There are two sides to me. First; The serious single parent father of two, work every day, responsible, shy, fun loving me. Then, on turning forty a new me was born. Turning forty brought about some realisations two of these were:

- I have learnt that there are far worse things that can happen to you than making a fool of yourself.

- Conventional wisdom is often more about convention than wisdom.

I am no longer shy! When motivated, I can be quite outrageous. I guess I am working on misspending the youth that I didn't misspend when I was far too shy & serious as a youth :-)

This other side of me includes a new found passion for writing & photography. To date, it's all been very well received.

I blog & post my photography on another web site. If you have an interest then ask & I will give you the link (providing you are over 21). There is much of me on that web site. It's a good place if you want to know about what makes me tick.

I am scientist by training, but once again that mid-life crisis stuff (oh how I am enjoying it) has caused me to re-evaluate many things. Embracing & enjoying the unexplained has been part of that. Aesthetics (in art & literature) features more prominently in my second life.

I'm in Cambridge & will not be moving (ex-wife who I share kids with 50/50 & business here) & since I am definitely looking for more than a one night stand, it would be better that you're in striking distance.

--- Why I Am Here & Pictures ---
I'm divorced. Genuinely unattached. I've been separated seven years & divorced for one. The divorce is amicable & I still love & will always love the mother of my children.

I am here to date. That means finding someone I can really invest in for the long run. No I'm not desperate to waltz down the aisle, it does not even mean that I expect the relationship to last for ever, but I am looking for something enduring, real and enchantingly romantic.

I said dating. Not pen pals, not buddies, not mates. So despite the fact that it might seem unfashionable & poor form to mention such things as "sex" in my profile, well there it is. sex, sex, sex, sex, sex! Died of embarrassment yet? No? good! Here is the depth charge. I am not dead below the waist & sex will play an important part of any relationship I enter into!

In the real world as opposed to this virtual internet dating parallel universe, real people eye each other up across a bar, or a club or even across the frozen peas in Tesco. Unless there is a mutual woof woof thing, the conversation is not likely to progress very far.

I have experienced long protracted correspondences with people, where the conversation has been wonderfully engaging only to meet them in some bar of coffee shop to find zip, nada, nilch, nothing, no sexual attraction. That's quite painful. No one likes having their feelings hurt & I absolutely loathe hurting people.

So if you don't have a pic on your profile, then consider sending me one once we start corresponding, preferably before I have to embarrass myself & ask! I've been open in setting out my stall here & making sure that there are two up to date pics of me.

Sex is a funny thing. It is everywhere, television, magazines, hoardings & yet I cannot help feel we still have such a childish & repressed attitude to it in this country. Sex is important to me. Sex in the context of a relationship is the language I use to convey those deepest feelings that simply cannot make it into words.

As for the sex itself. I am filthy, dirty, kinky & rampant. Worry not if you are not, I will corrupt you & we can both go to hell in hand cart, kissing all the way! :-)

--- Kids ---
I have two teenage children, a boy & a girl. They stay with me for half the week & with their mother for the other half. My kids are the most important part of my life. They are not an area for compromise. Anyone I get involved with has to be able to accept that. I am not mummy hunting, my kids have & always will have the most wonderful mother. We both would have them full time, but neither of us would dream of depriving the other of any access to the kids.

I am not looking to be pushed into the front line with anyone else's kids. My view on other people's children is much the same as when I've come across a wild animal in the forest. I stand very still. If the animal expresses an interest in me, then all well & good. If not, then that's fine too. To state the obvious, children are individuals & deserve the right to choose who & who not they mix with. It's crass in the extreme to storm in on a child, whether that be with a barrage of over enthusiasm & gushing friendliness or as I have sadly seen, with an even more crass desire to lay down the law. My stance: back off!

Bottom line my kids are the most wonderful people & mean the world to me.

--- Work ---
I run a small company that supplies medical imaging systems. My work brings me into contact with a lot of interesting people & involves visits to universities & hospitals throughout the UK, Europe & occasionally the US.

Sometimes I have misgivings as to the relentless march of medicine in the affluent west... but that's a conversation for another time.

--- Interests ---
Stoopid stuff I do with the kids. There is a lot of this. Everything from feeding ducks in the park, frisby, swimming (occasionally) abstract logic games with my daughter, who now regularly beats me (Jeez it's me that is suppose to have the degree in that sort of stuff), Scrabble & so on. There is a lot of conversation & lot of humour. Much of it very very twisted & decidedly non PC. We can do this, because we all know that it is built on a solid foundation of unconditional love.

As for me, theatre, galleries, concerts, travel, films & reading. Yes that ain't bullshit. I only have a teeny weeny TV & I do not watch it often.

I am a compulsive people watcher. One of my favourite treats is a Sunday in the Tate Modern, It has to be one of the very best people watching places in the world. Nearly all of my photography is of people.

Words are new to me. I went to a comprehensive school in the 70's. It was a bit rough. The class was half Asian, half rough & ready working class white oiks. Some of the Asian children did not speak English let alone write it, The oiks tended to speak with expletives & their fists, usually towards the Asians. The teacher had no control of the class & if she had any passion for the subject she never shared it with us. A few of us just ducked for cover. It wasn't until turning 40 & inheriting two copies of Under Milk Wood that the light suddenly went on & I discovered the sheer joy of words.


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Favourite Books:

Under Milk Wood - Dylan Thomas
Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis de Bernières
Relativity - Einstein (It's not what you might think, honest, I am not a geek i can explain myself!)

Current reading: Canterbury Tales - Chaucer

Just considering learning to sail, any advice appreciated. 

What am I looking for? God, I do not think there is a shopping list here. The best things in my life have been the things that I have discovered quite by accident.

I suppose though, in general terms I am looking to meet someone for whom there is the possibility of something real, romantic, wonderful exciting, sexy, challenging, safe and dangerous developing.

I believe a match made in heaven has little to do with having the same interest tick-boxes checked. It's not what you look at that makes for a good match, but rather the way you look at things that matters.

If there is one tickbox that I would want to see checked though, it would be kindness, a much underrated quality.

Oh did I mention local. Whilst I would go to the ends of the Earth for the right person, I do not think the ends of the Earth are a sensible place to start the search!

P.S. Photos pending approval. 

MarcusStrapp is 47 years old and lives in Cambridgeshire. He is divorced with two children. He's 5' 10" tall and of slim build. He's a non-smoker, who drinks occasionally. He is looking for dating and romance, friendship, hobbies and activities.