About Me

Welcome to my blog. Let me take a little time to introduce myself.

I’m originally from Scotland, where I grew up, and completed my degree in Computer Science. I’ve been a software engineer for over 15 years and have worked in embedded systems since I started my career. In 2010, I moved to California through the company I work for and I’ve never looked back.

I’ve been interested in mechanical puzzles since I was pretty young, and I have my Dad to blame for that. He would bring me new puzzles, as I’m sure he saw that I had a nack for opening or solving puzzles, and wanted to encourage that. I also blame him for the fact that I collect puzzles (among other things) as he was the same.

Over the years, my puzzle collection has grown and my desire to own higher quality puzzles, and more challenging puzzles has grown along with it. There’s puzzles scattered through the house, and even more in boxes that haven’t been unpacked since I moved to California (yes I know it’s a crime!)

Towards the end of 2010, I started designing and building my own puzzles, and this blog is loosely a record of that journey. I hope you enjoy it, and maybe learn something along the way.

2 thoughts on “About Me

  1. Bernhard

    hei Neil
    nice to find your puzzle blog and I want to introduce my homepage with offers of wooden high qaulity puzzles;
    we produce always only a small batch for different designers-collectors and museums and sometimes we make 120 puzzles from the same design, if it is used for the IPP as an exchange, normally not more than 25 to 50 frome each design

    happy puzzling
    Bernhard

    Reply
  2. Gus

    Hey,

    I just happened upon your puzzle blog, and I just have to say that it is awesome.

    I am a bit of a puzzler – not professionally, just as a hobby. πŸ™‚ I have done most of the Hanayama puzzles, Sacred Myths series, some of the Sonic Warp stuff, etc. I really enjoy puzzles and, through your site, have now been introduced to a bunch of new things that I am anxious to try. Thanks for that.

    I do have a question for you: For a while now, I have been wanting to try a “Japanese puzzle box” of some kind. I have never tried (or even held one). I am always hesitant to fork over the money for pricey, new puzzles in fear of being very disappointed in solving them too quickly. The boxes I have seen online are fairly expensive… so have abstained – hoping to get some advice on a good one to try first.

    Any recommendations? πŸ™‚ To be honest… since I have never done one… I don’t want something TOO hard… but… I also feel like getting something that is only 2 or 3 moves is going to be a bit too easy. Then again, I don’t know anything about them… so I am writing as a newb to solicit your advice.

    If you had to recommend a puzzle box that is not too difficult and not too expensive, but also not too easy… what would you suggest? πŸ™‚ Is there even such a middle-of-the-road box in available?

    Thanks for your time… and for the blog.

    Best,
    Gus Holwerda
    blackchalkproductions @ gmail.com
    http://www.intersectthemovie.com

    Reply

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