I love the challenge of problem solving and learning new skills and that feeling you get when you crack a problem. No matter how small or trivial. Every problem cracked is something new learnt and an achievement, however big or small.
For about 40 years, in public and private sector, I worked in diverse roles where solving problems was the aim. Nearly 30 of those years was as a Police Officer, where I did some really interesting and cool things, and some things that I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to do. Fortunately, many of those things most people will never do. I’ve also worked with some of the most productive and proactive people possible, just trying to catch the bad guys.
A few years back I qualified as a CISSP in cyber security, but technical roles were hard to find with my level of technical skills then, so I spent my time doing cyber vulnerability assessments for the MOD, which was interesting until the point of filling out spreadsheets and PowerPoints. But I knew I wanted something more technical to challenge the grey matter, so I gave up cyber security and began looking at other areas of IT, in particular networks and ethical hacking.
I've been coding for around 18months, mostly learning from courses and doing some home projects and a handful of free websites I did for some local businesses. In coding I have found a new passion, though I love IT in general. There are lots of things I love doing, not just coding, but it is the thing that takes up most of my time, except my dog of course ❤️.
I have experience with a number of technologies, mainly HTML, CSS, Python, Django, Javascript and React. I have a little experience with C too.
• Currently working with Python/Django/Django Rest Framework and Javascript/React at the moment. Plan on properly learning Typescript (I know basics), another front-end framework maybe Vue, and PHP/Laravel in the near future. Mostly using Exercism, Udemy, YouTube and FreeCodeCamp to learn • 🌍 Languages: HTML, CSS, Tailwind CSS, Javascript, React, Python, Django and Django Rest Framework
• What else do I like doing? Reading, about history, especially military history, and also Russian history.
• Music, from Django Reinhardt to Metallica, but very little in the way of chart music. Except Kate Bush, the greatest female singer songwriter ever (IMHO). Others include John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola, Rainbow, Deep Purple, Dream Theater and of course, Rush. I could go on......
• Then there’s live shows, comedy, musicals, film and TV. MASH is my favourite comedy, but many others rank close. Favourite actors, Alan Alda, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Cint Eastwood, Humphry Bogart, Cary Grant
• Back on the techie side of things, before I started coding seriously, I was playing with networks and CCNA, I have a full CCNA lab in my office and one day (I hope) I'll get round to doing the CCNA course. I completed the Cisco Foundation network course a few years back.
• Finally, what else am I up to - looking for work, as a Full Stack Developer preferably, though I'd be happy in front or back-end roles. I know, I have a lot to learn about coding, but I have so much life experience now, I can offer a lot, not least an absolute determination to never get beaten by a problem. I rarely do, I usually get there.
The first two websites I built. I built these for free just for the experience and I learnt an awful lot, about planning, understanding requirements, design and so forth. One day I will return to these and improve them and daresay I will be able to make many changes, but for now they show a basic grasp of HTML, CSS and Javascript.
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivor-bowen-7280199b/)