It' my Birthday today and I'm 47. Here's 47 things you might not know about me!

1. I have three favourite bars of chocolate, Bournville, Galaxy and Lindt Milk Extra creamy

2. I have two sisters – one older, one younger – both teachers (I was the disappointment)

3. My kids are allergic to dairy, egg and nuts, so I am a dab hand at baking a birthday cake without those ingredients.

4. I am from Middlesbrough and despite living in lots of different places, I live in Middlesbrough again now and even with all of it’s problems I love the town and its people so much.

5. I love to eat ham and ready salted crisp sandwiches in white bread.

6. I lived in London for a time and celebrated the millennium, watching the fireworks, drinking warm champagne in a light drizzle on London Bridge.

7. Boston is my absolute favourite city in the world and it’s the only place I would ever consider moving to.

8. Barcelona used to be my favourite city in the world.

9. My favourite colour is Blue

10. I have Lymphedema, I have it in my elephant leg as I like to call it, so it would be very unusual for anyone but my wife to see me in a pair of shorts. 

11. I did accountancy and marketing at University and yet it took me six attempts to get my GCSE Math’s at grade C.

12. I met my wife when I was 18 and she was 17 at sixth form college and we have been together (often in different places) ever since. (A life sentence)

13. I have 2 children both girls, both with amazing singing voices – they don’t take after me.

14. I love and am obsessed with the Ukulele.

15. My first job was setting up a deli counter and selling cheese in Littlewoods food hall.

16. At school, in my careers choices my ideal job was marine biologist, I like dolphins!

17.  I love my facebook group ‘In Cahoots with Phil’, it’s for business owners and one of the most fulfilling things I do.

18. I want to write novels. I’ve got two in my head, and I like them. But they don’t have “happily ever after” endings, so I don’t know if that’s okay or not.

19. I am an introvert and often quite shy in networking situations – however if you stand me on a stage and ask me to train or speak to 500 people I absolutely love it.

20. I have written a business book called ‘In Cahoots’ which you will be able to buy very soon.

21. I love to draw cartoons.

22. I love to watch cartoons, and I forced my youngest daughter to love and to watch He-Man.

23. I can eat without looking.

24. Cheese is my favourite food, but until I worked on the cheese counter in Littlewoods I had only ever tasted Red Leicester. I judged the people who bought processed cheese!

25. I’m a terrible decorator.

26. I operate best on five hours sleep a night. Any less and I can’t function and any more and I can’t function.

27. I used to have a static Caravan in the Lake District and I absolutely love that area.

28. My dog died this year, but I was absolutely besotted with him. I hate all other dogs.

29. My favourite programmes are Friends (I can watch it continuously) and the Inbetweeners – both make me laugh out loud.

30. I’ve been to the USA 6 times in the last three years – Once to San Diego, Once to New York and four times to Boston. I would choose Boston everytime.

31. When I was 18 myself and my wife went to Skopelos in Greece – it is my idea of Heaven on Earth. Its where they filmed Mama Mia.

32. My biggest fear is heights. I could speak in public all day and it wouldn’t bother me at all. But I still have to breathe deeply when I pass the stair rail on my top floor of my house.

33. I absolutely love working with businesses and it is my dream job. I think I am good at it and I love to see what those businesses become.

34. I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 28, since I lived and worked in London and no one drove. 

35.  Going for Growth moving to both face to face and Digital Delivery during the Corona Virus pandemic has made me so proud of all we can achieve as a company.

36. The thing I have been most proud of over the last 13 years has been the design and delivery of our Inspiration USA Programme. It delivered better in real life, than I even imagined when I wrote and tested it. The group that went have become not just learners but lifelong friends. 

37. I was forced by my mother to do ballroom dancing as a child, I’ve got lots of medals and childhood trauma as a result of it, whenever the music to Strictly comes on I twitch.

38. I absolutely hate football – probably a result of the Ballroom dancing!!

39. My best friend is my business partner in our recruitment business, Collins Stirling – it makes for funny business conversations that range between which Insurance companies we are working with to how the kids (either of ours) have done, been or are up to something. 

40. I went to University in Bradford and lived as a  student with a Countdown Champion of Champions – she also was responsible for knitting Gyles Brandreth’s jumpers.

41. I love going to the theatre, plays or musicals. My favourite play is Shirley Valentine, my favourite musical is Hamilton.

42. I went to Beechwood school in Middlesbrough for primary – a school in an area categorised as deprived and yet I never felt deprived, I felt lavished with attention and educationally stimulated every single day. Looking back I can now see how hard things must have been for those teachers – all of which were truly inspirational – everything I have ever achieved I put down to the amazing grounding I received at Beechwood.

43. I had no male influence growing up, I was surrounded by strong women – it means I know nothing about football but if you want to know which shop to buy something in, I’m your man.

44. I'm an ENFP (if you like the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator). It means I’m a Champion, CEO, know-it-all, executive type person.

45. I’m a political junkie. I love to watch politics and learn about the world but I say too many stupid things to ever consider being a politician, I’d last a week.

46. I’m very loyal. I like people and I’m a friend for life, even if I haven’t seen you for twenty years, you will still be my friend.

47. I think I and my business have the abilty to help any business grow and sustain. I meet anyone for a tea and a chat. I prefer tea to coffee – but I don’t judge coffee lovers!

It’s been great (over) sharing with you.

Phil