Background

About Me

Hi, I'm Paul Fortey — the old dog in question.

I'm based in Aberdeen, Scotland, and have spent my career working across software development, business analysis, project management, and now AI. Over the years I've had the privilege of working with some great teams and on some genuinely interesting problems.

I have been working in IT for over 40 years, most of that in a unix, linux world with regular excursions into the Microsoft domain. In that time I have seen a lot of changes from my early time writing in Fortran and C to the current world of cloud solutions and now AI and using and building AI based solutions and systems.

During this time I have developed a wide range of solutions and been engaged in a number of different roles in the IT space.

From Software development, Systems administration, Building and supporting applications over a significant number of years Database solutions, Personnel Logistics solutions, Asset Rental & Tracking solutions, Web Sites and Web Applications, Managing IT development teams, Managing IT departments and outsourced systems & solutions, Project Managing Infrastructure and ERP implementations, Data Migrations between solutions.

But the world doesn't stand still, and neither do I.

Why This Site?

The tagline says it all: Never stop learning. Keep challenging what you think you know. Age is just a state of mind.

I started this site as a personal record of my learning journey — a place to document the courses I take, the tools I explore, and the ideas I find interesting. Writing things down forces clarity of thought, and sharing them (even if nobody reads them) creates a sense of accountability.

What I'm Interested In

  • AI & AI based solution development using Claude Code and Codex
  • Technology: Cloud, containers, DevOps, and the infrastructure that modern software runs on
  • Business Analysis: Requirements, process modelling, and the art of bridging business and technology
  • Continuous learning: Online courses, books, and anything that expands how I think about problems
  • Linux: long time user of linux since 1994!! experience with
  • Databases: Worked with MS-SQL Server, MySQL, Postgresql, DB2
  • Apple ecosystem: Long-time Mac and iPad user, always interested in how these tools can support productive work

The Name

"Old Dog New Skills" is a play on the old saying — the one that suggests you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I fundamentally disagree with that idea. Curiosity and the willingness to learn aren't the preserve of the young. If anything, experience gives you better context for understanding why new things matter.

Want to get in touch? Email me at [email protected].