About

Bio: about me

Mugshot

I am Glyn Normington, a retired software developer, interested in helping others improve their programming skills. I worked in software for 39 years, edited IETF RFC 9535, and then taught part-time at the University of Winchester. I’m currently fully retired. I still enjoy software development – you can find me inevitably on GitHub and preferably on Codeberg.

I’m married with three children and six grandchildren.

I’m delighted to live in the lovely city of Winchester, which is south west of London, England. Winchester has many beautiful buildings, including Winchester Cathedral (below).

I grew up in the county of Yorkshire and studied mathematics at University College, Oxford. During my first and second years at “univ”, I lived on Logic Lane in the building with the bike racks, below. I like to think that logic is one of the guiding principles of my life, although my narrowly rationalistic, and in fact atheistic, worldview in that period of my life was soon to change.

Univ Main Quad Univ Durham Buildings

After graduation, I moved to Hampshire for work, which I guess makes me an economic migrant.

I’m now a follower of Jesus¹, but very much a work in progress. I’m involved in a local church where I look after the technical side of live streaming. I belong to a small group which meets most weeks to study the bible, pray, and support each other. You may wonder how my faith fits with my love of logic, but the two are logically consistent. As CS Lewis once wrote: “Miracles do not, in fact, break the laws of nature”. The revolution in my understanding of the world occurred when I investigated the historical evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

My politics are left of (the UK) centre. I read The Guardian, but also subscribe to Prospect magazine, which is a bit more balanced. I was saddened by Brexit.

I love reading – Kazuo Ishiguro is one of my favourite authors – and try to keep fit, mostly by running. My wife and I enjoy walking and sailing. The joke goes that Yorkshiremen are like Scotsmen with all the generosity squeezed out, so I like repairability. BTW I use arch (what?).

I find languages fascinating. I had to learn French at school, but then chose Russian as a second foreign language. I added Ancient Greek in order to avoid doing history. I’m currently learning Spanish, but it’s slow going.

Oh, and I’m left-handed. (If I know the barista, I occasionally order a decaf, skinny, left-handed flat white, because of the latte art.)

Latte art with rotational symmetry of order 2

For what I’m up to at the moment, please see the now page. Feel free to contact me.

S. D. G.

¹ I would normally describe myself as a Christian, but some readers (especially in the USA) may associate this with right-wing nationalism, which isn’t me.