If last year was positive, it’s even better, in every aspects.

I have a nice new job in a small international company as Head of IT / Architect, some kind of a CTO but with lots of fun around the code. We have few Magento systems, building new sites regularly, working with logistics companies and other partners connecting our systems to their, providing them data, sending and updating orders etc. Lots of planning and coding involved. I really love it! Colleagues admire my expertise and skills, my boss is pleased, we have lots to do so we are not bored at all.

Summer was cold and wet so we had less fun compared to 2010 in the parks, but moved to Croydon, so we are closer to the City so I have more time with my lovely little family every day as I’m 45 minutes distance form the office. The new flat has a nice kitchen with a big American style fridge, a long peninsula of kitchen counter, washer-drier, dishwasher, fan oven, you call it. We have two bathrooms, two bedrooms, a nice living room open together with the dining room and kitchen area, and a little garden area – in constant renovation.

Daniel commutes back to Redhill for school, Mate was at home with Emese. Croydon is less fun for them, so they go back to Redhill weekly for the nice playgrounds and the singing-dancing playgroup. Mate loves trains, have his part of socialising with other kids. Finally I’ve found time for my health, I’m running 5k every day instead of lunch break, found a dojo for martial arts practice, too.

So I hope new year will bring at least as much fun and joy as this year. I wish the same for all of us.

My first year in the UK. I have had great time at the NSI, I have created the new patrolstore.com based on Magento, a small site called apace.org.uk for police chiefs using Zend Frameworks, 3 other sites are under testing, a new mail server and lots of small achievements. I have a new nick: they call me “the Hungarian wizard”

We live here in Redhill, just south of London in a nice little two bedroom rent. London shops are just 30 minutes with train, Reigate is beautiful small town in walking distance, we love Priory Park! Just check my Picasa album for pictures.

So about this year: New friends, new skills, lots of fun with my family. This was absolutely a positive year for me, I hope your year was at least as good as mine.

Happy new year!

Pros:

• My son, Máté (Matthew) was born in January
• I have a new app in iTunes App Store: iRecipeBook
• I acted as “Most Senior Apple Consultant” for Hungary
• I had nice server consolidation projects at Apcom
• Also I had very nice in-house development projects
• I had no major health problems

Cons:

• Things are over at Apcom for me
• There is a joke about recession: A recession is when your neighbour loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours… so it was depression for me
• Christmas was without my mother and granny, they were sick

I think despite of the financial recession ^W depression I was able to close this year with positive balance. Of course not financially iRecipeBook just went to the shelves late November, I just put it on the App Store because I use it and I love it. This app was build for myself, contains features for me and Emese. Remote editing was really important for us because we use a lot of 3rd party recipes what we found on the web. It’s easier to copy-paste it on the computer with a web browser… anyway, I have a new version I will have to release it as update soon…

About my job: this year was fantastic, I had a chance to meet guys like James C. Berry. Jim was Group General Manager for Apcom Group, we had lots of fun with his projects making the company more enterprise-like. Also I was happy to work with guys like Peter, Karoly, Steve, Arpi and others, I cannot write a complete list but they made my life harder with their projects and little questions I love them, I hope they will have good sales in 2010.

Finally, I have to close summary of 2009 with Matt. I am very-very proud of my son, he already shows that he is bright, tells me daddy , stands still, eats (kind of) alone, plays with Lego bricks and ball, understands many things clearly shows that he loves us. I wish he will have a happy life.

1 table spoon of wok spice (contains salt, sugar, garlic, pepper, soy sauce, ginger, fenugreek, turmeric)… I know this is cheating

Clean and slice the chicken to 2×3 cm slices, fry them in olive oil till they are white. Peel and slice the carrot to half inch slices, coarsely chop onion and put them in. Wash the mushroom, put it into the pan, pour in the spices, some soy sauce and the starch on it. Stir it, pour water on it to just cover the meat. Place the rice noodle on the top and cover it to boil until noodle is tender enough to stir it together. Pour some more water on the whole, cover it and repeat this until the noodle is ready with some luck.

Update: My son Matthew turned 9 months few days ago. He is clever and as handsome as me

The challenge: to learn to shoot nice photos. I read documents, books about the subject, I know the basics, the theory, but this is different.

• learnt the basics of the French language
• spent few nice days in Paris again
• fruitful vacation in Döbrönte … see last entry ;)
• I organized the first Apple summer camp and an educational week
• became Zyxel switch specialist
• and Apple Certified Technical Coordinator
• Emese is pregnant with my son

Update: I have been reviewed by “whoneedsaname”. It’s fascinating how the guy writes!

Five Or More game screenshot

I’m still waiting Apple’s approval of my request to join their developer community. It’s not straightforward, because I cannot buy anything from Apple Store. I live on the wrong side of the world. I had to fax them papers to prove I will buy the subscription, now they are sitting on this paper and ask me to wait.

It’s not so easy to wait, after waiting more than one year to release something it’s more than annoying. I am curious when will they decide. Hopefully not before my patience… never mind, I’m patient.

So the rules are clear: if you live in a rich country, you can develop. If not, you are a loser.  Apple doesn’t even want your money. Funny, isn’t it? No. It’s sad.