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PERSONAL
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Welcome to the B.A.B. - Boring Autobiographical Bit!(Skip down to general interests with links)
Well, it's now the space year 2001 and happily no black monoliths have been found in our solar system.
Yet. Over the past 25 years (DOB 26.10.75) I've travelled a little, and have worked quite hard to get the letters LLB and MSc after my name. The LLB, 2:1, comes from Durham University and the MSc in Information Systems, completed in 2000, comes from Sheffield University. For those not familiar, a LLB is a law degree and a MSc is a Masters postgraduate degree, Sc denoting a science flavour. Yes, these are very diverse subjects to have taken, but having now joined a company called v-lex they are entirely appropriate for my career - the company specialises in IT law. So I'm part lawyer, part consultant, part techie. Prior to starting my MSc in 1999, I spent the first three months of the year taking part in a Prince's Trust Volunteers course. For more details about my experience, including photographs, take the link to the left or if you'd prefer, visit the official site. Although not as exotic as an Operation Raleigh expedition would be, the course represented a unique challenge for me from day to day and was definitely a learning experience. You're probably wondering why a professional-in-training is raving on the Net like this. The quick answer is that it's a hobby, but the longer answer is that I enjoy writing and I also appreciate getting electronic mail from people who like the site. Although this is, really, a glorified personal homepage, a lot of thought has gone into it over the past few years. On a metaphysical level I quite like the idea of a little chunk of me existing independently of me... Although I have often been mistaken for a computer scientist the Masters was the first recognised course I've taken devoted to the general area. I fall somewhere between the long haired, black T-Shirt wearing die hard programmers and the sort of person who doesn't understand why he or she can't open a Word 2000 file in Word 6.0. For some reason I give off an aura of knowing what I'm doing. I have had some experience of messing with the innards of my own machine, and can now do basic things with C. I tend to be good at explaining things to those not in the know - I was the resident PC guru when I worked part time at a Game store. If you happen to have a query about something, feel free to get in touch - I might be able to help, having encountered a variety of problems with my own system which I've solved over the years. Apart from being a complete spod (Durhamism - Computer Head) I have also been accused of being a Trekkie, Trekker, Babylonian and any other SF show affiliatory term you can think of. But I don't own any uniforms, and I don't speak any of the languages. Granted I've been to two conventions (and let me assure you that you haven't seen the Star Trekkin' song performed right if you haven't seen it done by Trekkies) but that does actually make me more sociable than most. I'd actually quite happily take my (future) kids along to a convention, and let them roam free in the hotel. Don't believe the stereotypes. During my year at Sheffield I seriously pursued my tenpin bowling hobby for the first time. Never having had any coaching, I'm actually not too bad, although my style is nowhere near as flamboyant as some of the spinners in the University society I played in. I even managed to get a trophy for being a member of the C Team with the highest series score in an inter-university competition! My involvement with the society took an unexpected turn late in 1999 when I was asked to become its secretary, the previous one having stepped down. I accepted rather cautiously, but managed to fit it in - the new society web page was all my own work. It was actually quite interesting to set it up - it's the first time I've had to really design a site with a particular purpose in mind. It's now being maintained by someone else but the general design seems to have gone unchanged. Apart from indulging in tenpin bowling in a big way, other interests include casual photography, fishing, reading and generally having a good time. I also go to the cinema a fair bit, work allowing. The multiscreen UGC at Centertainment here in Sheffield is superb, and you can reach it using the Supertram which is very convenient. Here's a little rundown on my tastes, in no particular order. I've made links to videos and TV series where appropriate - see my BlackStar Affiliation page for details.
Can't be bothered trying to think any more up. You get the idea. If you're wondering, I'm generally Christian in outlook but I'm not a church goer. However, my various interests probably make me more broad minded than most. They probably also make me more screwed up than most too, but each to their own, says I! Normal is relative after all... (Deep breath) Hello to Vics, Simon, Jill, Vickie, David, Patrick, Jane, Tim, Clare, Eleanor, Diane, Rosie, Tabs, Kris, Graham, Jill, Gez, Steve, Kev, Rob, Matt, Clare, Clare, UMTSB5, UMTSF, House Marik, Starcraft GBR-1 and anyone else who needs to be waved at or smiled at right now while reading this. Be well, don't drink and drive, and don't kick the baby.
See you... out there. Respect mah authoritay! Last updated 31 January 2002
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