CJ Grabham emigrated from the UK to Canada when he was six and has had a foot in both countries ever since, having been educated and taught in both. A major turning point came when, in his early twenties, he stumbled into Durham University one drizzly, autumn afternoon and asked if they would let him in. They did, and his life changed forever. Changed for the better, it might be said. But then, this was not unusual, for that place has a similar effect on all who go there.