I'm a blogger, videoblogger and podcaster based in Brisbane , Australia.

I aggregate my productive output under the label of RatbagMedia.

Life of Riley was originally the name of a regular satirical column I wrote for Green Left Weekly during the 1990s. As well as writing satire I've written journalism and short plays. In the 1970s and again in the 1990s I formed and ran street theatre troupes. I also ran theatre projects in mental hospitals while at university in the sixties and the play and feature film, Cosi -- written by the playwright,Louis Nowra -- is based on the experience during one of those productions.

In my working life -- prior to 1985 -- I've been a psychiatric nurse, political organiser, process worker, storeman in a wool store, cement worker, truck loader, shop assistant & pollster. While I've been a disability pensioner for most of the time since, I nonetheless established myself for a time as a mask maker, Punch and Judy Professor, and community artist. It was as a puppeteer that I promoted myself as Professor Ratbaggy (and his Red Cordial Show). That's how the "Ratbag" got his name.

When not slaving over a hot world wide web, I have to maintain an exercise regime so that I can keep some of my symptoms from worsening. So I do boxing training and ride a kickbike around my neighbourhood. I also work in my permaculture inspired garden and walk my dog,a Jack Russel Terrier, named Nugget -- usually daily if I'm not laid up.

I live on the northside of Brisbane "in cooee of the swamp and in the shadow of the Golden Circle Cannery" with my partner of 21 years, Helen, who is currently doing a doctorate on late discovery of genetic origins.

I have two children.