Who is ‘The Yorkshire Dad’?
Well, that would be me, Dave. So what about me?
I live in rural North Yorkshire with my wife, Helen, our four daughters (yes, I said FOUR daughters!) ranging from age 11 to 18, our two Labrador dogs, two cats and Martin the Hamster.
This blog, or an incarnation of it, has been around for quite some years. But I’ve found particular joy in the cathartic process of writing. It’s an outlet for my thoughts on parenting, current affairs, running, sport, anything really and I will often attempt to link what I am waffling on about back to being a parent.
A Bit About Me
I am a social media serial sharer. It’s rare that a day goes by without at least one new photo on Instagram or a story sequence. I’m also pretty active on Twitter if you fancy looking at what I do there.
As a child of the 80s and with three older sisters, that means I have more than a passing appreciation for 80s music. I am though, a man of eclectic musical taste (some might say random, others would say rubbish). If you follow me on Instagram you’ll likely see me lip-synching (badly) to 80s songs quite often.
Until 2014 I had lived my whole life in West Yorkshire but a job opportunity came up and I moved the whole family to North Yorkshire. We live in a small market town on the edge of the North York Moors national park – it’s the kind of place where you have to travel to see civilisation!
My day job is working in IT for a manufacturing company based in North Wales, so I get to travel to Snowdonia quite often.
As a lover of running and cooking – those are two things you are guaranteed to see on this blog. I am at my happiest when outdoors, be it in the woods somewhere, on the side of a mountain or getting salty by the seaside. I also have rheumatoid arthritis so that get’s mentioned too. Otherwise, it’s the life of a busy dad of 4 and husband to one!
Running with Arthritis
I have been a runner since 2011 when, at the age of 31, I somehow turned walking our dog into running with our dog. It wasn’t the most conscious of lifestyle decisions but it’s one that I am glad I made.
Running is a passion and something I hold very dear. I don’t enter many events but I have run two marathons so far; Blackpool in 2017 and Yorkshire (York) in 2021.
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in late 2015 and started my treatment with methotrexate in early 2016. Running and arthritis would, at first thought, not seem to go together – but I make it work. So far RA has not affected my legs so I have been able to continue running – and long may that continue.
I am a supporter of the charity VERSUS ARTHRITIS and have raised money for them with my last couple of challenges.
If you would like to work with The Yorkshire Dad of 4 then please check out the Work With Me page.