From Refrigeration Engineer to Tech Enthusiast

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my first blog post! My name is Graeme, and I am a refrigeration engineer by trade, with 17 years experiance but my real passion lies in the world of technology. Over the years, I have been able to spend more time on my hobby and I am excited to share my journey with you.

Growing up, I always had an interest in how things worked. My dad was in the refrigeration industry and when I finished school, I decided to follow in his footsteps. I joined a 4-year apprenticeship and have since been working in the industry, traveling the world and gaining experience with some of the most advanced equipment out there.

While I am grateful for my job in the refrigeration industry, it is not my true passion. That all started at the age of 13, when I used to visit a local PC shop after school. I would spend my time building and repairing computers, and that's where I was first introduced to the world of online gaming.

Darren, the part-owner of the computer shop. He also enjoyed online gaming, and it wasn't long before I picked up my first GPU and started playing Tom Clancy's Ravenshield. I soon found myself part of the clan GSU (Global Strike Unit) and was reporting for duty.

From there I discovered the massive multiplayer online first-person shooter (FPSMMO) game, Planetside. It was ahead of its time and provided some of the best online gaming experiences I have ever had. The community was tight-knit and I joined a clan called ISK (Immortal Serial Killers). I was soon tasked with setting up a PHPBB forum board for the clan to communicate, that's where my passion for building and creating really took off. I didnt just want a generic theme, i got to building a unique custom theme.

Building Websites for Gaming Clans

I started my journey by creating custom themed user signatures and avatars for gaming forums using Photoshop. My skills quickly gained recognition and I began receiving requests from other members to create similar designs for them. This led me to expand my services to include building complete websites for gaming clans. I started by creating custom skins for existing forums and then eventually moved on to building a custom Content Management Systems (CMS) which i used for each of my clients. Over time, I have had the privilege of building websites for several gaming clans, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I take pride in delivering high-quality, user-friendly websites that not only meet but exceed my clients' expectations.

Taking Time Out and Traveling

After some time, I decided to take a break and traveled to South America and then immigrated to New Zealand. Today, my passion lies in the open-source and self-hosted community. I am fascinated by the collective contribution and the opportunity to make a real impact. With my engineering background, I have a logical approach to the way I work and I enjoy the challenge of coding and fault-finding. I find it satisfying to build and make changes and see the results.

Future Goals and Projects

My future goals are to continue learning and expanding my knowledge in the world of technology and open-source. I am currently working on a follow-up blog post which will include my self-hosted apps, network setup and the benefits it has provided me with in terms of online security and convienence.

I am grateful for the journey that has led me to where I am today. From a refrigeration engineer to a tech enthusiast, my passion for technology and gaming has only continued to grow. I hope this blog post has given you a glimpse into my journey and I can't wait to see where the future takes me.