A Quick Bio About Susanna

Click the images below for further details... Susanna at her bath 1850 By Francesco Hayez Hayez was the leading artist of mid-19th-century Milan, renowned for his great historical paintings, political allegories and exceptionally fine portraits. This painting of 'Susannah at her Bath' combines two of his favourite subject matters: an Old Testament story and a voluptuous female nude. Gauguin's Chair, 1888 By Vincent Van Goch Flaming June, 1895 By Frederic Lord Leighton I am half sick of the shadows, 1915 By John Waterhouse But in her web she still delights To weave the mirror's magic sights, For often thro' the silent nights A funeral, with plumes and lights And music, went to Camelot: Or when the moon was overhead, Came two young lovers lately wed: "I am sick of shadows," said the Lady of Shalott. Excerpt from 'The Lady Shalott' Tennyson, 1842 Lamia [by the pond], 1909 By John Waterhouse The ancient Greeks believed that the Lamia was a vampire who stole little children to drink their blood. She was portrayed as a snake-like creature with a female head and breasts. Usually female, but sometimes referred to as a male or a hermaphrodite. Ariadne, 1898 By John Waterhouse Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos of Crete. Minos had Daedalus build a Labyrinth, a house of winding passages, to house the bull-man, the Minotaur, the beast that his wife Pasiphae bore after having intercourse with a bull. (Minos had refused to sacrifice a bull to Poseidon, as the king promised, so the god took revenge by causing his wife to desire the bull--but that's another story.) Minos required tribute from Athens in the form of young men and women to be sacrificed to the Minotaur. Theseus, an Athenian, volunteered to accompany one of these groups of victims to deliver his country from the tribute to Minos. Ariadne fell in love with Theseus and gave him a thread which he let unwind through the Labyrinth so that he was able to kill the Minotaur and find his way back out again. Ophelia [lying in the Meddow], 1905 By John Waterhouse Ophelia is a beautiful and simple-minded woman, easily molded by the more powerful opinions and desires of others. The thoughts of her father and her brother influenced her the most. The love letters from Hamlet also swayed her opinions and confused her mind. Ophelia wasn’t able to realize herself because of all the pressures exerted on her to be something she’s not. That weakness of mind and will, which permitted her obedience to her father and thus destroyed her hope for Hamlet’s love, finally resulted in her insanity and death. Psyche Opening the Golden Box, 1903 By John Waterhouse Psyche, the daughter of a king, incurred the wrath of Venus who eyed her as a rival. She instructed Cupid, her son, to infect Psyche's heart with love for an outcast, but Cupid fell in love with her and visited her every night in her chamber. Fearing Psyche would be unable to resist his beauty, he remained invisible and warned her not to steal a look at him. One night, overcome with curiosity and goaded by her wicked sisters, Psyche took a lamp and shone it over Cupid as he lay asleep. She was so startled by his beauty that she spilled a drop of hot oil on his shoulder and woke the god from his slumber. Cupid was filled with anger at her disobedience and departed at once, leaving Psyche sad and deeply regretful. She roamed the earth in search of her lover, facing obstacles thrown in her way by Venus, until Jupiter took pity on her and made her immortal so she could be reunited with Cupid.

First off - why do I love the name Susanna ... One of the reasons I love my name is based upon a lovely story that comes from the Apocryphal Book of Daniel (Chapter 13). As the virtuous Susanna bathes in her garden, she is approached by two corrupt elders who, lusting after her, threaten to accuse her of adultery if she does not give into them. She refuses and is falsely accused by them, but her innocence is proved, preventing her from being stoned.

It was tough being a woman back then! Thankfully, women now have a lot more freedom at Long Last!

Well I'm now 45 years old (born 31st March 1963) and I work as a senior research scientist for a research pharmaceutical company in Sandwich, Kent, UK where I have worked since 1990. I live locally in a village 5 minutes drive away (Ash) with my partner (Zoe). My work involves me in formulation development of new drugs so that they can be progressed to clinical trial evaluation.

I have one brother (a year younger than me) who lives in LA and twin sisters (both 5 years younger than me). My parents and twin sisters live in Essex.

So here is a little about the things I enjoy most...

Skiing, long walks and swimming! I love Nature! Mountains, Forests, Open Spaces! Whether that is by the sea, some remote hilltop or somewhere beautiful like the Lake District or South Wales. It gives you a chance to put life back into perspective! Always a welcome breather I find. Best followed by a cosy snuggly place with an open fire, comfy cushions, lovely music and a glass of something nice shared with a Gorgeous partner! lol! Simply Lovely!

I enjoy photography as it captures the wonder of life so well. I am still very much learning but enjoy expressing myself through this medium immensely! Obviously web design is something else I enjoy doing too...

I love watching unusual films - usually 'non-circuit' ones as the regular circuit films can be mediocre (made for switching off), which is fine if I'm in that mood . I like films that make you think in new ways and look at things differently. I love to see new perspectives and ideas!

I enjoy playing cards and board games as it gives me a chance to work my mind a little. Whether it is card games, backgammon, cribbage or Monopoly... finding others who like these things though is a little more difficult these days! I'd like to take up chess again too I think... Any Takers?

I like to get to an art gallery or a west-end show every month or so. My favourite artist is Vincent Van Goch. His art can be seen at the Amsterdam Gallery (worth a visit in person if you haven't been!). My favourite picture of his work is probably Gauguin's Chair, 1888 for pathos if nothing else! It has always spoken volumes to me ever since I was first introduced to the picture when I was nine years old.

I love the Pre-Raphaelite period, especially John Waterhouse! Two of my favourite websites are where John Waterhouse's paintings can be seen in detail and also Lord F. Leighton's paintings (my house has a few of their pictures hanging, although for how is uncertain as they are not much to Zoe's taste). I love the very popular Flaming June for example.

Musically I like a wide range from classical to modern rock. The only thing I don't enjoy is heavy metal! Sorry - a little outside my sensibilities I am afraid! I usually listen to music like (in no particular order) Enya, Enigma, Everything but the girl, The Corrs, Chicane (my favorite at the moment!), Keane, Coldplay ... middle of the road stuff. I'm open to listen to most things but I can't say I'm particularly 'Retro' in my tastes.

As for my hobbies and interests... I love interacting with people so I guess I do a lot of talking! Smile! Someday though I hope to take up my oil painting again. Who knows I might even produce something half decent one day! I have recently taken up photography, so you may see some of my photo's on here or at least links to them.

As for Dislikes...

Football would certainly have to be up there among my top five pet dislikes! I can't even stand the sound of it on the television unfortunately!!!

Other pet hates are heavy metal music (it might be your thing but its not mine I'm afraid).

Horror films would also be a pet hate - I avoid them when I can. I had nightmares for a week after watching The Ring as a friend really wanted to see it and I gave in... Now I stay WELL away from such films! I'm not putting my self through that again.

I can't claim DIY is my favorite thing either. Admittedly the result is usually worth the effort doing it. But I guess its that things get worse before they get better and that most DIY jobs turn out to be far more complicated than you think at first... For example, changing a tap washer becomes a nightmare when the tap thread becomes mangled and it wont come off nor will it tighten up either! Or one of my favorite memories is changing a wall light fitting. The cable didn't run straight down the wall and not knowing this I accidentally drilled straight through the cable! A whole afternoon later after digging the old (split) cable out of the plaster, rewiring the light fitting, replastering the wall, re-wallpapering the wall ... I had a working new light fitting. Estimated time to do this simple job - 15 minutes tops, as it was just two screws that were needed! Total time it actually took - at least 5 hrs and a lot of flaffing around. Net result - I hate DIY! *Smile!*

Ummm, Macho guys that think their God's Gift to women and people who let others down when they have promised something and general insensitivity and prejudice...

Well, there you have a brief introduction to my world! *Smile!*