https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/10682293_10152748466540619_969996698036555465_o.jpg

##Hello Steemers!

Update:
Here is my verification photo. @acidyo Thank you for reminding me to do this.
![Image of James Parkin](https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14372365_10153815945901835_5082231184229848098_o.jpg)

My name is James Parkin. The first thing I would like to do with my first steemit post (and pretty much my first ever blog post) is do some name dropping. I was introduced to the platform by @neilstrauss and his enthusiasm for the platform and its potential was infectious. 

I was also shown around by @anwenbaumeister and I felt really inspired by her steemit journey.

With the name dropping over I can talk about me. I was born in Doncaster, England, a place famous for roughly two things. Being the birth place of Jeremy Clarkson (of Top Gear fame) and Louis Tomlinson (of One Direction fame). Actually, I think Doncaster is famous for more than these two individuals, however, my family moved when I was very young and I haven't really been back, apart from stopping at Doncaster station on the train up to Durham.

http://www.visitdoncaster.com/system/uploads/image_content/image/102/desktop_low_res_cusworthhallnorthaspect.jpg
Cusworth Hall, Doncaster.

From Doncaster my family moved 38 miles north east to a village in Humberside called South Cave. Here I would spend the majority of my primary school years and a few secondary before moving again to the British School of Brussels in Belgium.

It was while in Belgium that I developed an interest in computers and IT, although I wasn't necessarily considering it as a career. I did enjoy building things and given that there weren't many university courses teaching the art of building things, computer science seemed like a good second option. I was accepted into Durham University and graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Software Engineering in 2001. I've been a Software Engineer ever since and I still have a passion for building things and problem solving.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Durham_Kathedrale.jpg
Durham, England.

In 2012 I fell in love and moved to Ventura, California. The love bit didn't work out, although, I do have a great job, great friends and get to spend 90% of my year bathed in sunshine, so every cloud does have a silver lining.

## Fun Facts About Me
Here are some fun facts about me.
* Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (or Philosopher's) Stone was filming in Durham during my final year there.
* I have abseiled (rappelled) down the side of Twickenham stadium
http://www.talimited.com/images/imagebank/uploads/twickenhamRugby.jpg
Twickenham Stadium, Home of English Rugby. 
(My abseil was down the smaller stand that no longer exists)
* I am a massive Tottenham Hotspur (also known as the Spurs) fan. This is a football club based in North London that belongs to the English Premier League. You may well see me blog about this club.
https://scontent-dft4-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13906620_10154306795775619_2286501896306895984_n.jpg?oh=736c132cbaac8a7f4ffd11e296d7bece&oe=586BD49C
I bought my best friends daughter her first football kit. It was Tottenham Hotspur of course.

I am looking forward to meeting new people here and sharing more about me and my interests.