Blog

I have been accepted into the friend of Redgate 2021 program

• community

• friend of redgate, forg, redgate, badge

• 2021-03-01
• 3 minutes to read

I am really pleased to announce that I have been welcomed back to the Friends of Redgate program for 2021 in recognition of my ongoing community contributions.

TSQL Tuesday #135: Tools of the Trade for Data Professionals

• community

• tsql2sday

• 2021-02-09
• 3 minutes to read

Why a physical notebook remains my essential productivity tool as a data professional. Discover the simple features that digital apps cannot truly match.

TSQL Tuesday #134: Give Me a Break! Holiday Memories

• community

• tsql2sday

• 2021-01-12
• 4 minutes to read

From Naples to Venice: my Italian road trip with the family visiting Pompeii, Rome, and the Colosseum. Plus, dreaming of a future Welsh coastal adventure.

My activities tracker for community contributions in 2020

• community

• tracker, data wales, dataweekender, sqlbits

• 2020-12-31
• 2 minutes to read

A list of events and activities I have contributed to STEM and the community during 2020, including conferences, blogging, speaking, and data community activities.

T-SQL Tuesday #133 What Have You Learned from Presenting

• community

• tsql2sday

• 2020-12-08
• 3 minutes to read

My third contribution to T-SQL Tuesday, the monthly data community blog party. This month we discussed what we have learned from presenting at community events.

Printing wirelessly to wired printers using Mobility Print

• mac

• airprint

• 2020-11-15
• 4 minutes to read

I have just discovered Mobility Print by PaperCut, an awesome free app that has finally solved AirPrint printing to my older non-AirPrint printers at home.

Using a network drive as a Time Machine backup drive

• mac

• time machine, mac os, unraid

• 2020-11-15
• 2 minutes to read

I have a server that runs Unraid for home media content, it is capable of hosting a Time Machine service to back up your Macs to a central network location.

T-SQL Tuesday #132 How Are You Coping with Pandemic?

• community

• tsql2sday

• 2020-11-10
• 10 minutes to read

Personal wellbeing strategies during the pandemic: healthy eating, exercise routines, digital unplugging, and learning random skills like juggling to keep sane.

How to execute a powershell script stored remotely as a gist

• coding

• powershell

• 2020-11-07
• 2 minutes to read

Find out how to execute a Chocolatey build script from PowerShell using a remote GitHub Gist, allowing for easy software automation on fresh virtual machines.

T-SQL Tuesday #131: Explaining Data Concepts Using Analogies

• community

• tsql2sday

• 2020-10-13
• 4 minutes to read

My first contribution to T-SQL Tuesday, the monthly data community blog party hosted by Rob Volk, focusing on Data Analogies and how to explain database concepts.

I will be moderating Track 3 at #DataWeekender 2 in 2020

• community

• dataweekender, conferences

• 2020-10-09
• 1 minute to read

#DataWeekender the SQL Server edition is nearly here! Find out more about the sessions on my track and how you can sign up to attend this free data event.

So long Facebook, it's time to claim back my personal time.

• wellbeing

• social media

• 2020-10-04
• 2 minutes to read

Facebook is a great big time thief. I have realised that it is something I get so little value from - a huge time sink - it really is time to say goodbye.

Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for!

• community

• sqlbits, conferences

• 2020-09-28
• 1 minute to read

SQL Bits 2020 is finally here! As a helper at the event, I share what to expect from the online conference, including training days and community talks.

Unplugging

• wellbeing

• wellbeing, digital minimalism, focus

• 2020-09-19
• 11 minutes to read

I am trying to work in tech whilst not being consumed by it, here are the steps I have taken to unplug.

Microsoft MCSE: Data Management and Analytics (Retired)

• certifications

• badge, microsoft certified professional

• 2020-06-27
• 2 minutes to read

Information of passing the exam, and being awarded the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Data Management and Analytics certification, a now-retired credential.

MCSA: SQL Server 2016 Business Intelligence Development

• certifications

• badge, microsoft certified professional

• 2020-06-10
• 2 minutes to read

Information on being awarded the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate: SQL 2016 Business Intelligence Development certification, now a retired Microsoft credential.

This is most certainly not the year you were looking for

• wellbeing

• covid

• 2020-06-01
• 6 minutes to read

The first half of 2020 has been really difficult for everyone. These are my personal reflections on navigating a global pandemic, lockdown and family milestones.

I will be moderating Track 4 at #DataWeekender #1 in 2020

• community

• dataweekender, conferences

• 2020-04-25
• 1 minute to read

#DataWeekender, the free online conference for the Microsoft Data Platform community. Find out what's on my track and how to register for this exciting free event.

I have been accepted into the friend of Redgate 2020 program

• community

• friend of redgate, forg, redgate, badge

• 2020-02-15
• 2 minutes to read

I am super excited to announce that I have been invited onto the Friends of Redgate program for 2020 as recognition for my contributions to the SQL Server community.

Hello world! This is my first post on my Hugo blog!

• hugo

• hugo

• 2020-01-01
• 1 minute to read

This is the first post I created on my new Hugo blog, having migrated away from WordPress. A classic Helo Byd or Hello World post to mark the occasion.