During his working life Richard was involved in projects around the world in a wide variety of industries. In his so-called leisure time he built houses, restored classic cars and made furniture, model planes and boats.An engineer by training, a realist by experience and a poet by accident – an event needing a few nights in hospital with too much time to think. The result was his first poem in many years – ‘Side Room Four’ (see page 34). He was pleased to go in horizontal and come out vertical.The remainder of this collection has been produced sporadically as the muse struck. He hopes that his offerings will provide some light relief in a troubled world.