Welcome to the my page by Mark MacKenzie

I am currently the Chair of Transport for London's LGBT Staff Network Group. I will be using these pages to update you on TfL's Sexual Orientation Scheme 2008-2011 and also just in general what is happening with me as an LGBT Londoner.

If you send me a friend request please send a message to back it up on how I know you or why you wish to be my friend. (Have had stalkers in the past!)

Thanks
Mark

Here is a little information on me.

Hello, Ola, Bonjour, Ciao. Thanks for visiting my page and having a look, the photo section is probably way more interesting so feel free to skip to it first.

Well Hi, I am a Scottish Guy who has lived in London for 5.5 fun filled years and still not tired of the place yet. Before Living in London I lived in Edinburgh for 12 years and am originally from a small town in the Highlands of Scotland called Nairn. All jokes and references to me REALLY coming out of the closet in Nairnia have already been done. I can be quite a socialable person but am normally really shy at the start. Just don't let me out of my shell. You won’t be able to stop me.

Who am I? Well if I could answer that question I would date myself.

When asking friends to describe me in 'one word' and 'one word' only I have had the following responses ‘fun-loving’ (okay it's really 2), ‘funny’, ‘entertaining’, ‘amazing’, ‘puppylicious’, ‘soulmate’, ‘friend’, ‘astute’, ‘adorable’, ‘cute’, ‘listener’ and ‘magnetic’. I have always liked the last one and that probably does describe me. I think??

The Thesaurus says 'magnetic' can also be alluring, captivating, interesting, drawing, irresistible, appealing, fascinating and attractive. None of those words are true though.

I have been through a lot in my 30 odd years of life and have learnt lots of lessons along the way. One of my biggest achievements will probably be moving to London and still being here to tell the tale. I was told as a child I wouldn't amount to much but I have proved those people wrong. I have taken a few knocks in life which means that I do sometimes-loose self-confidence but I wouldn't be human if I didn't.

In Sept 08, I took over as Captain of my clubs Men’s 4th team and in the 08/09 Season we came 4th and got promoted to the next league for the 09/10 Season. I really need to get rid of the ‘puppy’ fat so will have to do more this year.

You would never believe me if I told you I did my Youth Training (some will remember this) in Leisure and Recreation and worked in a gym as a gym instructor. What happened? Well I discovered men and money and the rest as they say is history. Still like dancing and clubbing and wish I had the stamina and energy to go out every weekend clubbing like I used too. This was certainly one way to keep the weight off.

When I lived in Scotland I presented a hospital radio programme for 5 years called the Dance Zone. Still have some of the recordings from it and really miss DJ-ing. Would like to take it up again and will have to look into it. Must get my MAC updated so that I can publish podcasts etc.

I value my friends dearly and I have a good network of Friends all over the UK and love travelling when I finally take the time off work.

MY WORK

I am a HR professional working for TFL in their HR Shared Service Centre; I am currently on secondment as a Management Development Trainer. I normally work in their HR Shared Services Centre as a Lead Advisor and have previously been seconded as a SAP Business Analyst and this also included doing SAP Training. I have also worked in Career Transition and am a dab hand at putting CV's together. I have worked in HR for nearly 10 years now and really enjoy it. If anyone needs any help with HR related queries then please let me know if I can’t help then I know someone that can. Is this my ideal job then the answer would be YES and NO. I love roller coasters and play roller coaster tycoon normally like its going out of fashion. I would love to work for a big theme park and design rides for them.

To satiate my passion for Riding Rollercoasters in my spare time build themeparks in Rollercoaster Tycoon although I am not really happy with the 3rd version that came out. I do so still play RCT 2 a lot. I am still trying to write that novel I started but hey the 40 odd pages hasn't shifted that much since!! I may just write 2 short stories instead. I have had an idea for a different book instead so will probably kick on with that instead.

I joined Transport for London's LGBT Staff Network Group in May 2005 and have played and have always played an active role in the development of the group. I was a member of the Communications and Planned Events team and in 2007 took over as the chair of the Comms and Events team. In 2008 I took over as the Chair of YOUR LGBT. I am halfway through my final term as Chair as we have a governance rule that you can only do the role for 2 years. I love what I do in this role.

Final Comments

'Have you ever wanted to love someone from the tips of your toes to the last hair on your head and when you find that love you hold onto it and not run away from it?' 'To live is to love, to love it to live. Live a life that is full of the unexpected as there is no better way to learn and to grow that to make lots of mistakes but also to believe in something as that something is the thing that will keep you warm at night and never underestimate the effect you will have on others lives!' Will I ever find what I am looking for? Will I stop looking at the door for that extra something? Who knows what tomorrow brings? – this is a little something from one of the chapter in the book I was writing.

I will leave you with a final quote or saying that has inspired me and hopefully will you. “A friend is one who knows who you are, understands where you have been, and accepts what you become…and still gently invites you to grow.”

If you want to know anymore about the mystery that is this machine then message me.

Thanks for reading and you really, really should have listened to me and gone to the pictures section, I gave the subtle hint and warning but you didn't listen.