[Gloucs] New member

[Charlie Markwick]

Hi

Just to introduce myself as a I have just joined the list.

My name is Charlie Markwick, I live in Gloucester. I have been running my own Computing Consultancy business now (Southcot Services)
full time for about 6 years. Computing Consultancy is really a euphemism for "I'll try my hand at anything that is legal and likely
to make me a modes income". I am a stepfather and a grandfather and try and ensure my wife does not become a computer widow (not
always very easy).

I had never had anything to do with Linux/Unix up to about 6 month ago when I got Telewest broadband and decided I didn't want to
pay the significant cost of an MS solution firewall and router. Wanting a software solution I discovered www.startuplinux.com and
the love affair started. I have now used this solution for two local companies using the same distro and back end novel servers
running GroupWise.

My main target area of work is around Novell and MS platforms but my experience goes back to I think MSDOS 3 with a little CPMPLUS
thrown in. I am entirely self taught, thus I am conscious that I have horrendous yawning gaps in my knowledge as so much of my
learning is dictated by the particular business problem I am dealing with at the time. Also buying training is really expensive as
so much of it is targeted at people with corporate budgets.

My hope for the group is that I will be able to both offer and receive help though I suspect that, as a relative newbie, I shall be
more on the take than the give at first.

 Will stop now, otherwise this will turn into a full blown autobiography.

Charlie