I think where jobs are concerned people are often initially taken aback by a technical woman, but generally once they realise that I can do the job they don’t care. Although when I was working full time I remember going to fix someone’s laptop and he asked if I could send ‘one of the boys’ down instead … I said that I could and they could have a nice chat but it probably wouldn’t help with his computer issues!

Before I got into computers I was working as stagecrew in the theatre – a very male dominated area – and there once the guys realised I could lift the heavy stuff, wasn’t expecting any special treatment because I was a woman and could drink pints with the best of them, I never had any problems! I guess it is a little annoying that you sometimes feel you have to prove yourself whereas a guy would just be accepted but the more women that do prove themselves in male dominated areas then the easier it will be for those that follow – I hope!