Here we are, the 'about me' page, together with recent picture.
My name is more commonly known as Dan (naturally!), Electro-Dan comes from
a name that I made up myself as my (kind of) company that makes the various
electronic projects like my surround sound amplifier. This was when I was
about 12 years old as it was not long after my first year in secondary school
that I actually started making simple electronic sound systems.
For a name that was quickly invented from the back of my mind, the name kind of stuck with friends and family (either its that good, or that bad!) so it is used as the name of this site and in other places where I need a unique nick (along with the shortend version, E-Dan).
As you may have no doubt guessed... I am interested in electronics and computing. Electronics is my main hobby and throughout my education I have studied into IT and computer science. My current job is computer related and at the moment I seem to be developing into a sucess Software IT Consultant. To find out more about my two particular interests, visit my Electronics and Computing pages respectively...where I provide further details about achievements made so far.
My education is now, sadly, over. At this point I have a complete 1st class degree have settled happily into my job which gets me around and about various companies in the London city, including Lloyds TSB, English Heritage and emap.
Education has been very enjoyable. I had good friends in secondary school and I particularly enjoyed sixth form (also in the same school). The first year of university was my best year due to fresh new and cool friends and the tame work-load. Throughout uni I have met so many people and actually learned a fair bit of stuff too... :)
Three years at the Univeristy of Essex, studying Computer Science definately proved challenging - especially as I wanted to achieve that 1st class degree - mainly to please family and myself for helping towards getting a job, making £10 grand of debt more justified and not being overshadowed by the elite friends!
I did pull this off, and managed to at the same time as enjoying more than one night a week out plus regular intervals in the Students Union bar, as you do, as well as keeping an interest in hobbies such as climbing, occasional water sports and multiplayer gaming (nothing like fragging your friends!).
Getting about
I cannot drive yet and still have no real plans to, so I get about by bus,
train and pedal cycle, or mostly by people who can drive. I live on the outskirts
of Greater London, and travelling to work is always by train.
I have had a recent enjoyable holiday to Egypt, and in past years I have been abroad to Lanzarote twice, Tenerife twice, Portugal once, Italy twice and twice to Paris, France as day trips! I have also been to Majorca, however I was very young at the time I can't remember it.
Within the UK I have recently visited Cornwall and the Lake District, plus those collections of holidays to Butlins/Haven in younger years.
Love?
I've never really fallen in love...
I have always been single. Whilst I do like girls and have quite a few as
friends, the one I would like to be in love with has yet to show up.
Likes?
Computers can be annoying when attempting to solve problems of my
own and other peoples. Despite this though, I do like computers. I am
frequently at one of my computers, usually my laptop, and its nice to
use the internet to speak to friends I wouldn't as much in real life and
help people from around the world who contact me via this website. Solving
computer problems themselves is a real test of my ability to work under
pressure, remain calm and come to a solution, even if it is hours later.
At the end of the day, I like learning from problem solving, as well as
being fond of coding pretty much anything!
I'm quite fond of my gadgets too, like my semi-professional FujiFilm S5500 camera, wireless LAN, portable hard drive and other things like that which just make life that little bit better in small ways ;-)
Electronics is a hobby. It was entirely my own decision that I got into it and have learnt so much just by reading up and making my own projects that I would say I am fairly experienced without any official education. I'm certainly proud of my own creations and work. DIY tends to make a man proud when he suceeds, and electronics is particularly rewarding :-)
Quite clearly, I like my friends - they are special people. I also love my family who are just brilliant in every way. Dad and mum are very special parents and I also have a nice sister who is growing up fast.
Dislikes?
Not much, but I hate most drugs. I do drink alcohol, but not much - I hardly
get badly drunk! I am fond of many Ales, Whiskys and Guiness though. I have never
touched a cigarette in my life and never will. I don't dislike smokers
because that is wrong, but I never have seen the point in the habit, plus I'm
convinced they must taste awful! There are also other drugs that I would never
touch, which are far worse then cigarettes. I am also hardly a gambler at all.
I have not broughta lottery ticket or scratch card in my life - I would rather
not waste my money in attempt to win perhaps a little too much money which I
feel would change life too much. However I will put a quid or two on the dogs
both in betting shops across the country and my local greyhound stadium - but
only in the company of friends
Character?
I am definately the quieter member of society. I rarely start a conversation,
but when people talk to me I do speak back and most people enjoy speaking
to me. I always try my best not to be rude or offensive in any way and I do
suceed. I get on well with many people thoughout my work and receive positive
comments from others quite frequently. I rarely lie due to two reasons... its
rarely a good idea, and when it may be, I'm bad at it! I also hate sitting back
and allowing people to make potential mistakes as I am very caring by nature
(that comes from my mum). As far as luck goes - I think I am lucky to have a good
life, but I am generally unlucky in games (my dice roll is frequently bad). In
summary though, I am: happy, nice, caring, quiet, friendly, bit geeky, tall,
recognisable and quite unique.
Work?
To support the student life, I worked as a supervisor and behind the till at a
Spar shop. I have previosuly worked in
Argos part time for christmas periods and have had work experience in RCO
support services ltd (whose office no longer exists in Brentwood) and
Seacon ltd. I cannot say I did not enjoy
most of my time working with any of these employers, because mostly, I did.
There were bad days... and really bad days!!! But everyone gets those ;-)
As mentioned I am now a Software IT Consultant and spent the 40 odd hours a week writing software mostly, along with gathering requirements and other consultant stuff. My main abilities are OLAP databases and ASP.NET web applications (which I enjoy the most).
I am a big fan of many types of indie and rock/alternative music, my all
time favourite band so far would have to be