Depending on your browser, you may have to unmute the audio in order to hear the portrait descriptions

For many years I defined myself by being a gay man and, because I spent so many years thinking of myself as a patient, also being HIV positive.

After my diagnosis, it was difficult to imagine a long term future for myself, and it is true to say that I lost my way somewhat.

Since being on successful treatment, I have realised that I have a future to plan for, and that my horizon and outlook on life could rise and improve.

I decided to restart something from my past that I regretted stopping, playing the violin, and I wanted to try something new that I could talk about when meeting new people, beekeeping.

I will never be a great violin player, and I have made mistakes as a beekeeper, but we don’t grow unless we learn from our mistakes or keep trying.

How I define myself nowadays is not what I am, but what I do and hope to be. 

Now we know U=U, we can have plans for the future and passions and hobbies, just like anybody else.

So, now there is more to me than HIV, I’m a beekeeper and violinist, and that is just for starters.