I am Andy and this is a small site I created many moons ago and now refreshing. It is not very flash or elegant as I have written it simply using html and php coding, not through any other system. This means it does it my way and not someone else's. I am currently re-writing it as I have found better ways to do this since my first version, especially with some of the new 'bits' in html5 and trying to use css.
The first language I used was basic on what I believe was a DEC Prime system at college when studying Applied Biology. After completing that course I bought a Sinclair Spectrum (shows my age) and wrote programs on that as well as playing games. I then took up 'Computer Studies' at night school where I was introduced to Pascal and Borlands version of it called Turbo Pascal. We also touched on Modula 2 (based on Pascal) and some simple use of assembler on a BBC computer.
I was then supported to go to complete a HNC, HND and then Degree. During this course we studied some more assembler and also 'C', as well as other non-exciting subjects. Some of these lectures were definitely snooze-fest time, e.g. database design "this is my book and I will read from it" style of lecturing.
At work, we started to develop a patient management system using dbase and the clipper programming language. We later changed this to use Microsoft Visual Basic version 1, which had no inbuilt database support. We also implemented a Netware v3 network, including getting the cabling layed and terminating it ourselves. This continued until the Trust I was in was merged with another one and my IT manager was kicked out to be replaced by a paper-pushing 'yes' man. I was then moved into systems support and network management. With the usual management re-jiggles my post was removed but a lower one was made available to me. Hence I moved out into the public sector in London. My first task was editing code which had been written by my previous IT manager (small world).
The company hired me out to various clients to carry out a variety of duties, e.g.: code re-writing to ensure no problems with the year 2000, network and systems management, systems development. When not out on contract, one of my tasks was to help upgrade the companies network from BNC based thin-ethernet to 10BaseT structured cabling. We were then bought out by another company and the choice was to stay as internal suport or consultant. I chose the former which meant that I kept my job which was fortunate. In 2005, the year my daughter was born, my base was moved to Fleet as several more companies were purchased and the head office relocated.
I am an IT professional, in so far as I get paid to carry out IT Support (and almost anything else) for my company [e.g. he does 'it' ☺ ]. I do not do as much development as I used to so this is sort of my release.