Welcome

My name is Chris Hobden and this is my personal website.

Here you will find a collection of things I needed to put online, along with a few bits I find interesting enough to tell Google about.

Maybe as you are reading this, you'll find them interesting too.

While this is not a blog, you will find some blog style updates, whenever the mood takes me, in the news section along with the occasional tutorial and notes on lessons learned while working on new projects.

About me

I grew up in Tonbridge in Kent but now live in Pilton, Somerset; with my wife, our two teenage daughters, one dog and three cats. For most part it's a quiet little village but about once a year we play host to a few guests.

What do I do?

I'm an independent internet consultant and programmer and have worked on a huge range of projects. I do not intend this site to function as an online CV but I am listing some of my skills here for those who are interested.

Currently most of my time is taken up by LINX and Anyhwere.me but if you have a project you feel may benefit from my knowledge and expertise  please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Internet history

I bought my first modem in 1994 and connected to local BBSs, one of which had a gateway to the interent but my first real connection wasn't until 1995. My first job in the industry was in the following year doing front line support and hostmaster duties  for a new ISP called Firenet. The time I spent trying to talk to people who couldn't even remember which mouse button to click (no joke!) though setting up a modem changed me forever. Luckily we employed more people before I was driven totally over the edge and, after a couple of takeovers, I found myself the head of a team covering the network and IT.
Following yet another takeover and a year commuting out to the docklands, I went freelance and have worked on a huge variety of projects bringing my mix of programming and knowledge of Internet systems to such things as online ticket sales and custom search engines. 

Interests

My interests read almost like my skills list above. I love what I do and would be doing it in my spare time if I wasn't getting paid. That said, I do have a few outside of a computer. My biggest loves are for history and science, especially the Roman Republic, ancient history, physics and astronomy. I love many kinds of music - although almost nothing from this century - and films. I like almost all movie genres except romantic comedies, which often make me slightly nauseous. And I particularly like sci-fi (I bet you never expected that!).

So thats me, not a lot more to say really. if you got this far we are either related or should probobly be dating but I'm happily married. Thanks for the offer though.