Sjoerd Blom

Despite my work outside the internet sector, I continue to actively contribute to the WordPress community. Simply because I enjoy doing so, and because I like sharing my knowledge and experience with others. Over the past few years, I’ve worked hard on organising WordCamp Europe, which took place in Athens from 8 to 10 June 2023. Together with Evangelia Pappa and José Freitas, I spent almost two years preparing for the event. In previous editions of WordCamp Europe, my role was mainly focused on leading teams.

After a long period of weighing things up, I finally made the decision last week. I’ve decided to do something I actually wanted to do back in secondary school and that was almost 40 years ago now.

I’m going to properly get my chef’s qualifications. In September, I’ll be starting an accelerated chef training programme. Thanks to my experience in hospitality and as a chef, albeit without formal qualifications, I can complete it within a year instead of the usual two.

For several years now, I’ve been actively involved in the WordPress community. That community is huge and spread all over the world. It consists of enthusiastic WordPress users in all shapes and forms: users, site builders, developers, and more. And precisely because everyone is so widely distributed across the globe, it’s great to meet up in person from time to time. To do something fun together. To make friendships and strengthen existing ones. And that’s exactly what the WordPress community does.

I’ve had smart technology in my home for quite a few years now. It all started with a Philips Hue starter kit consisting of three bulbs and a gateway. Being able to control your lighting from your smartphone or tablet, without having to leave your chair to switch on the lights. Until someone else in the household used the physical light switch, making it impossible to control the lights from the app…

After years of working with WordPress, supporting WordPress, and… an empty WordPress blog, it’s time to finally let my fingers loose on the keyboard again.

Time hasn’t stood still here either, so there’s plenty to write about:

our application for a permit for a fence and shed (the texts are already written, but I’ll publish them only after our objection has been reviewed by the committee),

working on my smart home solutions,