There are many people I have to thank for their assistance with this book. My biggest thanks has to go to my wife Becki and son Richard, who have had to put up with me working three jobs at once in order to get this done. I should also mention my daughter Ashleigh, for bringing me biscuits and fizzy drinks while I worked.

I'd like to thank my parents for the great lesson that the best way to get ahead in life is to get off your backside and do it. Without them getting me my first computers, this book would never have been written and I'd still be in some awful FE College somewhere, teaching the same things day after day.

Jock and William at Farmtrack have been a great source of inspiration, without whom this book would probably have not been written by me—they really gave me my iOS break; so thanks guys, this is down to you and your belief in me.

I must also thank Scott. He probably doesn't know how much of an influence he has been on me in these last five years. His hand has guided, shaped, and smacked me when I needed to be and without his encouragement I would have never have left education. All this, when I have never even met him. I will one day, and until then, our 5-hour Skype calls shall continue.

Have I missed anyone? Well, in no particular order…

Willow, John King (Southport College), Dr. Derek Bloor (University of Salford; sadly, no longer with us), Dr. Trevor Crowley, Roger Darlington, Dr. Andrew Hill, Trevor Green (HelloU), Neil Hewitt (South Cheshire College), Yogesh and Akash at Packt Publishing for being patient, and Steve Hopley and Chris Ignatius (St Helens College). Roy Heslop at CTA Direct deserves a big mention for helping me out when my computer decided to die. And not forgetting Andrei either!

This book is dedicated to anyone who wants to learn and wants to progress.

Enjoy!

Paul

Newton-le-Willows, 10th Sept 2013