about me

Intro#

Hi, I’m Garry. I’m a computer science student based in Colchester, England. I’m not quite sure what career path I’d like to take yet — however, I do have a keen interest in cybersecurity, systems administration, and software development.

What I Do & What I Like#

Homelabbing / Self-Hosting#

I’m passionate about self-hosting and network infrastructure. I’m currently running most of my services from my Dell PowerEdge T440 (graciously gifted to me by a friend) in my university accommodation ;)

I mainly use it as network-attached storage and a media server, and I’ve established a 10-gigabit fibre optic link between it and my main workstation.

I’ve come a long way in terms of my own digital infrastructure — starting out with a 2009 ThinkPad, moving on to a 2014 Intel NUC, and very recently my beloved PowerEdge.

Since most of my self-hosting has been on limited hardware, I’ve learned to be very efficient — making sure all my services are well optimised. Now that I have this absolute beast as my main server, those optimisation habits mean I’m only using a small fraction of its capabilities… which is a bit frustrating, as I feel like I could be doing more — I’ve just not had the time to explore new ideas yet.

But for now, as a lab, I think I’ve got it pretty good. I’m very content with my digital sandbox.

Music / Speakers#

Outside of computers and servers, I love music. Anyone who knows me knows the slightly unhealthy number of amplifiers and speakers I own. I’m listening to music pretty much around the clock in one way or another. I might even catalogue my collection of devices on this website one day.

After a while — especially once I started earning an income — the collecting got a little out of hand. But I managed to turn that into something productive. By providing different speaker setups depending on my clients’ needs, I’ve been freelancing as a DJ — doing birthday parties, school events, community gatherings, and more.

It might not sound too impressive, but it’s honest work and great fun. You meet new people, there’s a lot of problem-solving (which I love), and it’s genuinely satisfying seeing everything come together. (You also get fed pretty well on the job.)

I’d love to play at a wedding one day, or perform in a club — but I’m not quite confident enough for that yet.

Photography#

I’m also quite interested in photography. A couple of years ago, I started teaching myself the fundamentals and learning how to edit photos. I love the idea that we can capture moments and revisit them later — a good photo can really take you back.

I own a couple of DSLRs, but overall I’d say Sony is my favourite brand of camera to use.

Other Hobbies#

You might have noticed that most of my interests are technology-related — and that’s true. I find both analogue and digital technology fascinating. It’s incredible to see how much of it stems from physics and chemistry — subjects I find interesting, even if I wasn’t particularly strong at them in school.

Outside of technology, I’ve recently picked up baking as a hobby. I started with bread and have since moved on to cakes and other things. It’s not the most challenging activity, but it’s very rewarding — if you get it right, you end up with something both delicious and satisfying. Cooking in general feels like that to me, especially barbecuing and grilling.

Another interest of mine is botany. It started with a small aloe vera pup that eventually grew into two large plants. That led me into learning more about different plants, the environments they thrive in, and how they survive. It’s another low-effort but rewarding hobby, especially if you enjoy learning.

My Character#

I try to be polite and respectful. I believe everyone deserves a baseline level of respect, and over time their actions can increase or decrease that.

I enjoy listening, learning new things, and being challenged. I like collaborating and sharing knowledge — whether that helps me improve or helps someone else.

I do tend to overthink at times — trying to predict outcomes and prepare for everything. While that can be useful, it’s probably not always great for my own wellbeing.

Other than that, I’m just a normal person trying to get by and support my family.

Conclusion#

I’ve never been great at writing about myself — I don’t want to come across like I’m trying to sell myself too much. Oh, and I also enjoy playing pool. I’m not the best at it, but it’s a great way to spend time.

Thanks for reading.

If you’re more interested in my skills and achievements, please head over to my online resume