Away from my studies, I still like to keep busy.

Music

I've been playing the clarinet from an early age. Whilst at secondary school I took up the alto saxophone alongside my clarinet studies and was involved with the school orchestra playing both instruments (not at the same time, obviously!). In order to carry on to the higher grades in music I needed to pass my theory exam, which I passed with Merit during my GCSEs. Saxophone exams were put on the back-burner (I passed my Grade 5 during my GCSEs) as I chose to concentrate on my clarinet playing during university. I passed my Grade 8 (the highest grade) during my final year of my BSc. Now I plan to pursue Grade 8 in saxophone.

I picked up the drums during my MSc, and have just started learning to play the guitar. Both are challenging in their own ways. I have other instruments on my 'to learn' list, and I hope to keep playing as long as I can.

Art

My family always joked that I was born with a pencil in my hand, as I was always drawing. In fact, my first main career dream was to be an artist before I discovered the wonders of science. Today I mainly paint using acrylics, and recently watercolours, when I don't suffer from artist's block.

Jewellery making

I've been making jewellery since I started my undergraduate, as I found it a method of de-stressing when revising for my exams. My brother is an accomplished jeweller, with his own shop and workshop where he can create his designs, so I guess it's in the genes! However, my brother mainly works in gold- and silver-smithing, whereas I mainly work with glass and beads. I now have my own shop set up on Etsy, and accept commissions. In 2009 I was also included in a leading UK jewellery making magazine! Over the past couple of years I have attended various lampworking courses, where you make glass beads using a very hot flame. Below are some of the results:

I now have my own lampworking studio in my back garden.

Pole dancing

Another hobby of mine is pole dancing: I've been a part of Warwick Pole Dance Society since 2007 and have performed for the society on various occasions. I find it an excellent way to keep fit, as it's much more fun than the gym. I was elected to be part of the Dance Exec for 2009/2010, and find it thrilling to meet new people and teach them a new move.

Performing at SPLAT 2009 - this particular move is called 'The Vamp'. This performance was particularly nervewracking: it was during rare spell of warm weather, and the pole was incredibly slippery - it literally had to be iced down between performances.

Recently, I have taken up Aerial Silks, a form of acrobatics:

Not as easy as it looks!

Other stuff

On the rare occasions I find myself at a loose end I like doing outdoorsy stuff: walking, hiking and kayaking mainly. I also love to travel, and there are many places on my list to see - too many to count. I believe the list gets longer every year, to the point where I'll either grow old or run out of money before I get to the bottom of the list. Photography is also an amateur hobby of mine, which usually comes alive during holidays. My photos are submitted to a gallery on National Geographic for peer-review (and criticism).