I'm Paul Rawlings, 35 and live in a town somewhere between Cambridge and Peterborough.
I am not ashamed of the town I live in, but I do like to keep a little bit of secrecy about myself.
I live with my wife Elizabeth and our two cats Mog and Dora.
I work as an IT Infrastruture Manager, despite the quite impressive title I mainly look after the internal computer network for a settop-box company based in Swavesey, Amino Communications.
I've been working for the same company now for 11 years, most of what the company runs on I built when I first arrived all of those years ago.
I enjoy my work here and I'm quite happy to say that previous stock options help me get onto the property ladder.
I've worked for a few companies during my 18 years in the computer industry, spending a lot of time at the now defunct Evesham Micros, first in Sales and then Technical Support.
Just over two years ago I was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure which led to me going onto Kidney Dialysis.
This takes place three times a week and each session lasts for four hours.
As you can probably imagine this is extremely boring and unfortunately takes up a lot of my weekday evenings.
Later this year my wife Elizabeth is donating one of her kidney's to me and with any kind of luck this will work and I'll be free of dialysis for the first time in over two years.
When not working or being attached to a kidney dialysis machine we have varied interests.
Going to Comedy and Music gigs
Going to watch the local football team (Cambridge United - sorry Peterborough, I supported them as a kid and swapping just because we moved local was not something I could do)
So that is very basically me. If you know me and want to say hi, feel free to drop me a line.
If you have any questions about anything on this site feel free to write to me.
This subject is my "bread & butter".
I am a Chartered IT Professional with over 17 years experience in the industry.
I've been a PC salesman, computer builder, technical support, systems administrator and currently an IT Infrastructure Manager.
I don't claim to "know it all" but it is my job to know certain things and to figure out problems and issues.
Here I will post some of the information I think some will find interesting and if I suddenly find the answer to "one of those issues" I'll post it here - We're all here to help one another.
Computing
How to create Windows 7/8/Vista USB Installation Media - Manually ¦ With Downloadable Tool
Guide to Windows Licensing Retail vs OEM - Parts 1 ¦ 2 ¦ 3 ¦ 4
Tech
I will be honest and say I'm not entirely sure what to put in this section. I'm starting to think that "miscellaneous" may have been a better menu title and maybe I will change it.
However until I do, I'm going to use this section to tell you about some of the things I get up to in my life. These aren't exactly interests (they have a seperate section) but I'm hoping that some of you will find some of these articles interesting or fun.
Oh where would we be in this world without some humour?
I will admit I have pretty varied tastes when it comes to what is funny and what is not.
There have been some amazingly funny things on television over the years: Father Ted, Black Books, Spaced, Young Ones, Monty Python - to name just a few.
I find most things funny, although I simply "don't get" a lot of the US Comedies - I guess something is lost in translation as they make their way in across the Atlantic.
"Toilet Humour" is quite fine in my book as well as somebody just falling voer in the street (shouldn't laugh - but you just have to don't you?).
Anyway, hopefully for your enjoyment, some humorous articles for your pleasure.
Some Rules for dealing with IT Support - Funny because many of these have actually happened to me
Rules for Dealing with IT Support
A nice memo to be sent around the company with regards to the bad language
Notification to all staff regarding language
Remember the Etch-a-Sketch? Here is the official Technical Support FAQ for this device
Etch-a-Sketch Technical Support FAQ
Are you an aspiring "Evil Villian"? If so, you might want to read through this handy guide
100 Guidelines on being an Evil Villian - Part 1 ¦ Part 2
Fancy making an exciting model with balsa-wood and....flies? Take a look at these instructions
How to make a "Fly-Plane"
A short section for "Blondes" only
This handy troubleshooting guide should be kept in the wallet for when you have problems with your beer
Beer Troubleshooting Guide
