The Ghost in the Machine: Why I’m Returning to COBOL

They told me back in the late '90s that COBOL was a dying language. They said Java and C++ would bury it, that the "Year 2000" bug would be its final gasp. Well, here I am in 2026, retired, sipping coffee in Palmerston North, and I’m realizing that the world—the real world, the one that keeps the banks breathing and the insurance companies running—still runs on the very same lines of code I spent thirty years mastering.

I miss it. I miss the logical elegance of the PROCEDURE DIVISION. I miss the way you could look at a mainframe environment and know exactly how the data flowed from start to finish. Most of all, I miss the feeling of solving a problem that actually mattered.

The Itch to Return

I’ve spent the last few months working on my own projects, playing with AI and SEO. It’s fun, sure, but it feels like building castles on sand. COBOL is different. It’s the concrete foundation of our digital society.

The problem? I’ve been out of the loop for a long time. I know the logic, I know the architecture, but I don't know the first thing about how to break back into the industry in 2026. Do you just walk up to a bank and ask if they have any legacy systems needing a tune-up? Are there still "maintenance contractors," or has everything moved to the cloud-native equivalents?

Where to Even Start?

I’m looking for a way to leverage my knowledge without necessarily having to move back to an office or work 60-hour weeks. I would love to maintain existing codebases not be involved in new development. Let the young ones do the new work while this old dinosaur maintains the code that dinosaurs like me wrote.

• Is there a freelance market for legacy maintenance? * Are there modern platforms that connect retired cobol programmers with firms struggling to find people who still know how to debug an old codebase?

• Do I need to brush up on specific modern tooling, like GnuCOBOL or specific mainframe emulation software, to be relevant again?

There’s a massive gap in the market. The people who built these systems are retiring, and the people who are currently running them are often just "keeping the lights on" without truly understanding the core architecture. I know that architecture. I can document it, I can debug it, and I can optimize it.

If you’re out there—if you’re a hiring manager in the financial sector or a tech lead dealing with a massive, undocumented monolithic core—let’s talk. I’m ready to dust off the manual and put those decades of experience back to work.

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If you’ve navigated the world of legacy consulting or know how to pitch 30 years of mainframe expertise to a modern tech recruiter, I’d love to hear your take—where should I look first?

Living on NZ Superannuation

Retirement in New Zealand is often sold as a permanent holiday, but for those of us who have crossed the finish line, the financial reality is a bit more of a "re-calibration." Transitioning from a full-time salary to a fixed income is a shift that requires more than just a change in schedule—it requires a new way of looking at a dollar.

The Reality of the "Pay Cut"

The most immediate shock is the drop in disposable income. Even with a decent KiwiSaver nest egg, most of us find ourselves moving from a "buy it now" mindset to a "do I need it?" budget. Current data suggests that a modest retirement in NZ now requires a household income of around $60,000 to $70,000 annually to cover the basics plus a few small comforts. If you're relying solely on the state, there is a visible gap between the pension and the real-world cost of living.

Living on "The Super"

As of April 2026, the NZ Superannuation rates have been adjusted to keep up with inflation, but they remain a safety net rather than a lifestyle fund. For a couple where both qualify, you’re looking at approximately $828.34 per week(after tax on the 'M' code). While having over $43,000 a year deposited into the joint account is a great foundation, it disappears quickly when you factor in the rising costs of rates, insurance, and the ever-climbing grocery bill.

The Power of the "Goldie"

This is where the SuperGold Card transitions from a novelty in your wallet to a genuine financial tool. It’s not just about the free off-peak bus trips—though those are a godsend for getting around town without touching the petrol tank.In 2026, the real value lies in the "invisible" savings:

• Energy & Utilities: Many providers now offer specific SuperGold plans that can shave significant amounts off your monthly power bill.
• The Tuesday Ritual: With 5% discounts at major supermarkets like Countdown and New World on Tuesdays, we’ve learned to plan our big shops around the calendar.
• Healthcare: From 10% off at the dentist to cheaper prescriptions and eye exams, the card helps manage the one expense that only seems to go up as we get older.

Retirement isn't about being "poor"; it's about being strategic. We may have less "play money" than we did in our 50s, but with a bit of "Hillbilly Logic" and a SuperGold card in hand, it’s entirely possible to live well without the stress of the 9-to-5 grind.

Retired vs. Just Not Working: The Hillbilly Guide to the "Great Hang-Up"

They tell you that when you stop working full-time, the world suddenly slows down to the speed of a grazing sheep in a Manawatu paddock. Well, I’ve been "retired" for a hot minute now, and I’ve realized there’s a massive difference between finishing work and actually being retired. One is an event; the other is a complete recalibration of your internal GPS.

1. The Death of the Alarm Clock

When you’re working full-time—or in semi retirement and chasing those Uber surges at 6:00 AM—the alarm clock is your master. Finishing work means you finally get to smash the clock.

True Retirement: Realising that even without the alarm, your body still wakes up at 6:30 AM. Only now, instead of checking the app for rides, you’re staring at the ceiling wondering if the resident squirrel has finished witnessing my bike’s will and started on my vegetable garden.

2. The "Busy" Paradox

When I was working, "busy" meant I had things to do that people paid me for. Now that I’m a man of leisure, I’m somehow still busy, but nobody is cutting me a check.

• Finishing Work: "I have so much free time now!"

• True Retirement: Spending three hours at Bunnings comparing the structural integrity of two different types of birdhouse brackets, then coming home and needing a nap because "the decision-making process was gruelling."

3. The Wardrobe Shift

Finishing work means retiring the "professional" gear.

True Retirement: It’s all about the footwear. I’ve traded the motorbike boots for something with significantly more arch support and velcro. If it doesn't feel like I'm walking on two clouds made of New Zealand wool I’m not wearing it. And yes, I am wearing Allbirds merino shoes. Hillbilly Logic dictates that if you aren't comfortable, you aren't doing it right.

4. The Social Side of the Manawatū

When you work, your social life is "water cooler talk" or "how’s your day" with a passenger in the backseat.

True Retirement: Finding out that the local cafe has a whole sub-culture of retirees who have mastered the art of making one flat white last for ninety minutes. You don’t just drink coffee anymore; you analyze the state of the world from a plastic chair.

The Verdict?

Finishing work is just stopping the engine. Retirement is learning how to coast down the hill, enjoying the view, and not worrying about how much fuel is left in the tank.

I might not be leaning into the corners on the Triumph anymore, but I’m finding that the pace of a slow stroll through the Square has its own kind of roar. It’s quieter, sure—but you hear a lot more of the birds.

Stay tuned for my next update: Why tea tastes better when you have nowhere to be.

AI, QR Codes, and Hillbilly Logic: Teaching an Old Dog New Tech Tricks

You’d think after 45 years in IT, the last thing I’d want to do in retirement is look at another line of code. I told myself I was done. I sold the motorbike, I bought the "cloud-like" walking shoes, and I prepared for a life of professional napping here in the Manawatū.

But then I started poking around with this new-fangled Google AI, and before I knew it, the old "troubleshooting" itch came back.

The "Wait, I Can Build That?" Moment

It started simple enough. I was looking at how folks share information these days. Everything is a QR code. Menus, parking permits, even the sheep probably have them tucked behind their ears by now.

I thought, "Surely, there’s a cleaner, simpler way for a regular person to just grab a QR code and go." In the old days, building a web app involved server racks, expensive compilers, and enough caffeine to vibrate through a brick wall. But with AI as my "junior dev," I decided to see if I could build a tool that was as straightforward as a well-paved road.

Introducing: Backwardsit's QRCode Creator

I didn’t want bells, whistles, or a monthly subscription that costs more than my Netflix subscription. I wanted Hillbilly Logic in digital form: Simple, reliable, and it does exactly what it says on the tin.

The result is my new project: QR Code Download.

• No Bloat: It’s faster than a Hillbilly Triumph on the Himitangi Straights.

• No Confusion: You put in a link, you get a code. Even the resident squirrel could figure it out (if he had a smartphone).

• Built with AI: I spent 45 years telling computers what to do. Now, I’m collaborating with them. It’s like having a digital apprentice who doesn't talk back and actually remembers where the semicolons go.

Retirement vs. "Re-Wiring"

I’ve realised that retirement isn't about turning the brain off; it’s about finally getting to work on the "tickets" you actually enjoy.

Building this app wasn't about the 9-to-5 grind. It was about the joy of the build. It’s the same feeling as fixing a leaky manifold or going for a walk in the bush—except this time, I didn't get any grease on my hands or mud on my shoes.

The Verdict

The "Hillbilly Blogger" might be a man of leisure, but he’s still a man of tech. If you need to turn a website into a QR code without any fuss, head over to my new site.

It’s proof that you can take the man out of the IT department, but you can’t take the "Let's see if I can make this work" out of the man.

The Final Chapter: A Motorbike's Last Will & Testament

It’s a tough day on the homestead. I’ve officially hung up my helmet, and the old iron horse has moved on to a new stable.

But before he left, he had some things he wanted to get off his… um… manifold. After eight years of sitting silent and a lifetime of winding roads, I think it’s only fair we hear him out.

This is the Last Will and Testament of the "Hillbilly Triumph", my Triumph Tiger Sport.

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The Last Will and Testament of The Hillbilly Triumph

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I, the Hillbilly Triumph (or simply "ATGR"), being of sound mind, somewhat rusty fenders, and leaking only slightly less oil than usual, do hereby declare this document to be my last will and testament.

As I prepare to head off to my next adventure (presumably with someone whose knees are 30 years younger than my current owner's), I wish to make the following bequests.

Article 1: The Rider

To my long-time rider, my pilot, the self-proclaimed "Hillbilly Blogger": I leave you The Memories.

• The Bugs: All of them. In your teeth. The ones we shared on roads all over New Zealand. They belong to you now.

• The Near-Misses: I leave you the exclusive copyright to those stories, which I expect will become "a whole lot more dramatic" by the time you tell them in 2033.

• The Vibration: I leave you the residual tingling in your fingers, a constant reminder of our time together. Use it when you're trying to figure out where you put your damn glasses.

Article 2: The Gear

To the back of the garage:

• The Leather Jacket: I leave this to eventually become a very stylish dust cover for a lawnmower.

• The Helmet: This will serve as an excellent, although slightly aggressive, birdhouse for the sparrows on the front porch.

Article 3: Special Requests

I have a few final wishes to my new owner:

• No "City Folk" Polish: Do not wash off all the dirt. That’s hillbilly patina. It took me a long time to earn it.

• Open Roads: Please do not keep me in the garage like some kind of pet hamster. Let me stretch my gears. I have a pension to keep up. Wait, that’s not right. Just... ride.

• No Leather One piece suits: If I see you riding in one piece leather suits, I will find a way to leak oil directly on your expensive shoes. You have been warned.

Article 4: The Final Goodbye

In conclusion, I go to a place where the roads are forever winding, the traffic is nonexistent, and the price of petrol is $0.99 a litre (How I wish).

Thank you, old friend, for the ride of a lifetime. Keep blogging. Just maybe... do it a little faster than every eight years.

Signed and Witnessed,

The Hillbilly Triumph

(And Witnessed by Cooper the dog)

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A Note from the Hillbilly Pensioner

And with that, the bike is gone. I’m now a officially a man of leisure (naps) and government payments.

Stay tuned for my next post. It won’t be about winding roads or engine roars. It’ll probably be about finding the perfect blend of tea and how to get a discount on prescription meds.

Hillbilly Logic never retires. It just changes its footwear.

The Retirement Manifesto: Trade-ins, Pensions, and the Long Game

The rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.

It has been eight years since I last sat down to write a post. Eight years! To put that in perspective, the last time I blogged, I still had a "job," a "schedule," and a "motorbike." Now, I have a pension, a calendar full of naps, and a garage that feels a little emptier but a lot safer.

The Hillbilly Status Report

A lot of folks ask: “If you sell your bike at 65, are you still the Hillbilly Blogger?”

Let’s get one thing straight—being a Hillbilly isn't about the machine between your legs; it's about the grit in your gears. Selling the bike wasn't an admission of defeat; it was a strategic withdrawal. I’ve traded the wind in my face for the peace of my back garden.

My "New" Rules for Retirement

Now that I’m officially a man of leisure (and government subsidies), I’m laying down a few ground rules for this next chapter:

1. Time is Currency: I no longer spend it on things that require a suit or a "synergy meeting."

2. Frequency is Relative: I promised my next post for 2033, but don't hold me to it. I might get wild and post in 2027 if the mood strikes.

3. The Pensioner’s Perch: Expect more observations on the world from someone who finally has the time to watch it spin.

The Road Ahead

I might be "retired," but I’m not tired. I’ve traded the high-speed turns for high-quality storytelling. I may not be riding into the sunset at 100mph anymore, but I’m still here, I’m still opinionated, and I’m still a Hillbilly.

Stay tuned. Or don't. I'll be here regardless, probably drinking tea and wondering where I put my glasses and hearing aids.

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Back on an iPad

I last had an iPad in 2016, an iPad Air 2. When it broke, I never replaced it, I just used the MacBook Air and my iPhone. This year for Father’s Day, my kids bought me an IPad Pro 10.5” and the Smart Keyboard. I had forgotten how much of a utility device the iPad was. I got the iPad 2, then replaced that with the iPad Air 2 and used to carry these with me everywhere. I made do with the iPhone 6S Plus but now, being back with an iPad, I realise that this is the portable device to have and how much I have missed using it. Watching video’s is so much better, using the office suite to do work is so much better, replying to emails is so much easier. Updating my blog will be so much ........ but wait ........ what is this .... my favourite blogging app Blogsy is no more. Say it ain’t so 😕 Blogsy was such a great app for blogging on the iPad and now I am having to write my blogs using the Blogger website. It seems that Blogsy went away about the same time I stopped using an iPad. Coincidence ....... I think not! The experience of using Blogger is just not the same. No more offline writing of posts, no more simple embedding of links, no more ..... well no more really user friendly experience. I have searched the inter webs and have not found a Blogsy replacement. If anyone reads this, what do you use on the iPad for blogging?  

Back to Blogging

I have just noticed that it has been almost two years since I last posted to my blog.

Best I stop being so slack and get on to it!

Having a lump on my arm removed

For those that love a bit of blood and gore, here is a video I took of me having a lump removed from my arm.

Motorcycle Trip through back country New Zealand

My wife and I went for a sunny Saturday ride through back country New Zealand. I love the back country roads. No traffic, good twisties and some straight bits too.No traffic so you can just ride and enjoy.

Bose SoundTrue In-Ear Headphones

My old faithful Apple earpods finally bit the dust. Time to get some new in-ear headphones for use with my iPhone and iPad.

My requirements were that they had to give good sound, be comfortable, have a mic to use with phone, skype etc and be under NZ$100.

I spent about 3 days researching (I am a bit OCD like that) and found that the Bose SoundTrue seemed to fit the bill, except for price. They had really good feedback on comfort and mic quality, mixed reviews on sound (mainly from people who listened to rap music who complained about the lack of bass) but failed on the price, RRP for these is NZ$219.

I decided to go back to my old faithful and get a new pair of Apple earpods. I then set about seeing if I could get them cheaper than on the Apple NZ shop where the price was NZ$45. I went to dick smiths online and saw that they had these $5 cheaper. Right underneath them was the Bose SoundTrue which Dick Smith had for NZ$159, a good NZ$60 cheaper than the Bose RRP. Hello, I thought to myself, maybe I can get them cheaper if I look really hard. After about 30 minutes of searching, I found a shop in Cromwell, a small town in the South Island of NZ, that were selling them for NZ$109.

I immediately moved my price requirement to $110 and "voila" the Bose SoundTrue in ear headphones now fitted my requirements perfectly. I don't listen to rap music so the lack of a really deep bass didn't bother me. I went online to Gary Anderson's in Cromwell and purchased the Bose SoundTrue in-ear headphones for IOS.

I was very surprised to get an email 45 minutes later saying my order had shipped. Sent them back a complimentary email thanking them for thier excellent service and recieved a return email thanking me. The staff apparently get a coffee and chocolate if they get positive customer feedback.

The headphones arrived via courier overnight and are just as good as I hoped they would be. If you are in market for a good set of in-ear headphones with mic, I can highly recommend these BOSE Soundtrue in-ear headphones. I also suggest that if you are in New Zealand, you jump online to Gary Anderson's in Cromwell and buy them from them. If you are not in New Zealand, feel free to jump on my Amazon Store and buy them there.

Redirecting your custom domain name to Blogger

My Blogger URL was backwardsit.blogspot.com. I had my custom domain name www.backwardsit.com, and when I entered this url, I wanted my blog to display. Looked at the Blogger settings and there were instructions as to exactly what I had to do to make this happen.

I believed I had followed the instructions correctly but "it no go Mr Fawlty" (Manuel from Fawlty Towers in case you are wondering). The verification step in Blogger kept failing with a domain verification error 5.

I sent the instructions to my domain service provider. They checked and informed me that I had indeed set everything up correctly according to Google's instructions, but "Still no go Mr Fawlty".

I emailed Google, no reply ....... not really a surprise, what do they care.

After much searching, 99.9% of what I found confirmed that I had set it up correctly. There was one document however that proved to be the HOLY GRAIL.

There are two name entries that needed to be set up. One for WWW and one for XCVxxxxxx. This document explained that these were actually shortcuts for WWW.backwardsit.com and XCVxxxxx.backwardsit.com. Thought to myself, let me put the full name in and see if that makes a difference. I started with the WWW entry, that made no difference. I then went to the XCVxxxxxx entry, put in the full name ...... et voila ..... when I went back to Blogger settings and tried to verify, it now worked.

I then typed in www.backwardsit.com and my blog showed up. 

Problem solved.

I'm Back

It has been 12 months since my last confession ..... oops I mean blog. I have gotten over my lethargy and am back riding with a vengeance.
I am now the proud owner of a Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport and I ride it like I stole it.
Check back for more in the next day or so.

What Motorbike should I get?

I am going to get a new motorcycle. The question is, what should I get?
I want to do long rides, and I do mean long ..... around New Zealand, around Australia type long.
When looking at various motorcycles, I am taking into account the following "must haves"

• Must be an upright riding position
• Must have a comfortable seat
• must be capable of carrying lots of luggage
• Must have nationwide coverage for service and support, or at least be a common brand that it is likely there will be people around who know how everything works.
• Must have good fuel economy and a large (20l+) tank.

My 1st choice at the moment is a Suzuki DL650 Wee-Strom. Seems to fit my requirements nicely and isn't too expensive.
Keen to hear what anyone else thinks. So drop me a comment below with what you would buy to do the kind of trips I am planning.

R.I.P Little Mouse

It is with a heavy heart that I must advise the demise of little Squeaky the mouse.

He was a great friend to me, always willing to listen, never running away, never getting into trouble (we will forget the smoking incident). Never a more loyal mouse did ever exist.

I will always remember you Squeaky. May the cheese in mouse heaven be specialty Gruyere.

I am just so happy that my last memory of Squeaky will be the car ride we took together.

I do not want the haters to hate just because squeaky wasn't wearing a seat belt. He was just way too small.

How good is a mouses eyesight

I am wondering how well a mouse can see.

I heard the TV in the lounge go on early this morning. I went to investigate thinking that someone was in the house.

Imagine my surprise when I found this.

You can imagine my surprise when I saw Squeaky chillaxing out watching TV. I told him off though for sitting too close. The fact that he had to sit so close makes me wonder how good his eyesight is.

I think I might take him to spec savers and get his eyes checked.I think little Squeaky will look cool with glasses.

Bad Breath Mouse

I had started to notice that my pet mouse Squeaky has bad breath.

I know with dogs and cats, the you can have their teeth brushed and also get them special"cleaning" biscuits.

I had asked my daughter to go and clean her teeth and when she got in to the bathroom this is what she found.

Who knew that a mouse could teach itself to brush its teeth by watching humans.

I think I will have to set up a live stream and watch what this mouse gets up to when I am not around. I have purchased a black magic recorder which will enable me to livestream from my GoPro. My project for tomorrow.

All of these products can be purchased from my Amazon Store.

Toilet training your pets

I have been told that it is impossible to toilet train pets. You can get them to go outside, but it is not possible to actually get them to go to the toilet.

You can imagine my surprise when I went to the bathroom today and saw this.

My widdle mouse, Squeaky, is a very smart widdle mouse. He toilet trained himself!

I have noticed that he has bad breath. I must see if I can get him to brush his teeth.

Kids and Pets

My daughter has always been a cat person. She has two cats, identical twins. I was rapt when she took a liking to my new pet mouse, Squeaky.

Here is a picture of her bonding with Squeaky.

I just hope she isn't conning me and planning to feed Squeaky to her cats.

A smoking mouse

I am so disappointed with my new pet mouse. He went missing and when I found him he was .... well I think the picture says it all.

Does anyone know if you can get stop smoking patches in mouse size?