I’ve been incredibly lucky in my career. I’ve somehow managed to meet and become friends with highly talented people who are all experts in their respective fields.

They have (almost literally) dragged me into at first blogging, and then eventually speaking. I could not have done any of it without their support and I have benefited immensely from it (professionally and personally).

However I am well aware that this is not the case for everyone. That’s why when Alex Yates (b|t) told me about speakingmentors.com I jumped straight in.

This is a simple concept. Anyone who wants help either getting into presenting or wants advice on how to improve can contact any one of the people listed as mentors and ask for help.

I was terrified before my first presentation so I know how hard it can be (I’m still terrified but I know now that I can do it), so I am more than happy to spend a bit of time with anyone who wants to ask questions or run through their session.

So if you’re looking for help, please go to the site and get in contact with one of us.

If you’re a seasoned presenter and want to help, please do the same.

This is all about increasing the number of quality presenters out there, and that will benefit everyone.

Have a good week!

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been looking at various different locations around Dublin as my tenancy in the current flat that I’m in has run out.

There’s a bit of a housing problem in Dublin at the moment so it really hasn’t been easy but I’ve managed to find a place that ticks all the boxes. And you know what was the number one thing I looked at when searching for a place?

Broadband speed.

OK, so I didn’t just look at that. I did take the area, location to local amenities, and the size/price of the property into consideration but on all those things I was willing to compromise, not so with broadband.

I’ve been told that this is “a first world problem” and I agree but due to the industry I work in and my personal commitments, living in a place with terrible (or even worse, no) internet would be an absolute disaster for me.

The next year is going to be critical and I need a place that I can base myself and not have to worry about whether or not the internet is going to be an issue.

Hopefully the place I’ve found will provide that and I can concentrate on what matters. Really looking forward to it if I’m honest (apart from the actual process of moving, that sucks).

So, what’s the one thing that you look for when deciding on where to live? How high up is broadband speed on your list?

Have a good week!

Hey everyone, hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year!

I took December off from blogging as had started a new job and wanted to focus on getting to grips with my new role. But back now and have a load of ideas for new blogs!

Going to keep looking at containers, initially focusing on Azure Container Services (AKS) but I’m waiting for Docker to release support for Kubernetes on Docker for Windows so will be jumping on that asap! I’m also going to presenting a couple of sessions on partitioning so will more than likely be posting a few blogs on that.

Looking back, 2017 was a great year for me. I went from presenting my first session at SQL Saturday Iceland to being made a Microsoft Data Platform MVP! Highlights include: –

• Exploring Iceland after SQL Saturday (it’s an amazing country)
• Presenting at SQL Bits for the first time (I was terrified)
• Cycling through Copenhagen at around 9pm (the end of a long, stressful day)
• Working with all the great ppl at SQL Relay (although I’ve never been so tired)

I’m hoping that 2018 is just as kind. I’ve already got a couple of session lined up so here’s to 2018, bring it on! 🙂

Have a good week!

I find it absolutely amazing that I’ve been writing this blog for four years. My first ever post My 5 pieces of advice for new DBAs was published way back in November 2013.

I started out writing one post per month, just on areas that I was working on or topics that I found interesting. Over the last year I ramped that up to one technical post a week, one editorial, and on Fridays a post linking to articles I’d been reading. The difference that’s made has been phenomenal!

(hits on my blog by year)

Ok, obviously just publishing more posts a week wouldn’t cause that increase in hits. 2017 has been a really exciting year for me as I found a topic that I really enjoy writing about and have started regularly presenting session about it (give you three guesses what that topic is 🙂 )

I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished this year and 2018 looks to be even more exciting. I’m working on a couple of new sessions and there’s a load of great events coming up.

It still blows my mind that when I started out presenting it was just to see if I could do it (just like starting this blog was) and now I’m working on different presenting techniques to deliver the best session that I can.

Hope you all had an amazing 2017, bring 2018 on!

Thank you for reading!

Over the last few weeks I’ve spoken at a few conferences, the last of those being SQL Relay.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with SQL Relay, it’s unique in that it’s not one event. SQL Relay is five events starting on Monday in one location and then a different location in the UK every day until the Friday.

As I was speaking at four of those locations I got myself a place on a bus hired by the organisers to take them and other speakers to each of the event locations. This gave me an insight into the sheer amount of work that’s required to host such an event.

Hint, it’s a lot of work

Don’t get me wrong, I knew organising events is hard work but knowing and seeing are two completely different things! Holding one event is hard enough but five in a row? The organisers of SQL Relay are some of the most hardworking and motivated people I’ve ever met.

Best thing about them though? On the Friday, the last event, even though they were shattered beyond belief, they were smiling and joking with attendees.

So hat’s off to event organisers everywhere, you mad mad bunch 🙂

Have a good week!