His spare time at the moment is taken up by his never ending DIY duties, playing guitar, learning to play the ukulele, walking his dog and spending as much time as he can with his family.

Simon is married to a Hungarian and has a 3 year old daughter, with a second child due in May.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
First time was 1994 as a student on an exchange program. I arrived in Budapest (Ecseri ut) on a beaten up Hungarian bus just as winter was beginning to take hold. Suffice to say my first impressions were not great!

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Sydney Australia for 3 years.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
That they used to allow planes to fly under the chain bridge!

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend – what must they absolutely see and do?
From the top of Szépvölgyi út walk through the forest up to the Árpád-kilátó (fantastic view of the city). Wander the entire Castle district making sure you don’t miss the Matyas fountain. Across the chain bridge, quick peak inside the Gresham Palace, down Zrinyi street and into the Bazilika. Take the lift up to the roof for another amazing perspective of the city.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Eszterházy torta.

5. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Marmite.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Gyönyörű closely followed by fakanál

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Quality reasonably priced lamb.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Commercial helicopter pilot in Australia, painting pictures on the weekends and playing in a band at night.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Receptionist at a funeral parlour.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Croatia

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Most likely in Hungary as we’re expecting our second child in May.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Band = Duran Duran (although I kept it a secret)
Film = Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Hobby = Breakdancing

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
Eszterházy torta.

15. Red wine or white?
White

16. Book or movie?
Book followed by the movie, never the other way round.

17. Morning person or night person?
Since I have a young family I’m neither morning nor night.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
I know it sounds odd coming from a media man, but privacy is an issue that really concerns me particularly in the digital sphere.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Buda to breath and unwind. Pest for work, culture and entertainment.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Family first.