Rob Farley

Rob Rob Farley has been consulting in IT since completing a Computer Science degree with first class honours in 1997. Before moving to Adelaide, he worked in consultancies in Melbourne and London. He runs the development department in one of Australia's leading IT firms, as well as doing database application consultancy and training. He heads up the Adelaide SQL Server User Group, and holds several Microsoft certifications.

Rob has been involved with Microsoft technologies for most of his career, but has also done significant work with Oracle and Unix systems. His preferred database is SQL Server and his preferred language is C#. Recently he has been involved with Microsoft Learning in the US, creating and reviewing new content for the next generation of Microsoft exams.

Over the years, Rob's clients have included BP Oil, OneLink Transit, Accenture, Avanade, Australian Electorial Commission, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Royal Borough of Kingston, Help The Aged, Unisys, Department of Treasury and Finance (Vic), National Mutual, the Bible Society and others.

Did you mean to come here? My blog is now at http://msmvps.com/blogs/robfarley



15 December 2005

Don't buy the wife a power tool

I haven't got Roslyn a Christmas present yet. The plan is that she'll take me to the shops to teach me how to buy her jewellery. So I don't buy her jewellery that she'll never wear for one reason or another.

I'm awful at buying Roslyn presents. I think like a bloke. I've learned to watch for clues, the "Ooh, that looks nice" comments when walking through a shopping centre, that kind of thing.

But a few years ago (when we were still in London), I made a mistake. In about October, she had commented about a RotoZip when watching the TV. She said how useful it would be, and talked about some of the stuff she could do with it. So I made a mental note. Went to all kinds of trouble to find a hardware store that had one (very popular, sold out quickly), and eventually found a B&Q that stocked them. She saw the box wrapped up under the tree, and had no idea what it was.

I learned that year - don't buy the wife a power tool. Even if she really wants one.

Posted by Rob Farley at 9:45 am