About me
My name is Steve Wood and this page tells a bit more about me. My main interests (in alphabetical order so I don't have to choose between them) are canals, computing, music and photography. Add to that curiosity about art and design, architecture, railways, travel, technology and the world in general and I have plenty of interests to keep me busy.
Canals
From childhood canals have fascinated me. I grew up within walking distance of the Caldon Canal on the outskirts of Stoke on Trent and my parents have been boat owners since 1972. I am an active member of the Caldon and Uttoxeter Canals Trust (Communications Officer) and Inland Waterways Association Stoke-on-Trent Branch (Planning Officer.) I have recently taken over the Chairmanship of the Uttoxeter Canal Restoration Committee. This group, which is a part of the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust, is dedicated to the protection and eventual restoration to navigation of 13 miles of derelict canal in the Staffordshire Moorlands and East Staffordshire areas.
I have lived on the Historic Narrow Boat Bream since 1999. You can find out more about Bream on the Fish Class Boats section of this site.
Computing
My interest in computing dates back to 1981, when I first started programming in Pascal as a student. I subsequently learned to use a few other languages like Fortran and when PCs came along I used Basic and some of the scripting languages, for example in Lotus 1-2-3.
In 1996 I was recruited by the overnight parcel distribution network APC Overnight to build a database system to track parcels. This system which soon expanded to include manifesting, printing, invoicing and reporting systems is still in use by the company and over 100 regional office. The core systems I developed were written in FoxPro. As technology advanced and my team expanded we added on new functionality using Visual FoxPro, SQL Server then later web technologies based on PHP, MySQL and web services. The underlying FoxPro core is only now finally in the process of being replaced almost 14 years after it was written and two years after I left the business.
I have still occasionally done work on the FoxPro system for APC or their depots but my main computing interests these days are web design and development. I have developed systems for small and medium sized organisations, both in the voluntary and commercial sectors:
Canal sites:
Caldon & Uttoxter Canals Trust
This site was an early attempt at a CSS designed site that has stood the test of time because it was so visually simple. Over time, assorted interactive components have been bolted onto it, a calendar, then a gallery, most recently a shopping cart. It will be rebuilt at some point but as I maintain it on a voluntary basis there isn't really much urgency to this.
Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club
A full content-managed canals site, powered by Drupal, replacing a well-used but outdated static site. Published 6th March 2010, so still being tweaked and added to - 450 pages and counting! Loads of interesting functionality. Take a look around the public areas. Note HNBOC members have access to additional content.
Another very simple design. Visually designed to tie in with a leaflet that had I also photographed and designed. Just been ported to Drupal from static pages as we're planning to expand the content in the next month or two.
Only just being put together, but already has some content of interest.
Commercial sites:
e-commerce site with all the usual bells and whistles, shopping cart, online payment, stock control, order tracking etc.
Quite similar business to the above, built using the same software but in slightly different configuration.
Visual presentation was the key element of this site, which is designed to be used by clients from the fields of planning, urban regeneration and the like. Design evolved over time working in partnership with the Director of the business.
I am currently rebuilding this site, using a Content Management System, as part of a major project undertaken by the Society, with the support of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and funded by English Heritage. The new site has had a visual redesign to tie in with the publication of new promotional materials, which I also designed. first published in April 2010.
Music
I have VERY wide tastes, incorporating (among others) rock, jazz, progressive, folk and world music. At present I am excited by the following:
- Pat Metheny
- Anna Maria Jopek
- Tord Gustavsen
- King Crimson
- Genesis (including solo work by Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett)
- Suzanne Vega
- Dhafer Youssef
- Peter Hammill
- Jan Garbarek
- Gentle Giant
- Judie Tzuke
- Imogen Heap
I should also mention my good friends Una Zuki, whose plan for world domination is ongoing :)
Photography
I have been interested in photography since I was a teenager. Immediately after graduating I took a summer job working in a one-hour photo processing laboratory. I ended up staying with the company for eight years, moving through various positions and after leaving was taken on by the company's number one customer, where I worked for another two years.
My own photography is still largely film-based. I am a huge fan of infra-red film, though Kodak stopped making it a couple of years ago and I've not yet found a replacement that excites me in the way that this film did. I (some would say begrudgingly) embraced the world of digital photography and am finally finding ways to use it in a creative manner that interests me.
Trivia
I am a season ticket holder at Stoke City FC. Block 15 back row - come and say hi!
I enjoy travelling and have explored much of Europe.
My favourite countries are Norway, Italy, Poland and Ireland.
I have visited every county in the UK and Ireland except Aberdeenshire.
My favourite city is Barcelona.
My favourite artists are Rene Magritte, Mark Rothko and Liam Spencer.
My favourite foods are mostly Indian and Italian - especially when followed by trifle or ice cream :-)
I don't drink coffee or beer (together or on their own!)
Google "stevetheboater" to find me on Twitter, Facebook and various other places
