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I'm a Microsoft .NET web developer living in Hook, Hampshire (England). Here you can keep updated (occasionally) with my latest projects.
News
December 2009 - Sunbeam parts haul
I have recently been very lucky in locating some more parts for my 1927 Sunbeam 20hp project. They happened to be parts that I had long ago given up finding such were their rarity. In fact I had almost forgotten that I needed them, such was my assumption that they would never be found. I have noticed recently, that parts do tend to appear magically when they are required. So now, I have a virtually complete set of parts, not counting the instruments, body, hood, spare wheel, seats, lighting and electrics. They will of course 'appear' when required, maybe in the new year... More information about current progress on the Sunbeam can be found here.
August 2009 - Grotesque
I bought some old type some while back, probably on ebay, and I have recently tried it out. It's old, and well used, with some wear, as you can see. I think this is a sign of character rather than bad letterpress printing... This card, incidentally proves that I am a Vorticist.
Grotesque is the generic name used by the Victorians for this sans-serif face. A lack of serif to the Victorians, with their love of pointless decoration, was literally considered grotesque. The advertisers and editors of the day saw differently, and used it widely in magazines and newspapers for the clarity and crispness it gave to their message. It would also have symbolised the immediacy of a new century, signifying a clear break with the stuffy frills and nonsense of the Victorian era. A revolutionary fount indeed. It was used by the Vorticists for their similarly revolutionary Manifesto of 1914 (aka BLAST). It is significant they chose a typeface loathed by high Victorian taste.
Back to the Purchase. It was in fact two founts, both 60pt. The smaller of the two, spelling 'VORTICIST' is circa 52pt on a 60pt body. Quite possibly the classic Grotesque No 9, which was brought out around 1912 by Stephenson, Blake Ltd. Alternatively it could be Headline Bold, which was the Monotype version of Grot No 9 (some would say blatant copy). The taller fount uses the full 60pt body. This face is subtly different but still sums up the world of the Grotesque for me. Due to the Vorticist associations, I am very partial to this face.
More information about my printing activities is here.
September 2008: The Furnival Press Arrives
An early 20th Century letterpress printing machine. It is treadle operated and prints using fonts of type made of metal or wood.
I am now the proud owner of a Furnival printing press. This is an example of the kind of printing press that was used by hundreds of jobbing printers all over the world in the late 19th century onwards. This is a close copy of the more famous 'Arab' printing press made by Joshua Wade from 1870.
My press was built in Reddish, Manchester, some time around 1900. Read more>>.
January 2008: I'm a permie again...!
My employment status has just changed... I'm now a permanent employeee working for a local company on some very interesting websites... I'm working with up-to-the-minute kit on projects that will revolutionise the future lifestyle experience of carbon-based bipedal life-forms of this planet. It's that exciting! Obviously I can't say much about it right now but I'll keep you posted when I'm able.
December 2007: display centre website completed
www.displaycentre.co.uk has now been completed. The Display Centre is at Fareham, Hampshire, and specialises in shop fittings. The catalogue can be viewed on line, with full shopping basket and checkout facilities. The client is able to manipulate the online catalog via a custom PC application. Other features include vouchers (discount code management) and email order tracking.
Both the website and the client PC management application has been written using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 using VB.NET.
November 2007: ACCON UK website completed
www.accon-uk.com has now been completed. The website has been written for a team of environmental consultants that measure air quality, noise and other environmental factors. It is also able to gauge the environmental impact of new developments, including the impact on existing ecological systems and archaeological remains.
I have used a bit of Flash for the main banner while I have used .NET for the navigation and content management angles.
October 2007: New Pistons!
The Sunbeam project has benefited greatly from receiving some brand new pistons. No, they're not brand new Sunbeam 20.9hp pistons, but Toyota Corolla pistons. Apparently they fit - and I've just confirmed that tonight. This is a great day in the Sunbeam Saga...
August 2007: Nearing completion of a new online shop system
For the past six months I have been building a generic online shop for a customer. It allows the shops' contents to be maintained at the customers' home PC. The website is updated by web services. The system interfaces with Sage Line 50 accounts, and has the capability of being configured for a specific customers' needs. It will be appearing soon...
January 2007: More sites using the ContentEngine
The ContentEngine system is now being used by 5 sites. ContentEngine is a content management system that allows the customer to maintain copy in web pages without requiring IT experience.
August 2006: Exam #70-310 now passed!
I have passed my second Microsoft exam. This exam is entitled "Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Visual Basic .NET and the .NET Framework".
June 2006: Now Officially MCP!
I have successfully sat my first Microsoft exam (#070-305) entitled Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET. I am now able to call myself an MCP! (Microsoft Certified Professional), though I still have two more exams to pass before I attain full Microsoft Certified Analyst Developer status. But that's one out the way....
