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It has been five years to the day since I started working at The Register, and for once, just that once right there, I will use the proper name of the publication that has supported myself and my family, and give it the respect it deserves.

I came to El Reg as the Great Recession was opening its gaping maw, and was offered a place to work and grow and learn – and to be paid well for the privilege and given great autonomy to boot. In my experience as an editor in the IT field, I have never willingly left a job. I usually stick around until the company goes bust or is acquired or something else dramatic happens, which makes me a little jumpy if you want to know the truth.

So in a way, El Reg should be grateful that I have been offered a different and exciting challenge at this time to become editor in chief of an enterprise tech publication from the folks who put together HPCwire. There are things a-foot in the largest data centers of the world. Just like supercomputers were precursors of tectonic changes in IT in years gone by, the techies at the largest enterprises in the world and the vendors that serve them (or don't to their great misfortune) are causing massive shifts again in the IT sector. And it is about more than hardware, as hard as it is for you to hear that from me. What is intriguing to me is getting a 3D view of how all the elements of the system – hardware, software, people, problems, and money – come together.

I didn't plan on taking a job at El Reg five years ago when Ashlee Vance left to go to the New York Times, but it seemed like a good idea given the sorry state of the economy. (Lehman Brothers went bankrupt that week.) And I didn't plan for this career move, either. An opportunity came along at the time I was feeling restless for change, and I took it. I surprised even myself, to be honest. And I trust that.

To all of my Reg coworkers over the years, what can I say? Those of you who had to wrestle with my beastly sentences, all I can tell you is that you are not alone and your suffering will be rewarded. (I have a lot of pints to buy...) The homemade office Christmas fruitcakes are now a tradition, so fear not, they will be in the post, just barely in time for the debauchery of the annual holiday party, as usual, regardless of where I get a paycheck. Those are about family, and El Reg always treated me as such. So, take the cake.

Safely snug in servers, switches, storage, and software...

And to the El Reg readers, who thankfully catch every error in logic, every typo, and every mistake, I can only say that English is not my first language and the trouble is I don't know what my mother tongue is supposed to be. Did I mention I have a touch of dyslexia, too? Starting to make sense now? I can't buy the many millions of you a pint, but I will make you this deal. If you come to New York City, I have some homebrew that I am willing to share. You will have to make your own fruitcake.

It has been my great joy to be your systems hack all these years, and to expand out into other areas. I thank you all for your patience and look forward to seeing you out there soon elsewhere on the Intertubes. (AManFromMars, please do come and play sometimes at my new gig. Every hack needs a commenter like you to keep him sane. Or whatever this is.)

If you want to reach me, send an email to tpm (at) guildcompanies.net. ®

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