Many years ago, when I was a young twit with a poor work ethic, I worked in Sydney for a man named Ian. He got back in touch to say g’day a little while ago, and coined a phrase I’ve taken as my own:

I love the idea of being the local IT blacksmith. It strikes me every community should have one. All these people with computers in their homes and not much idea of how to keep one healthy and working, and all they need is access to someone with the magic fingers. Obviously in the big city we do have various dial-a-nerd services, but I rather suspect the quality is patchy and without the sense of community, there’s no real ongoing continuity or trust. I have a mental image of you wearing a tunic and tights, and pointy shoes that curl up at the end, walking up to people’s computers and exclaiming “odds bodkins who configured your IMAP server?!” I accept my vision may not be completely accurate.

I confirmed that his vision was not entirely accurate (I don’t wear the tights or the curly shoes, but the “odds bodkins” is spot on) but I decided then and there that he had hit the nail on the head regarding my vocation. I am indeed the IT blacksmith: people have a problem with their computers or assorted gadgets, so they call me and I fix it. It involves less sweating over a hot forge than your standard blacksmith, but it serves the same purpose. I give people the support they need to get their own work done. And in the process, I can’t walk down the street without running into someone I know, someone I’ve helped with some problem or other.

After years in Sydney and Canberra, when the only time you learn your next-door neighbour’s name is while you’re prepping for yet another bushfire to tear through the suburb, this is an improvement!