Well this entry is a special one as I have a business man who is affiliated with Maidstone United F.C!  Come on you Stones!!!

His name, Terry Casey, 61 years of age from Maidstone.

Terry is currently a company director but most of his time is consumed with his extensive work for a charity he operates in Ethiopia.  So good to hear of a Kent resident giving something good to the world. When not involved in his charity work, Terry is heavily involved in with the current construction of the new Maidstone United stadium in Maidstone.  Finally the Stones' are coming home and their is a lot of buzz from the people of Kent to see their local team return where they belong after spells in Ashford and Sittingbourne.

Terry does not have much spare time aside from that so understandably he could not comment further on my 'what do you do in your spare time' question.

An interesting fact that I have found out about Kent is that Leeds Castle is sometimes referred to as Ladies’ Castle. The reason being because many Queens of England have lived there Eleanor of Castile Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife and even his daughter Elizabeth all have lived in the castle.  Did you know that?  Well you do now!

Terry does not eat out in Kent very much but instead prefers to eat out in London.  If you want a good place to eat in the capital, I personally recommend you try the Texas Embassy Cantina near Trafalgar Square.  This place does awesome Mexican food and superb strawberry margaritas.

When asked to supply me with a story that summed him up, Terry responded "My character should be summed up by others, not by me."  This is one of the most intriguing answers I have ever received and Terry is right.  Others should decide on our characters, it is not for us to decide what we think we are.

Terry is closely associated with his Irish roots as opposed to his Kentish background and I respect that he could be honest and say that to me.  It all to easy for people to just make up a sentence for me to publish about Kent but if they are truly more associated with other places than its better to be honest about it.

And now for my random question, If you could take on the life of any person, past or present, who would it be and why?  Terry again gave me another interesting answer.

"I am very happy with myself"

A very good answer, if you are not happy with yourself than you wouldn't be happy being anyone else.

A big thank you to Terry and my very best luck to him and the Maidstone United team for the final stages of the stadium development.  I can't wait to see them in action at home!

Keeps those eyes peeled for more interviews, you never know it could be you next!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

I'm back again for another fantastic interview.  Where do these people hide in Kent?

This week's special guest on my blog is the wonderfully truthful and exceptionally brave Sian Murphy, 48 from Hoo near Rochester, Medway.

Although the picture is quite clear, Sian would like to reiterate that she is a woman as her name is sometimes confused with Sean.  Don't worry Sian, they will never make that mistake.

Currently, Sian runs her own business, Stormchasers, with her husband Mark.  In conjunction with her work at Stormchasers, Sian works with 2 other professional to make up The Ruby Marketers.

If you are wondering exactly what the company is, I will tell you!  The company specialises in helping local business owners who are computer illiterate or did not have the priviledge of using a laptop when they were younger to market their business online.  The range of services they offer is so vast which can start from setting up a Business Blog for a business to setting up social media profiles and as Sian puts it 'Give them the confidence and know-how to start using it.'

If that wasn't already enough, Stormchaser is branching out in another field of their business.

'Another part of my business is run by my husband Mark and he builds starter websites for businesses as part of Stormchasers at AskStormchasers.'

I was intrigued to find out more and did a bit of 'Googling' and came across an interesting article on the following website:

http://leavingthearmedforces.com/stormchasers/

I found a great quote on this website which described Stormchasers as a business that  'Is about leaping forwards into the storm, and coming back out the other side into a brighter and calmer world.'

I think this is a great acknowledgement of Sian and Mark's hard work.

And for any potential new and bright minds that want to begin their own business, take this advice from Sian.  'My tip for setting up in business is to give it time.  Work out how long it will take you to get it all up and running and get work finished - and then double it!'

'Set goals and then plan how you are going to achieve them and don't give up too soon, but be prepared to bend and sway as things change.  Smile, laugh, share and have 1 full day off each week.'

Wise words and I think, sensible advice for new business minds in the making.  Thanks Sian!

Moving on to Kentish matters, Sian likes the diversity of the landscape in Kent.  'We have rolling countryside, inland waterways, estuary shorelines and seaside all within a 70 mile radius.  To top it all off we also have some fascinating industrial areas with some really unexpected hidden treasures.'

Sian particularly like Hoo Church Cemetery.  Before you feel a shiver go down your spine, listen to the reason.  'A bit odd I know but unlike so many graveyards, Hoo is full of life.  Despite the age of many of the gravestones, there are flowers and shiny windmills, some truly wonderful trees to sit under when it's raining and some well placed benches for when the sun is out.  There are often children playing or just hanging out in their hoodies chatting to each other, whilst other villagers walk their dogs.  It's the happiest graveyard I've ever been to!'

Maybe I could have saved this for Halloween but I think it is great to hear something out the ordinary in an ordinary day in our lives.  Plus, I have never heard someone describe a graveyard in detail without using the words 'depressing' and 'upsetting' before.

As you know, my avid readers, as of 2011 I introduced a new question to my blog in which my interviewees tell me a specific fact or snippet of information about our beloved county.  Sian had a really interesting and historical one this week!

'One day I'm going to walk the Saxon Shore Way.' Sian begins. ' The Shore Way follows the line of historic fortifications that defended the Kent coast at the end of the Roman era.  The Shore Way is 160 miles long and starts from Gravesend and goes right the way around to Hasting, East Sussex.'

'There's lots to see along the way from ports, coastline and stunning countryside and of course that sense of history that walking along an ancient footpath - following along in the footstep of goodness know who always amuses me.'

Further to Sian's comments about the Saxon Shore Way, there are also four Roman fort remains, dating from the 4th Century that line the trail.  The only one I am familiar with is the one in Dover.  Kent is very rich in history but it is always great to learn about new things that different Kent residents know from their own experiences.

One of my favourite parts of the blog is eating spots! 

Sian enjoys eating at two pubs in Kent, namely The Ringlestone Inn and The Pier at Upnor, Rochester.  'I like them because the food is good and so is the atmosphere.  We also like to take a little picnic along the shoreline at Hoo every now and then.' 

You can't beat a Ham and Colman's Mustard sandwich, a bag of kettle crisps and a healthy slice of Chocolate Fudge cake! Delicious.

When not working, Sian enjoys cooking and eating meal with the family with a good bottle of wine, which she finds is her 'favourite pastime.'

This is followed by watching a movie whilst nodding off on the sofa.  A pastime of many in Kent I assume.

But there is more!  'When Mark and I are on our own, we enjoy walking and can often be spotted meandering mindlessly around the haunts of Hoo with nowhere in particular to go.'

'I also make rag rugs from old clothes and cloth, mainly for decorative purposes.'

My blog now enters a more serious tone that I believe needs delicate and careful attention as I am writing it.  Normally, I take great delight in listening to my interviewees explaining a humourous story to me about themselves, whether it be of them waking up semi nude on a beach after an initiation ceremony at University or walking into walls for no apparent reason.

Sian tells me a story that she is currently closing in her life at the moment.  One that has me wanting to stand up and applaud her bravery and courage to be able to tell a volunteer bloggist she has never met a very close and personal chapter of her life which I greatly appreciate and hope you find I have describe in a way that is befitting to you.

'2 years ago Mark and I used to have jobs.  I worked in local Government and Mark was a Project Manager.  We were both unhappy with our jobs and spent years talking about leaving and starting our own business.  I'd already trained as an NLP (forgive me if I'm wrong - Neurolinguistic Programming) practitioner and copywriter but unfortunately we didn't plan properly and then in

2009 found ourselves so stressed and miserable that we just decided to hand in our notice and quit.'

So, on 1st August 2009 there we were with no salaries, but some rather grand business plans.  On 17th August, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  That stopped us in our tracks for a while.'

'It's now 2 years later and whilst I'm still on medication, our business is finally taking off after lots of false starts.  I could write a whole book on false starts but we have learned so much.'

'It sounds odd but whilst it might seem like the worst possible time to get cancer, in fact it was the best and it might even have been a lifesaver.  Had I been diagnosed whilst I was still at work I think I never would have left because of the security around the sick pay.  If I wasn't diagnosed just 2 weeks after we both left our jobs we would have just transferred our hectic lifestyles from jobs to businesses.  It would have been the same except now we wouldn't have been receiving monthly pay cheques!'

'Today we've both learned the lesson that money isn't that important, although of course that is also now our challenge because when you are in business you have to value money to some extent or you don't earn any of the damn stuff!'

'We also say thank you got what we do have instead of moaning about what we don't and we really do have so much.  Today we are working with some fabulous people the universe has sent us the perfect business partners and associates.  Our offices are up at the Innovation Centre and we have the most amazing fun.  It's all the good stuff about being at work in an office such as being around friends and having someone to share your triumphs and challenges, but without all of the grim stuff of having to dance to someone else's tune.'

As upbeat as ever, Sian claims ' We're having a ball!'

Now one of my favourite parts of the blog where my interviewees put the world to rights with their opinions on how to make Kent a better place.

"I would get planners in Medway to either change or introduce a required ratio of concrete to plants and greenery in the large housing development that are springing up around Hoo.  Many of the houses open directly onto the street, there are no gardens to speak of and the roads are so narrow they are like little brick tunnels.'

Sian likes to see 'a bit of green' when she looks out the window and whilst she doesn't live a development house, it still forms part of the landscape.

'Given that these estates have replaced fields, it would seem ecologically important at least to give a cursory nod to keeping some greenery around!'

I totally agree with that point and think that planners and developers should look closely at where they are building and how it will affect the local surrounding for both the locals and the wildlife.

So we come to my random question of the week and this one is a really good one!

If you could become any person in the world for one day, who would you become and why?

'I tried so hard to think of someone who wasn't too obvious but I couldn't, so I plumped for Oprah Winfrey, a bit of a cliche I know.'

'I chose Oprah because I want to know how it feels to be her.  She had a difficult childhood, dealt with racism and has overcome so much to get where she is.  She has such a clear vision about her life, that I want to know how that feels so I can recreate it for myself.

Well, this has been one of my most intense blogs yet, with highs and lows, cheerful quips and serious tones but overall I have enjoyed writing this one very much.  I hope Sian receives the recognition she deserves, not just through this blog but through the business world too.

Sian - my very best wishes for your future and a speedy recovery and I hope your business will continue to bloom!

So that's it for another week folks! (No Looney Tunes pun intended) but check in again soon for my newest interviewee.  Who knows, it could even be you!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Well I return with a great interviewee this week, one who was mistaken for a popstar if you can believe it.

But we will get to that later.

This is Matthew Webster, 27 from our very own County Town of Kent, Maidstone!

So Matt is his name and Account Management is his game (Occupation for all those who are not up to date with their rhyming slangs).

As always, I like to find out what my interviewees like about Kent and this is what Matt had to say.

"I like the people, the places and the general atmosphere of Kent."

To expand on what Matt has said, he likes having a game of football with his mates, shortly followed by a cold pint or 10 down the Albion and the elegant banter with other fans about who is the greatest footballing side in England.  We both know it is Manchester United but he lets them stress their point on why the other teams are worthy of competing against United before casually turning to them and singing "He scores goals galore, he scores goals, he scores goals galore, he scores goals, he scores goals galore, he scores goals, Paul Scholes, he scores goals."

A fitting tribute to one of the greatest English Midfielders of modern day football and also a great way of sticking it to the other football fans.

Since the beginning of 2011, I have introduced a new question which is designed to find out what the people of Kent really know about their County and to see if they can inform others in Kent of interesting facts or pieces of information that are not well known.

"Kent is the most populous County in the UK." Matt said "Over 1.6 million people reside in Kent."

I found this to be a very interesting fact as I thought Greater London and the Northern Counties such as Lancashire had bigger populations so thanks Matt.

Matt's favourite eating spot is Buenos Aires in Maidstone which he describes as "The best steak in the county."

In his free time, Matt likes to compete in various sports such as Football, Squash and Tennis.  Equally, he does enjoy going to the Cinema, eating out at a range of eating spots and socialising with his friends.

So the part you have been waiting for, the mistaken identity of a popstar.  I let Matt fill in the rest.

"I was once spotted by a young woman who worked in the Bowling Alley in Maidstone who thought I was Danny from Mcfly.  I played along temporarily before confessing.  It was a long time ago."

Looking at the picture above, I think this woman was either crazy or blind because I see no resemblance.  Sorry Matt!

As always, it is important for me to find out my interviewees thoughts on how to improve the county.

"I think the county could have some bigger gigs / festivals.  We have the space for it and I think it could be a big money spinner for the county.  We have a picturesque county so we should utilise it.  I'd certainly go..."

Again this suggestion has come up and I think it is about time that we did start using the facilities available in Kent to cater to the entire population.  Often there are events held that are in the interest of a small majority of people which is a waste of public money and inconsiderate to the rest of the residents in Kent.

And now for my random question of the week: If you could travel to any planet in the Solar System, which one would it be and why?

"I think it would be Jupiter.  I liked the song by Train and it looks cool.  Mysterious."

A good choice!

So another Kentish resident has given me their views and opinions on our county and as always I would like to extend my thanks to Matt, my interviewee, for his time.

I will post again soon so who knows, it could be you next!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Read more: http://blogs.kentonline.co.uk/author/Dan+Millen.aspx#ixzz1SJYJTrvX

Well, 2011 has been a busy one and my blog has suffered. I apologise for not keeping up with it but now I am back and so is my next interviewee.

This is Gabriela Margarita Houlgraves or 'Gabby', 34 from Sittingbourne.  Gabby works as a Customer Support Assistant at Maidstone Library.

Our beloved county is the reason I write this blog.  It is the best!

Gabby loves our county to because it is 'so green!'

"This surprises a lot of the people here when I say it.  You all [Kent residents] think it's very, very urbanised, but I just look at the vast fields and meadows.  Always so close and forests everywhere, and think 'Dude, this is the Shire!"

As you can tell from the last part of that quote, Gabby is a Lord of the Rings fan. Everyone needs to have a hobbit!

As part of my 2011 revamp, I have added a question to all my new interviewees which has been instated to find out if the people of Kent have interesting facts or information to share with me.  I always like to learn new things about Kent!

Gabby has selected to inform us about the history of Dover Castle, commissioned to be built by Henry II in the 12th century.

"The tunnels were first dug for the Napoleonic Wars, and then used as a command centre for Operation Dynamo which was the operation set up for rescuing soldiers from Dunkirk.  This is all well known."

This can be found on the English National Heritage website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk

What was more intriguing was what Gabby relayed next.

"There was also a lower level call 'Dumpy' which was the command centre during the Cold War and it was going to be opened to the public after the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act made it legal to do so.  But English Heritage went under there and found a lot of subsidence and were not as sturdy as the Napoleonic ones and also left in a hurry when the level got decommissioned, so they're not structurally sound. Lovely chalk!"

"And that is why the public won't be allowed down there!"

Gabby feels it is a shame as she would love to go down there and see them.  I would love to see it as well, it sounds fascinating.

We moved on to one of my favourite subjects: FOOD!

Gabby likes to dine at Maggie's cafe on Week Street.  I agree Maggie, whoever she is, does a blinding fried breakfast!

"The wholemeal baguettes and fillings are wonderful, not to mention the salads, the chilli, the cakes and pastries (all home-made) and the staff are the friendliest in town."

Also, Gab enjoys eating at Kitsu, a Tunbridge Wells based place that has, in her words 'The best sushi and teriyaki beef I've ever had."

Equally, Gabby likes an Indian at the Royal Tandoori in Chatham, traditional chips from a chippy in Lenham and her favourite pub is the Ringlestone nr Harrietsham.

We definitely have something in common here!

I always like to be a little bit nosey and find out what my interviewees get up to in their free time.  It feels like I can relate to them if they have something in common with me (in addition to food of course).

"Reading, reading, reading. I can't get enough of books!" Gabby says. "Guess it's lucky I work in a library!"

"I also love visiting English Heritage sites, you see something new every time.  And spending time with family and friends.  Nothing beats a house full of the people you love, all having fun and laughing, sharing life and food & drink."

I think Gabby is a great person, who lives life to the full.  That's the kind of people we need more of in this county to keep up its awesomeness.

This is always my favourite part of the interview: hearing a short story that sums the interviewee up.  I have heard some whoppers since I have been writing this blog - waking up half naked on a beach, buying items such as a bouncy castle on impulse, walking into walls or buying 'Chillis' when you are supposed to buy 'Jelly'.

"I was born in Puerto Rico (in the Caribbean), and I moved to New Orleans to my master's degree.  I still miss New Orleans, every day I'm not there, though I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world but here, in Kent."

That's what I like to hear!

"My first apartment burnt down, soon thereafter, I met Mark (now my husband- he's English, of course), and moved into a lovely shotgun house in New Orleans (For all who are not familiar, it is a narrow, rectangular building)."

"Mark and I got engaged, and i started getting my paperwork for the visa to come here to live and get married. There was a rumour that someone burned down their house near my house to collect the insurance money. The whole block of houses, including mine, burnt down.  I barely had time to grab my cat and laptop and run out of the house.  When I came back to see what was left, almost everything was burnt, except my visa papers and my winter clothes, and a crocheted Afghan my gran had sent me from Puerto Rico."

I want it noted now that Gabby has done fantastically to bounce back from this ordeal where others probably would have rolled over and given up.

"I took that as a sign from God and the Universe that I needed to go with my heart, to Mark and England.  And I didn't look back."

"Do I miss my family and friends from the other side of the Atlantic?  Oh yes!"

"Would I change anything? Not really. I only wish I'd met Mark before so we could have stated our life together sooner and that I had the power to teleport so I could visit my gran and my friends as often as I liked."

What a great story with both highs and lows but an overall outcome that is justly deserved.

It is always important to evolve and progress over time. That is true in both people, nature and our much loved county.  Gabby has some interesting suggestions on how to achieve this.

"I think we should have a better public transport network and it should be more realistically priced, so that people are seen to be quite foolish to take their cars out.  

I agree as I walk every where and think they should pump more money into transportation.

"If the buses and trains took us to where we wanted to go, frequently and cheaply enough, I swear people would give up cars quicker than you can say 'petrol'.  This is particularly true for people in rural locations, who are often quite isolated if they don't have a car.  But even between town centres, the service provision seems almost random!"

I think Gabby talks absolute sense and is valid in that our services are at times extortionate and something needs to be done to preserve the environment for the future generations.

And now to the finale.  My random question of the week.

You hear the four minute warning, you know it will only take you 10 seconds to get into a safe place, what would you do with the other 3 minutes and 50 seconds?

"That's a hash one!  Wow. I wasn't expecting that."

I like this reaction as it is meant to be surprising and awkward to answer.  It is my unique thing!

"I am close to Mark and Sebastian (my son) so I can make sure they're safe with me but even if not, the same applies.  Get as many people as I can into the safe place, hold them close and send a prayer up for the rest of my loved ones and the world!"

Sounds depressing but a nice answer and a good way to round off this sensational lady's interview.

Thank you Gabby for your time and I wish you all the best for the future. This interview has been a pleasure!

Well that's all folks for this week, check in again soon to see who will be my next victi... interviewee!

This March blog is all about Guess Who?

An American Woman, namely Jessica Lynn Young, 26 from San Jose, California  USA.

Jessica may be a US citizen and not a Kent resident but she has a very special tie in Maidstone which has made her visit our beautiful county at least twice a year for the last two years.

I am that said special tie (If I do say so myself).

Jess has spent the past 3 months in Maidstone with me and asked if I would interview her.  I know that she is not a citizen of our county but I thought it would be a very interesting twist to see what an outsider would think.  It's good English - American relations as well.

Despite spending the previous two years studying towards her California Teaching Degree, Jess thought that taking time out to reconsider her options was a good idea.  An idea I totally support.  I believe and always will believe that you need to follow what you know is right and do what makes you happy.  That is why I write this blog, it enables me to do something I love.

Although Jess has not ventured out of Maidstone as much as she would like to discover more in our county, she is still extremely complimentary of Kent and it's people.

"I can say that I find Kent a very charming place compared to various areas in America. While my country has its own history and beauty, Kent's history goes much farther back and with that comes a unique feeling and appearance. I adore the old buildings: the churches, the castles and the roads made from cobblestones."

But her appraisal of Kent doesn't stop there and why should it. Kent rocks!

"Of course, there is also the beauty of the countryside and gardens and of course the proximity to London but everyone seems to say that so I don't want to make anyone have to read that again. Although I suppose I just did make everyone read it again." She laughs.

For 2011, I have added a new part to my blog which helps Kent's reputation grow and gives the interviewee a chance to boast about all things Kentish. I want to know as many facts or specific pieces of information that are interesting about the county.

"I don't live here so I think I would benefit more from others telling me facts or information about Kent as opposed to the vice-versa.  Off the top of my head though, I know that Kent is named 'The Garden of England' and I know some of the history surrounding the White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury.  I also love Leeds Castle and the cool fact the Henry VIII visited there."

She would love to know more about Kent and has specific parts she would like to learn about.

"I would love to learn more about the history of the county but more specifically, I would love to find out why Maidstone is called Maidstone because no one seems to know!"

A very good question.  I will try to find out and post it on the blog as part of my new: Interesting fact about Kent of the week!  Don't worry, it is not replacing the random question of the week.

I try to take Jess to as many nice places for food as I can and of the ones I have taken her to for meals, she prefers our snack spot.

"I am a big fan of the Cornish Kitchen on Week Street, Maidstone. I don't pretend to be a great fan of traditional English food but once I was introduced to pasties, I was immediately hooked.  I am perfectly happy sitting eating a pasty.  They are warm and filling which is good for something that is relatively cheap."

That would be pastry!  It's so good.

When I have time off work, Jess and I like to travel and Jess explained to me what she loved doing in our free time together.

"During my time in England I have been lucky enough to visit London and Old Trafford, Manchester, Hastings, Bath, Cambridge and Stonehenge.  In Kent I have been to Canterbury, Dover, Leeds Castle and Tunbridge Wells.  Outside of England, I have travelled to Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Greece and Egypt.  At home, I have been all over California and other parts of the US."

Lucky lady, her boyfriend must really love her!

"On a more everyday basis, I like to watch movies and go on walks.  Additionally, I like spending time with my family and friends."

Now for a story that sums Jess up, this one is perfect.  Yet at the same time, it was a shared experience with moi that will stay with me until I die.  It was the moment in my life that I have been the most terrified and I think Jess handled herself much better than I did.

In Jess' words "This story shows how unlucky yet comical events seem to follow me around.  In 2009, I went to Yosemite National Park with my boyfriend.  We stayed in a tent cabin which is basically a simple, wooden frame covered in a canvas.  Reviews on a website said that bears were frequent visitors to the camp site but that information really didn't bother me because I had seen bears before."

I pretended not too be either but I was bricking it.

"Our first night we almost walked straight into an approaching bear." As the bloggist, I would like to correct my girlfriend by saying she was walking obliviously into a bear as I pulled her away.

"We were told to keep anything scented in our bear proof locker [a green steel box that is used to store all food, scented items and anything a bear may want]. We had to put everything in there down to my cherry chapstick."

I kiss a girl and I liked it!  Couldn't resist.

"I am very well organised and I was sure nothing with a scent would be left in our tent cabin.  Our last night turned out very differently than expected.  I was fast asleep in the early hours of the morning when I woke to the sound of something plastic crunching outside.  I thought nothing of it then heard something brush against the canvas starting to tear it."   

"I convinced myself that it was just someone out late walking by our tent cabin but then it happened... a loud grunting noise and I immediately knew that it was a bear.  I started poking my boyfriend and told him there was a bear outside just before it got even worse.  The wooden frame supporting the edge of the cabin began to break open under force and the canvas ripped louder than previously."

"The bear was breaking into our tent cabin!  I have never been so scared in my entire life.  Despite him being scared, my boyfriend is a quick thinker and grabbed our flashlight with a siren on it." 

Note to all Yosemite Campers - A siren or loud noise will scare a bear away

"We stood in our tent cabin in fear and I frantically looked around for a reason why a bear would want to get in.  I knew everything was locked away in the locker.  Then I saw it... the day before I had bought a magazine from the general store and guess what was in the magazine - a perfume sample!  I couldn't believe it."

"I know that was the reason but i'm mystified why the people working at the general store did not warn us about perfume samples possibly attracting bears."

"I think what was more terrifying was that the ranger told us that the bear was waiting outside when we ran out to their office after the attack in the middle of the night.  By morning, we saw the damage which was a huge hole.  It was frightening at the time but when I think back on it, I find it a very funny story to tell people." 

"I will never live down that it was my fault that the bear tried to kill us and this is probably just another reason why I have been nicknamed 'The Jinx'."

Hearing the story again... I just can't bear it!

Besides praising Kent, Jess can see like everyone where there is room for improvement.

"While I love Maidstone, I am used to living in a big city.  I think Maidstone would benefit more from shops staying open late as The Mall closes early here.  People could have time to come home from work then go out shopping late if they wanted to.  Maidstone could use more ethnic restaurants aside from Chinese and Indian.  This would create a wider variety of food options.  Options such as Persian, Japanese, Vietnamese and especially Mexican food, my favourite!  I really think people in Kent would come to appreciate and enjoy this food."

Since visiting America, I have been fortunate enough to try to these foods and I must say, I would love to have them here with us in Kent!

Jess had expressed herself for long enough so I thought I would relieve her quickly and ask my random question of the week:

If money was not an issue, what would be your ideal purchase and why?

"My ideal purchase would be my own private jet with an unlimited and free supply of fuel."

Oh god think of the Ozone Layer Jess, although she does have good reasons!

"It is very difficult to be in a long distance relationship and very expensive too.  Buying plane tickets constantly is very costly so it would be lovely to be able to hop on my own jet whenever I wanted to fly back and forth between California and England.  Just think how great it would be to hop on a jet anytime I wanted and to be with this great bloggist [Sorry, could not resist] within 10 hours.  It would also be nice to be able to fly family and friends back and forth so no one is ever missed."

A very nice purchase Jess but my ideal purchase would be a green card.  Much cheaper than a jet and we could be together all the time!

I would like to give a very special thank you to my wonderful and supportive girlfriend this week for assisting me with another Kent blog.  She always gives me positive opinions on my work and without her, I would not have a reason for pursuing my dream of becoming a respected writer.

2011 is going to be a great year so I hope you can share it with me by becoming my next interviewee.

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Well, now the Christmas period is over and the ice and snow are finally melting, I can get back to interviewing you fine people of Kent.

This is Mark Wickens, 25 from Maidstone.

Mark is an Airline Pilot and has spent time abroad training.

In his free time he enjoys visiting the gym and most recently Horse Racing.

"This is largely down to my brother who is an avid fan."

Unfortunately he is also a big Arsenal fan so rightly he receives a ribbing from his mates about their weekly performance.  What must be more sickening is that their London rivals Tottenham have notched up a victory against them, meaning one of Mark's Spurs supporting mates has bragging rights.

Kent, in Mark's opinion, is in a good location and is far away enough from major cities for it to be a calm place.

"Kent is relatively quiet and tranquil but equally there is lots to see and do in the vicinity should you want to make the short trip from home."

Again, like Katie a few weeks ago, Mark has selected a Bearsted eating spot as his first choice when eating out.

"I am a fan of The Oak on the Green.  The food is all freshly cooked and very tasty."

In his free time he claims not to be a film buff but after reading his quote, I would question it.

"I am slightly ashamed to admit that I have not been to the cinema for about 4 years. However, I really liked the original Matrix and Closer. I also enjoy a bit of James Bond (don't we all).  I've also seen Top Gun more times than I can remember.

Mark has great determination to succeed and the story he has told me about himself only proves that.

"About 4 or 5 years ago, I was working as a Store Designer for a large retail company which I very much enjoyed but I decided that I wanted to do something really rewarding with my life and move in a completely different direction."

"I decided that I wanted to follow my aspirations of becoming an Airline Pilot. It was a big decision and a massive commitment from both a training point of view and a financial aspect.  But some three years down the road and I have been very fortunate to have recently landed a job with one of Europe's largest airlines."

I am with Mark on this one as this blog is one of my steps towards being a writer. Mark has some good advice for anyone chasing a dream.

"I am a big fan of making your own luck in life and like to encourage others to follow their dreams and do whatever it is that they want to do.  As long as you are prepared to give up pretty much everything else, and maybe a bit more, as well as the resolve to keep going whatever the circumstances then you will make it!"

As always, I like to find out what the people of Kent think about improvement to our county and more importantly, ways to implement them.

"I personally think that Kent and Maidstone's public transport leaves a lot to be desired. Being a car person, naturally I am reluctant to get out and onto public transport. Why does it still take over an hour to get to London Victoria."

"It's also not particularly flexible or practical for lots of journeys."

Mark's suggestion is a good one and I also believe that our public transport should be refreshed and updated.

"I would like to see a vast improvement in this area as I would like to do my bit for the environment but I don't want to be out of pocket as a result of choosing to use public transport."

As always at this stage of the interview, I like to round it off with a random question of the week and this one is in-keeping with the festive season.

If you could have any Christmas present, exempt expense, what would be and why?

"Well, my weakness is cars and my favourite car ever is the Ferrari F50. I absolutely love it! I have wanted one as long as I can remember and I was fortunate enough to sit in one many years ago, however I never could afford one so I would definitely ask Santa for one of those."

I would like to thank Mark for his time in talking to me and I would like to wish my fellow Kentish men (and women) a very Happy New Year!  

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Again the cold, winter freeze has made its way across the county causing more chaos but I have still managed to track down one of you lovely Kentish folk for an interview.

This is Katie Smith, 31 from Maidstone.

Katie is currently on a career break from teaching so that she can look after her 2 children.

In the previous 10 weeks I have noticed a pattern developing amoungst Kentish residence.  A pattern that is similar to the amount of times I lose to my nan at cards when she's dealing!

Like most before her, Katie enjoys the quaint villages of our county, how we have an open countryside around the different parts of Kent and the links we have to our beloved capital city, London.

The appeal to most of us who live here is that we have the luxury of public transport that can get you into the capital in just over an hour so if you want to work, shop or just visit, it is not an inconvenience.  Additionally the countryside we do have available to us is ideal for hiking or just a stroll.

So despite the similar response I receive from interviewees, I understand where they are coming from.

As always though, we have tasty food and drinks and we all like to indulge ourselves once in a while.  Katie is no different.

"I like The White Horse on Bearsted Green. It has good food and a good atmosphere and is a brilliant place to sit outside in the summer."

We all like to sit indoors though, on the cold winter nights and watch a good film or a bit of t.v.

"I like to watch Miranda, Desperate Housewives and Coronation Street.  My favourite movies have to be The Thomas Crown Affair and Dirty Dancing."

I always like to get to this part of the interview because I enjoy to find out funny stories about people to see the real them.  Katie's is just superb and kind of makes you wish you were around when it happened.

"When I was at Primary School I thought I would see what would happen if I pulled the pin out of a fire extinguisher and squeezed the handle."

Wait!!!! It gets better.

"Needless to say water started spraying everywhere, I panicked as I was in the school library and I didn't want the books to get wet so I aimed it at myself."

I can't stop grinning because I think that everyone at some point has wanted to try and spray the water or foam from a fire extinguisher around without any repercussions.  I'm sure there was on this occasion but I always wanted to try it!

After this incident though, I'll think I will steer clear.

Back on a serious matter, I asked Katie how she would make Kent a better place and in my opinion the first part is spot on!

"I would reduce the number of demolitions to old buildings that are replaced by 'cardboard' flats and offices."

I 100% agree that tearing down historical buildings in certain spots to be replaced with housing flats is just crazy.  Building complexes on any spare piece of land or by knocking down other buildings instead of properly planning out a good location is ludicrous."

It seems all sensibility is going out the window.

And finally I have, as always, my random question of the week:  What is the scariest thing, in your own opinion, you have ever faced and successfully overcome?

"Learning to drive was pretty scary as I was rubbish.  It did not help that I booked my test for 5 days after my 17th birthday. I failed!"

Although Katie failed, she eventually overcame the fear and can now drive.

A huge thanks to Mrs Smith for her time and best of luck on the career break with her family.

It still remains to be seen who is my interviewee from week to week, but who knows, it could be you next!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Now the winter snow has melted, service is resumed in shops, on motorways and in most people's lives.

This is Richard Roger Gaskin, also known to his friends as 'Dickie'.

Dickie lives in Maidstone and has done so the most part of his life.  Before moving to Maidstone at the age of 5, Dickie grew up in the village of Horsemenden near Tonbridge.

In the present day, Dickie gets his pay cheque from hard graft and long hours as a Butcher in The Mall's J.C. Rook and Sons, Maidstone.  Now in his fourth year of employment with the company, he has no intentions of leaving because what he does keeps him happy.

"I didn't think I would love a job like this when I left school but as it stands, I really enjoy it."

Despite starting early in the morning and finishing late in the afternoon, Dickie enjoys getting involved in sports.

"I am a really big football fan so I enjoy playing the game too.  Recently I have started to play Snooker which takes a lot more technical ability and thinking power then I first thought."

Dickie also has become a fan of reading (This blog would be a great piece to read), which he claims he never thought he would be, and socialising with friends and family.

"Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today."

I like when my interviewees praise our County because Kent is a great place to live. Dickie is no different.

"I like the fact that Kent is only a small drive away from the coastal towns or to the big city itself: London."

As Dickie rightly points out though, Kent has an excellent reputation both regionally and nationally.

"I think Kent has a certain quietness and dignity.  I can not really recall being mentioned on the news or in the national newspapers for bad press.  I mean I am sure we have our moments and problems but none such though to be broadcast to the nation in a bad light."

When he has time aside from his busy work schedule and taking part in his hobbies, Dickie can just about manage to have a night where he can eat out.

"I like to eat on Earl Street's restaurant Prezzos.  It's a little Italian place with a calming atmosphere, very polite staff and the food is delicious.  With very compromising prices too, I always recommend it to anyone that asks."

So we already know Dickie has time constraints so I was interested to find out what TV shows or movies he managed to watch.

"I can't say I've got any favourite shows or movies at the moment but my all time favourite TV shows are Thundercats and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from my younger days.  What boy doesn't like action as a kid.  As I've grown older, it has become shows like South Park and The Simpsons because they are easy viewing."

"Moviewise it has got to be The Dark Knight.  I can watch it over and over again and any film that makes me laugh.  It takes less muscles to smile then frown!"

Good point!

Dickie can be stubborn and the story of when he was 10 years old proves my point.

"I was on a holiday abroad in Spain with my family and another family.  The weather was boiling hot in the first couple of days and my mum told me to put on my t-shirt because I am fair skinned.  Let's face it, mums always know best much to their child's annoyance."

Yep they do!

"But as all children that age, I thought I knew best and decided to ignore the advice.  As I got out the pool, I must have wiped off the sun lotion because when I woke up the next day, I had blisters the size of tea mugs.  We went straight to the pharmacy and was given cream and gauzes with strong tape to hold them down."

"The following day, I was taken to the doctors who informed us that the gauzes were on wrong and that they would need to be removed.  The doctor slowly removed the gauzes with the tape and my first few layers of skin.  Those five minutes seemed like an eternity."

"I chose this story because as much as we think we are always right, the truth is the parents always know what is best no matter what.  I always wear sun lotion at all times in hot weather."

I don't blame you Dickie.

I felt we needed to move on swiftly because I didn't want my readers to feel ill and I didn't want Dickie to dwell on his mistake.

After his earlier praises of Kent, I was curious to find out how Dickie would make Kent a better place.

"I think to make Kent better we should try and bring in some income to restore part of the outgoing funds from the county.  We could use a big venue like the O2 arena that is capable of dealing with different events, from stand up comedy to conventions and concerts.  Or we could have a sporting venue for football and rugby because we don't have a really big team that represents this beautiful county.  Let's face it, we deserve it."

I think Dickie was worn out with his intense questioning so I wrapped up the interview with my random question of the week:  What is your ambition in life?

"I wouldn't say I have a lifes ambition.  I do want to bring happiness to my friends and family and to always be there when and where I can."

"I would also like to start up my own business, whether that be a butchery company or another type, I don't know.  It might fail but at least I can say I've tried and done it."

"I think another if it counts is to take a holiday to Australia.  It is one place I've always wanted to visit.  I just want to live a happy life and create a loving family."

I'd like to thank Dickie for his openess and in depth answers, best of luck to him in the future.

So another week, another interviewee interviewed.

Who is next week, who knows?

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Well the big freeze has hit England again and so the South East and Kent in particular have been plunged into chaos.  But I still just about managed to get an interviewee.

This week's interviewee has plenty to look forward to in the next 7 months.  She has the build up to Christmas like the rest of us but more importantly, in May 2011 Jo is getting married to her fiance Ben.

So firstly, I want to offer my best to both for the coming months.  (Ben, see you on the Stag Do!)

(I was assured this was a Diet Coke and not an alcoholic beverage)

So this is Joanna Marie Goldhagen, 25 from Malling.  Previously she lived in Kings Hill and then West Farleigh where she picked up an interesting fact.

"The residents are out numbered by sheep apparently."

Jo is an Investment Portfolio Administrator for a London corporation.  Her job entails dealings with ISAs, Unit Trusts, Exams and Pensions.  Despite the huge demand on her, Jo clearly enjoys what she does.

"I love the people I work with, including the Fund Managers.  The commute to work is a killer, particularly with the current snow conditions."

The only benefit of Jo's daily commute is that her fiance also works in London and so, she has a familar face to look at across the carriage.

Although she highly enjoys her current job, Jo also, like most of us, has an ideal occupation.

"I'd like to become an eating disorder counsellor or ultimately, I'd love to open a chocolate shop where I could just bake cakes all day and make truffles for people to enjoy over hot chocolate and coffee."

Aside from mandatory jobs, Jo finds some free time for her hobbies which include making chocolate and confectionary treats such as brownies, truffles, shortbread and fudge and wedding planning.

"My friends would argue that one of my hobbies is wedding planning as I've been planning my own wedding for almost 3 years.  A lot of effort has gone into creating my ideal 50's style sweet themed wedding."

In her childhood years, Jo used to enjoy figure skating but has put her lack of commitment to it down to wariness of breaking something.

I know how great Kent is but it feels even better to know that the people of Kent feel the same.

"I like that we are close enough to London to be able to work and shop, but far away enough to enjoy the countryside.  Kent is picturesque and the people, particularly in smaller villages, I find are very friendly."

"I think the best restaurant in Kent is the The Mulberry Tree in Boughton Monchelsea.  My wedding reception will be held there and it has the best food ever."

Jo is also partial to a fish finger sandwich and recommends The Horseshoes in East Farleigh.

I was surprised with all her wedding plans, chocolate making, commuting and hectic working life that Jo had time to sit down and watch a flick or a TV programme.

"It's a tough one but I particularly love action films: Rocky, Die Hard, Man on Fire and Taken.  They are up there in the best films ever for me.  However, in complete contrast, I love The Sound of Music and La Vita Bella."

I thought I knew Jo well enough already from the information above yet she still had another story to tell me about from her childhood.

"When I was 3, my mum, brother and a family friend and her chidren all went to Butlins in Bognor.  One of the first days there, we went swimming and after, when we were changing, I couldn't find my mum.  I remember thinking 'Mum's left me here!'".

Most kids would panic at this point and it actually happened to me when I was about 7, but Jo funnily did pretty much what I did.

"Rather than crying, I went off to the play park for a bit, then managed to walk home to the chalet where we were staying."

(This next bit, I definately didn't do!)

"Little did I realise my Mum had just been in the toilets. My disappearing act had shut down the whole of Bognor Regis Butlins with the 'Red Coats' out combing the streets and stopping every car going out to check the car boots for me!"

Jo's moral to the story is that she has always been the type of person to just shut up and get on with her life. 

"I think people complain too much about things and give up too easily."

Seeing as Jo didn't give up too easily, I continued to question her and I was really interested to know how Jo would improve the county if she had the power too.

"I would make the Southeastern train lines more reliable.  Kent commuters pay the highest ticket prices and due to the snow, not one person from my area that works in London has been able to go to work.  I would also encourage schools to offer more assistance to all students and not just tell them to go to university.  They should encourage them to explore the other possibilities such as employment, apprenticeships and vocational study."

Again I totally agree and as I said before, I did not go to university and I did an apprenticeship and it was one of the best things I could have ever done for my future career. Unfortunately, the savage cuts the government are making will make opportunities like these few and far between so ex-students and non university folk out there, get your applications in quickly!

Finally, as always, Jo had to be asked my random question of the week:  If your life was summed up in a song, what would it be and why?

"It would have to be Time Warp from Rocky Horror Show.  It's weird, fun, energetic and addictive which couldn't sum up my life better!"

And as I'm writing this line, that is all I can hear in my head so thanks Jo.

Best wishes for the wedding (I'll await my invite in the post!) and I hope you have a great Christmas.

Who is the next resident of Kent to speak about our county?  You tell me!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

As the title suggests, on my own weekly deadline, this interview came just at the right time.

This is Nicholas David Turrell from Maidstone.

Most of his life has been spent in Maidstone, primarily in Loose and Boughton Monchelsea but he did venture south to Portsmouth for a 3 year stint at University.

He believes that he will spend all his life in Maidstone due to his family and friend ties but who knows what the future holds?

Nick enjoys to go on holiday with the lads and has a passion for watching and playing football.  Currently he plays for MGS Allstars 6 aside team at Armstrong Road, Maidstone and unfortunately supports Liverpool FC.

Aside from these two hobbies, he is a fully signed member of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).  This 'entitles' him to try new ales around the country as well as visiting beer festivals when he can. 

When asked what he liked about Kent, Nick responded "I think it's quite a good place to live.  There is a good mix of large towns, nice little villages and countryside, especially around Maidstone."

Being able to see a change a scenery quickly is another thing Nick likes about Kent.

"One minute you can be in the centre of a town and a 10 minute drive later you can be in the countryside.  It's also close to London and not that far away from the major airports and ports so you can get away from it all fairly quickly if you want!"

Local cuisine is a favourite of Nicks and knows of some great places to eat in Kent.

"I believe Kent has 4 or 5 Michelin Star restaurants.  I personally enjoy The Chequers in Loose.  It is close to my family home and is set in the Loose Valley.  The food is pretty good, pub-style food and the portions are generous."

He likes The Chequers because it satisfies his healthy appetite.

Like Adam last week, Nick is a keen comedy watcher and wrote a 10,000 word dissertation on comedy parodies for his Film Studies university course.  Films such as Airplane & Hot Shots he enjoys in particular.  He was correct in saying they were classics.

Nick, like a few of us, has experienced the feeling of being drunk.  Where most of us cross the line and then stop, Nick will cross it and then keep going.

"I was leaving the Lockmeadow complex in Maidstone, having had more to drink than I should have.  Basically I ended up in the River Medway."

Wait! It gets better.

"What makes it worse is that I couldn't get out because the bank was too steep.  I had to swim across the river and clamour out on the other side.  After that I had a 45 minute trip home dripping wet because it was clear no taxi would've entertained the notion of picking me up."

I think we have all once been a little worse for wear but Nick has missed the benchmark by a mile!

Kent is the county we all live in and all want the best for.  Nick is in agreement with this too.

"Finances for Kent should be better used.  We have a strange pole that lights up at night beside the Maidstone one way system and it does not serve any real purpose.  That money should have been better invested into Maidstone Hospital or a cause that really needs it.  Heathcare, for me, would come before 'art'.

Here, here!

And as I always like to give my interviewees something fun to finish with, I asked Nick my random question of the week:

If you were told you had a day left to live, what would you do for that whole day?

"Probably just not worry about what others think anymore, tell people what I think of them, good or bad, without having to worry about how it would affect your relationship in the future.  It would be quite empowering if you think about it."

For better or worse, this is a risky 'last thing you ever do thing' but refreshingly honest!  Cheers Nick.

Once again a big thanks to my interviewee of the week, Nick Turrell, and watch out because you could be next!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!