User:John Rumm
I am an engineer by trade, specialising mostly in software (but with a good grasp of hardware). I have done lots of work on embedded control systems, avionics and defence projects, real time systems, and lots of stuff on communications protocols and data networks. More recently I have done a fair amount of stuff with financial services software, and helped put together the back end code for some commercial web sites that support financial advisers and related occupations.
A friend and I started our software engineering and IT services company Internode Ltd back in 1991, and so I have spent most of my working life working for myself in one way or another. Since then we have also done lots of more general IT consultancy type of work for customers ranging from single home users, through the small business sector, and into the GEC / Marconi type companies of the world.
My interests in DIY probably stem from every budding engineer's desire to take everything apart and work out what makes it tick (at least these days I often stick it back together again!) I was always happy to dabble with smaller jobs, right from my early teens, but house ownership and growing confidence (and more demand for solutions) has pushed me to have a go at bigger and more stretching projects. These have taken me from building a workshop, to fitting kitchens and bathrooms, house rewires, and a partly DIYed loft conversion.
Much of my growing confidence with DIY in recent years I would have to attribute to participation with the regulars on the uk.d-i-y usenet group, from whom I have learnt a great deal and continue to do so. I would also cite my friendship with a local joiner and builder, with whom I have ended working with on a number of occasions. We manage to get roped into a number of each others projects from time to time. All of which can make a welcome change from sitting in front of a screen pushing buttons.
I enjoy the odd bit of creative writing, so the chance to knock up sections for the uk.d-i-y FAQ or the wiki is one way of giving back something to the group.
--John Rumm 01:44, 12 May 2007 (BST)