Born in England, raised in Canada, Desmond took a degree in English Literature from the University of Windsor, eventually moving on to the publishing industry in Toronto. He came to Europe in 1992, before settling in Budapest in 1993. He has been enjoying reading and learning about the city and Hungary ever since. More specifically, he has developed an enthusiasm for Budapest?s antique stores and art galleries.

As editor of Hungary Around the Clock, Desmond has to stay up all night to get the news out. The photograph shows him in a rare encounter with the sun, on a visit to Visegrád.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
March 15, 1993 - a national holiday! A friend living here told me that Budapest was marvellous and invited me to stay.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes, for a few months in Italy.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
How beautiful the city of Budapest is, how much it has to offer.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend--what must they absolutely see and do?
Ride the number 2 tram to take in the panorama of Buda. See at last one of the Ödön Lechner buildings - the National Savings Bank behind the US embassy and the Museum of Applied Arts being the most accessible.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Paprikás harcsa. As a non-meat eater, my options are limited!

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Tomatoes and garlic. As long as you have those you have the basis of a good pasta sauce.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Csütörtök.

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Family and close friends.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
TV news reader.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Dentist. Need I explain?

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Berlin. A huge and fascinating city. Our few days there were not nearly enough.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Palermo, as an excuse to back to Sicily.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
My favourite band was Elvis Costello & the Attractions. That led me to a whole world of alternative music beyond mainstream rock and pop. As a hobby, I used to play alot of chess.

14. What can't you resist?
Fresh seafood.

15. Red wine or white?
White (see previous question).

16. Book or movie?
Book. Words are my living. These days I am reading Adam LeBor's "City of Oranges," the story of Jaffa's Arab and Jewish communities.

17. Morning person or night person?
A night person. The late-night hours required by Hungary Around the Clock suit me.

18. Dog person or cat person?
It'll have to be cats. I used to like dogs before I came to Budapest.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest. Sometimes Buda feels like a foreign country.

20.What would you say is your personal motto?
There's no time like the present!