Writing this to get it out the way and to put following blogs into perspective.

Who am I 

Storage Practice Manager for Central Northern Europe, 22yrs in IT business, 43yrs old.
First computer program written when I was 13: Written in BASIC on paper coding sheet, then transferred to Teletype connected from my primary school to central education authority computer.  Program was about 10-15 lines long, useful as still lots of technology stems from punched card and teletype, where you could see and touch the program.
First "real program", 1978 on Reasearch Machines Z80 (crashed every 20 minutes).
My first computer was a Sinclair ZX80 (did not crash).
First used "Unix" on a VAX VMS around 1983, at Polytechnic Central London, now University of Westminster, studied computer science.
When started work, went with IBM Mainframes with MVS, as that was the best paid.
Worked as Systems programmer, maintaining, de-bugging and writing parts of and OS, Security and Storage. In those days we did everything. Installed first Security software ACF2 using reel to reel tapes in 1988.
Worked as MVS Operator, System Programmer, Storage Manager, Unix Sys Admin, Technical Design Authority, Oracle Admin, Security Administrator, EMEA Storage Architect, Consultancy and Sales.
Worked with following m/f and server suppliers: IBM, Amdahl, HDS, HP, Sun
Worked with following storage suppliers: EMC (since SSD days), STK since their first 3880 disks (now we buy the company), IBM, HDS, HP, DG, Sun
Since graduating, I have worked for a government department, Bank and now a computer company.
I think that is was better to be in the computer business than my first career choice as pilot.  Those parents are right quite often, but not all the time, they said life would be easier if I went to college, jury is still out on this issue.

Background (this will be important in later blogs).

My parents were from Latvia, hence my non-English name. I was born in the UK, and grew up there.  Spent my childhood growing up in Northamptonshire, England and then the largest part of my life in London.  I now live in Stockholm, Sweden. Did not want to work with computers but be a Pilot in the RAF.  My family lost too many relatives due the Soviets and Nazis occupying the Baltic States in WWII so they convinced me to go to college instead of getting back into the military firing line.  Computers was my only other interest and I could see their point as I only had one surviving grandparent.  Reluctantly studied computers.  After studying computer science decided not to work in IT, lasted 18 months until got a job as a computer operator.  Since then I have never got away from a keyboard and worked with all the usual suspects/suppliers as described above.  I speak 2 languages fluently and am learning Swedish by osmosis. Hobbies, Skiing, Golf.

Why start a blog:

1) New Years resolution
2) Share info, instead of answering the same question over again I can refer people to this.
3) Start something new, old publishing methods do not work.

As influenced by Johnathan Schwartz, 5 facts about myself that most people do not know, all have a twist:

1) Icelandair have a plane named after me, confidence building if you grew up in UK with a strange name in 70-80's.
    Twist: In Iceland Valdis is a girls name. I forgive them as Iceland was the first country to recognise Latvian independence twice, 1918 and 1991.
2) I have outlasted my last 10 managers and never done the same job for more than 3 years.
    Twist: I do not know if it is me or my manager.  I do not want to find out, some things are better left as mysteries.  There is a pattern here.
3) I do have a royal title bestowed to me by a King in a now defunct state.
    Twist: Never use it, lost touch with the King, but amusing oddity to discuss over a drink.  Never been able to make a penny or get a free drink out of any title so totally useless.
4) I have nearly drowned twice (Great Yarmouth and San Diego), been in 1 disasterous and 7 minor car accidents and had a gun pulled on me once.  
    Twist: Now I am risk averse and only drive German and Swedish cars.  Do not surf any longer and do not live in dangerous parts of London.
5) Least educated and shortest person at 6ft (1m 86cm) in my family. Least academically qualified person in my family as I only have one degree and a technical qualification.   All other siblings have several degrees from Masters to Doctor level.
    Twist: Most practical person in my family. I am the only one who has built 4 kitchens and renovated 2 houses, including all electrics, plumbing walls, bathrooms etc.  I can fix practical things my tall highly qualified siblings would have no clue about. I think I am related to aliens.