This year has been pretty busy and very different to normal. Not only due to COVID but also the arrival of my daughter.

She arrived as Lockdown was announced in the UK, the Lockdown has allowed me to be around at home for a lot more of her first few months. But it has meant finding new ways to try and focus on work when needed. Between my Daughter and two Jack Russell terriers, that can be a challenge.

With some success, I have started to use the Pomodoro Technique to ensure I can get blocks of work completed, in combination with some noise-cancelling headphones. Learning how to work from home has been rather challenging, but this has helped a lot, unless the Postman or the Window Cleaners visit our neighbours then nothing can stop 2 dogs vs our soft furnishing from being anything but distracting.

Highlights

GAUG / WAUG / NAUG

Whilst it has been hard for in-person events, I have found the positives of being able to join Glasgow, Welsh, and Northern Azure User Group meetings. Cambridge has a few small user groups for Cloud but nothing that focuses on Azure specifically and the number of online events have meant I have managed to watch a number of great talks.

Ignite / BUILD

I was also able to watch some of Ignite and BUILD due to the events moving online, I hope to attend Ignite in person at some point, but for now watching online will have to suffice. Attending the events did mean I was able to pass some Azure exams using the free exam vouchers supplied to all attendees.

Festive Tech Calendar

Like last year’s Azure Advent Calendar, I have really enjoyed the Festive Tech Calendar with 3 videos, articles, or events for each day of December I have spent quite a bit of time watching YouTube videos and Twitch streams, and I took part in the Hackathon ran by Wesley Haakman. It was a really enjoyable experience and I hope to find similar events next year. See my upcoming lessons learnt post for more information about the Hackathon.

Skylines Summer Sessions

Similar to the Azure Festive Calendar, Skylines Academy ran a series over the summer hosted by Gregor Suttie and Richard Hooper, it was an enjoyable series, especially the April Edwards and Adam Bertram videos.

Goals for 2021

• Continue pracising my writing and contributing to Skylines Academy.
• Maximise my Azure Exposure.
• Complete AZ 500, & AZ 400.
• Find a topic for Next Year’s Festive Calendar.
• Read more.