I'm Scottish by birth — you'll hear it the moment I say hello — and my wife and I came out to Australia in 1989. We've now lived here longer than we ever lived back home. We raised our two sons in Mona Vale, in the same house for over twenty years, and today we share a busy inter-generational home: one of our boys and his family live with us, with a little grandson and granddaughter. Family is everything to me, and waking up to those two each morning is the joy of my life.
I spent my whole working life in technology — twenty years with Cisco, then Citrix, then Autodesk. I was always the one with the latest gadget, but the part I loved most was never the kit. It was sitting beside someone, taking the pressure out of it, and watching them go from worried to confident. Everything I built came down to one thing: trust. If I have a motto, it's that hard work beats talent — there's always someone cleverer, but I'll out-work the problem until it's sorted.
When I retired about a year ago, I wasn't ready to stop contributing, so I started volunteering at Computer Pals in Narrabeen — and I loved it. Helping older folks one-on-one is where The Calm Tech really began. I saw how often the problem wasn't the person at all; it was being rushed, talked down to, or left with a fix they couldn't repeat. Why focus on older people? Honestly, because I'm one myself, I genuinely enjoy their company, and I do love a good challenge.
So I built something different. I come to your home, at a time that suits you, and we work through whatever's frustrating you over a cuppa, at your pace. No jargon. No rushing. And never any making you feel silly for asking. I don't fix something and vanish, either — I make sure you can do it yourself next time, and you get it written down so you're never stuck.
And it will only ever be me. I'm not trying to build an empire or grow a team — this is about doing a great job at a fair price, for people I'm glad to help. I'm fully police-checked and insured, for your peace of mind and mine. I only take on work I'm genuinely good at — Apple devices, Wi-Fi, smart TVs, printers, photos and online safety. If I'm not the right person for the job, I'll tell you straight and point you to someone who is.
If any of this sounds like what you've been after, the first step is easy and free.
Patient, in-home tech help for older adults across Sydney's Northern Beaches. Fixed prices, Seniors Card 10% off, every fix written down.