This is my digital-age scrapbook, a place to collect, share, and reflect. I hope you find something here that’s useful. If you have any questions or just want to connect, feel free to reach out.
Electronics, robotics and engineering are my favourite technical hobbies, but I also love Photography. I like working on projects and tasks that involve ‘technical creativity’, such designing this website and post-processing photos. I also enjoy experimenting with sound using my MIDI keyboard and Bitwig Studio, creating tracks just for fun. It doesn’t stop there – there are many things I want to learn, create, design, develop, build…
Electronics
This is my passion. I have been learning electronics on and off since I was around 8 years old. I studied Electronic Engineering and worked in the field for 5 years before moving into IT, but it remains a serious hobby.
Photography
Capturing photos is something I enjoy doing when out, or on holiday with my family. Post-processing photos and creating panoramas allows me to combine the technical skill of using image processing software with modest amount of creativity I have, to create the final artwork.
3D Modelling & Printing
3D Modelling is something I got involved with when Google released Sketchup, and again later when RS released DesignSpark Mechanical. I create 3D models for projects where I need to explore the structure and visualise the end product, or print somthing in 3D.
Software Development
In the 90s I taught myself assembly language for the Microchip PIC microcontroller, and VBA for Excel and Access. I moved onto Visual Basic using Visual Studio 6.0. This ultimately lead to me completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science.
Website Design
I was always fascinated with web design, but it was a lot of work back in the 90s / 00s. WordPress made it easy and now I maintain this website as digital scrapbook, for showcasing my hobbies, and for sharing what I have done in case someone finds it useful.
Engineering
This integrates various hobbies of mine – electronics, software development, metalwork, woodwork, 3D modelling, etc. to create something that utilises some or all of these skills to create a product.
Home Automation
Home automation is something I always wanted to do, as the idea of controlling and automating things in my home really appeals to me. If I can control the TV from the couch, why stop there!
Metalwork
I took metalwork as a subject for five years during high school. I thoroughly enjoyed crafting items from metal. It has equipped me with the necessary skills to create parts for my other hobbies. I now have a fully equipped workshop.
Gaming
I was first introduced to gaming with Wolfenstein 3D, on a 286 PC in 1990! In the mid 90’s we downloaded DOS game demos via a 56K modem, and it took half an hour to download a 30Mb game! Currently I play Call of Duty for action and Satisfactory for open world and building.
DIY
I generally like building things, and because I have the skills, I do a lot of home improvement myself. It’s not my favourite pastime, but I cannot justify spending thousands on renovation and construction if I can do it myself.
Other Interests
This section covers everything else I am or was interested in learning or doing, such as buying, servicing and selling vintage Singer sewing machines.
Collecting
I love collecting stuff, and have various collections of things, but sometimes I think I take this too far…. 😄
