Me

My name is Simon Elvery. While I might attempt to be witty or interesting here, it's quite possible you'll end up finding me a little boring. If you happen to be an investigator of some kind with an assignment to find out all about me, then Google would be a good place to go from here because it has lots of stuff on me¹.

I am married to this lovely girl named Laura whom I have been with for long while.

I am qualified with bachelor degrees in Information Technology (Information Systems) and Business (Banking & Finance - Funds Management) from QUT. That gives me a total of seven letters, more would be nice, but further formal study isn't my thing right now.

Some of my major interests are web design, web development, photography, indoor soccer and mountain biking.

sw'as

It took me a very long while to write an about section for this site². I guess the reason it took so long is because when I started I had no idea what the site would really be about and how long it would last. I'm now fairly sure that it will last because I really enjoy maintaining and experimenting here, though I'm still not really sure what it's all about.

One, might wonder where I got the name sw'as, and you need wonder no longer. Sw'as is a word (more correctly a contraction) devised, originally by Tony Simpson³. It is a combination of the words "sweet as" and has the definition displayed below.

Other things about me

• I really like weather, especially summer storms.
• If you offer me coffee I will politely decline unless I'm fairly sure it will be espresso...good espresso. I love good Merlo or Brother espresso and on average drink around 2.5 cups per day.
• Despite not usually working very hard at school, I've always liked (and been able to get) good grades, except for a brief lapse in concentration around grade nine or ten.
• I've never been able to choose a favourite band because there's so much good stuff out there that's different from anything else. Despite this, the Eels come very close.
• I don't believe in God or any variations thereof. In fact, I think you're kind of crazy if you do (that doesn't mean I won't like you).
• I've started one or two mildly unsuccessful businesses.
• The internet takes up a lot of my time.
• I will choose a movie with subtitles over a scary movie almost every time.
• The contest for best radio station in the world is a non-contest in my mind. If you like music, listen to triple j and you'll never turn back.
• I'm a tad pedantic when it comes to correct use of the English language. For that you can blame Laura. And I won't be offended if you point out mistakes I have made, because although I'm pedantic, I'm not perfect.
• I'd like to have a touch more artistic ability - I'm working on it.
• I'm geeky enough to want to be recognised by Googlism.
• I believe in the ideas of a liberal democracy and free markets.
• I still have hope for the future of the Australian Democrats.
• I like making lists even though I'm not very good at it.
• I don't drink enough water or eat regularly enough.
• I've travelled a bit.
• I'm a big fan of Sweden even though I've never been there. This is because I passed up going there on exchange in highschool, mostly because of Laura.

1. Google has only ever shown up one other Simon Elvery who now seems to have disappeared from view. If I recall correctly, he lived in the UK somewhere and got married some time in 2004. [↩]
2. Nearly a year, in fact. But who's counting? [↩]
3. Although he insists it should be spelt sw'az - and that's just stupid. [↩]