I’ve been known as Marksman Shrimp for a number of years now and I’ve found it to be the favourite of my numerous online monikers, which I find some irony in because it was a random GamerTag generated by Xbox Live. My “real name” is Darren and has been for all 22 years of my life so far, and I live in the middle of nowhere, also known as rural Norfolk here in England.

Xbox Live is by far and away my favourite form of escapism/entertainment whenever I’m not at work (As a glass engraver) or with my fiancee of 5 years now. I’m lucky enough that my job enables me to listen to my iPod for up to 8 or 9 hours a day, which is largely made up of podcasts and all the many branches of heavy metal music. Whenever I’m doing none of the above or sleeping not enough hours of a night, I’ll be found watching films or TV shows on DVD or Blu-ray as I don’t have sky (other overpriced TV services are available) here at home.

I’m not a beer drinker in any sense of the phrase, though i do dabble with cider occasionally, and if out getting smashed while celebrating someone’s birthday, I’ve been known to turn to cocktails for some reason. I used to be a very heavy reader in my youth but video games soon cured that, but i still have a stack of books i intend to read before the end of time, and when I’m done with those I fully mean to learn how to play bass guitar like many of my musical heroes, though that won’t be happening before I move away from home at last.

I’m very much looking forward to getting my creative juices flowing into your eyes (hope that doesn’t sting) here on the ship, and I hope you ultimately enjoy it too. See you on deck.