri, Delays, Des'ree, Dum Dums, Genesis, James, Billy Joel, Kings Of Convenience, Keane, Lemon Jelly, Levellers, Lightning Seeds, Lighthouse Family, Madness, Manic Street Preachers, Massive Attack, Matchbox 20, Mike and the Mechanics, Mike Oldfield, New Radicals, Oasis, Prefab Sprout, Queen, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, REM, Joe Satriani, Seal, Starsailor, Stereophonics, Slade, Sting, Train, Travis, Turin Brakes, Vertical Horizon, The Verve
That is just a really small selection of the music I like. As you can see it varies over a wide variety, but probably concentrates on Rock/Pop.
TV Shows I watch - Keep in mind these are all in Britain as I don't have access to international programming.
BBC - Blackadder, Red Dwarf, One Foot In the Grave, Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, Dad's Army, Chewing The Fat, Grandstand, Coupling, Still Game,
ITV - Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, F1 Racing, The Big Match LIVE, Survivor, the occasional Poirot is not bad
Channel 4 - Trigger Happy TV, Father Ted, Scrapheap Challenge, Big Brother, X-Fire, 6 Feet Under, Scrubs. Their documentaries are normally really good.
Sky 1 - Simpsons, Futurama, Fear Factor
British Eurosport - Whatever happens to be on is usually fairly entertaining
E4 - Big Brother Live, hooray. . . . bit it is as interesting as a goldfish's day, as they don't do ANYTHING. Least not when I'm watching. Is BB getting boring? I dunno, but it seems to get more viewers than series 2, although that was alot more interesting.
So after doing 4 years of Chemical Engineering, what would I tell all those young people who might aspire to follow my tentative footsteps? Well, the first thing I might say is be careful about how you choose your course. I couldn't actually be really bothered choosing a course. I knew I was going to Uni, I just didn't know what I was going to do. I orginally thought about Prosthetics, but my dad said the salary wasn't brilliant (job satisfaction must be pretty high though!), Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Laser Physics and Optoelectronics. Chem Eng had a nice picture of pipes against a blue sky background, and it had Chemistry, Maths, and Computing which were subjects I had done pretty well in at school. First year was ok, but after just finishing second year, I have kinda realised its alot of formulae, and numbers, and its quite dull. I tend not to learn the course until just before the exams, and only learn enough to do any assignments or coursework during the months I'm in. This is the complete opposite to how I used to be in school, but I think the older I have got, the less I can be arsed. Its quite a strange phenomenon, but everyone I know has worked less hard in second year compared to first, and the emphasis is now on passing exams, not getting 90%. To be perfectly honest, I stay with the course because I started it, and I'll finish it. Strangely enough, that's the feeling of the majority of the course! Odd.
In summation, if you like formulae and repetition, its an ok course, but if not go do something more fun!
I think I am becoming disillusioned slightly with the entire university system, as I'm now past halfway in my course, and I still haven't found any bit I really want to do as a job! Maybe I need to get some focus, but that requires more effort than I'm willing to give just now!
This was written by Mr. Laurie Mickinnon, sometime in September 2002. I won't comment on how accurate I think it is, as you can judge by yourselves, but I like it anyway! Cheers for the profile! If your reading this, and would like to write your own version, be it short or long, good or bad, send me it, and I'll try and put it up.
You, along with the rest of the world can now rate me, at this this link. Thanks to Leanne for that.
Think you know me? Take the test and find out!
This category is easiest split into 6 groups
1: Mates from Secondary School, yr of 2000 - Bonner, McB, Gibby, Fiasal, Naveed, Suji, Martin, Shao, Mellan
2: Mates from Uni (Past and Present) - Dave, David, Cat, Lisa, Steven, Jennifer, Laurie, Stuart, Brian, Frank, Leanne, Laura, Colin,
3: Mates from work - Seve, Wee James, Mari-Claire (MC), Alan, Leanne, Susan, Craig, Liam
3: Mates from France - Julien-Pierre, Pascal, Frank, Eric, Claire, Fredo, Emilie
4: The Mackinnons - Donny, Laura, Calum, Anna, Catriona, Kirsten
5: Mates From ExxonMobil Summer Vac: Dónall, Roberto, Nicola, Tom, Aoife, Richard, Luke, Hannah, Andrew
6: Girlfriend and Mates: Jan, Jill, Olivia, Lindsey, Ruth
Hello, still with me? This is what I look like. Disaster area I may be, but that's what I am :-) PS. The hat is not mine.
I recently decided to write down all the things I could think of that I wanted to do in my life or change. The list follows in no particular order
1. Learn to play the guitar - Bought my guitar around September 2001, and I can now play a variety of songs, and wrote a few of my own.
2. Travel the world - Been to Scotland, England, Wales, wee bit of Italy, Andora, Monaco, France, and even made it out to the Middle East to Qatar, and a rail trip round both Western and Eastern Europe. Next stop is Australia.
3. Learn to speak French properly - Ha. Working for Total means I HAVE to learn French!
4. Learn to paint Watercolours - Had my first go!
5. Hit a par round on a golf course - Lowest is 79 on a par 64 course
6. Do a skydive/ Bungee - Nothing accomplished
7. Do the London Marathon - Will take a bit more time for training, but it looks really cool to do, and a real challenge. You may have noticed, I like a challenge. I like the ones I can do, rather than the ones I can't. Common sense really.
8. Learn T'ai Chi - Looks cool, but nothing done yet
9. Get a high paid job - Working as a Graduate Safety Engineer for Total and lots of Oil Rig visits. Danger Money!!!
10. Live in a house with a pool, in France - One day, one day
11. Fall in love - Looks promising
12. Get good at debating - I'm fairly bad at the mo. My main tactic is to just keep arguing until the other person gets pissed off and goes away.
13. Try new sports/foods/experiences - Done some of this
14. Learn to drive/fly - Happily failed my test thrice, but in a miraculous change of luck passed on the 4th! You can find out how I failed in the Guides section. I now terrorise South Glasgow in my Getz.
15. Save a life - It was a spur of the moment thing. Pulled a woman off a bridge, not a bad effort!
16. Build a decent website - This is a small effort, maybe with a bit more time....
17. Learn to be a better person - An ongoing challenge
18. Learn to be less critical of myself and others - I'm a virgo; it's HARD ;)
19. Learn to look at possible consequences of my actions - Stop putting my foot in it
20. Get angry instead of withdrawn - Having some fun here. If anyone is at all shy I challenge them to work in Larkfield Stores for a week and see if they notice any difference.
21. Learn to make achievable wants- So much work to do here ;-)
