diff --git a/Changes.md b/Changes.md
index 21e7874..d5fb0e7 100644
--- a/Changes.md
+++ b/Changes.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+## 1.0.17 - 2018-12-19
+
+- refactor ./config.js as an es6 class
+- update README syntax and improve formatting
+- use path.resolve instead of ./dir/file (2x)
+- watch: recursive=true
+- permit retrieval of fully qualified path
 
 ## 1.0.16 - 2018-11-02
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e94e7f5..ca2bb43 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,16 +27,19 @@ See the [File Formats](#file_formats) section below for a more detailed
 explanation of each of the formats.
 
 # Usage
+
 ```js
-    // From within a plugin:
-    var cfg = this.config.get(name, [type], [callback], [options]);
+// From within a plugin:
+const cfg = this.config.get(name, [type], [callback], [options]);
 ```
 This will load the file config/rambling.paths in the Haraka directory.
 
 `name` is not a full path, but a filename in the config/ directory. For example:
+
 ```js
-    var cfg = this.config.get('rambling.paths', 'list');
+const cfg = this.config.get('rambling.paths', 'list');
 ```
+
 `type` can be any of the types listed above.
 
 If the file name has an `.ini`, `.json` or `.yaml` suffix,
@@ -49,19 +52,19 @@ variables within your plugin. Example:
 
 ```js
 exports.register = function () {
-    var plugin = this;
-    plugin.loginfo('register function called');
-    plugin.load_my_plugin_ini();
+    const plugin = this
+    plugin.loginfo('register called')
+    plugin.load_my_plugin_ini()
 }
 
 exports.load_my_plugin_ini = function () {
-    var plugin = this;
+    const plugin = this
     plugin.cfg = plugin.config.get('my_plugin.ini', function onCfgChange () {
         // This closure is run a few seconds after my_plugin.ini changes
         // Re-run the outer function again
-        plugin.load_my_plugin_ini();
-    });
-    plugin.loginfo('cfg=' + JSON.stringify(plugin.cfg));
+        plugin.load_my_plugin_ini()
+    })
+    plugin.loginfo(`cfg=${JSON.stringify(plugin.cfg)}`)
 }
 
 exports.hook_connect = function (next, connection) {
@@ -152,17 +155,17 @@ Entries are a simple format of key=value pairs, with optional [sections].
 
 Here is a typical example:
 ```ini
-    first_name=Matt
-    last_name=Sergeant
+first_name=Matt
+last_name=Sergeant
 
-    [job]
-    title=Senior Principal Software Engineer
-    role=Architect
+[job]
+title=Senior Principal Software Engineer
+role=Architect
 
-    [projects]
-    haraka
-    qpsmtpd
-    spamassassin
+[projects]
+haraka
+qpsmtpd
+spamassassin
 ```
 That produces the following Javascript object:
 
@@ -195,36 +198,42 @@ backslash "\" character.
 
 The `options` object allows you to specify which keys are boolean:
 ```js
-    { booleans: ['reject','some_true_value'] }
+{ booleans: ['reject','some_true_value'] }
 ```
 On the options declarations, key names are formatted as section.key.
 If the key name does not specify a section, it is presumed to be [main].
 
-This ensures these values are converted to true Javascript booleans when parsed,
-and supports the following options for boolean values:
+This ensures these values are converted to true Javascript booleans when parsed, and supports the following options for boolean values:
+
 ```
-    true, yes, ok, enabled, on, 1
+true, yes, ok, enabled, on, 1
 ```
+
 Anything else is treated as false.
 
 To default a boolean as true (when the key is undefined or the config file is
 missing), prefix the key with +:
+
 ```js
-    { booleans: [ '+reject' ] }
+{ booleans: [ '+reject' ] }
 ```
 For completeness the inverse is also allowed:
+
 ```js
-    { booleans: [ '-reject' ] }
+{ booleans: [ '-reject' ] }
 ```
 Lists are supported using this syntax:
+
 ```ini
-    hosts[] = first_host
-    hosts[] = second_host
-    hosts[] = third_host
+hosts[] = first_host
+hosts[] = second_host
+hosts[] = third_host
 ```
+
 which produces this javascript array:
+
 ```js
-    ['first_host', 'second_host', 'third_host']
+['first_host', 'second_host', 'third_host']
 ```
 
 Flat Files
@@ -246,8 +255,7 @@ If a requested .json or .hjson file does not exist then the same file will be ch
 for with a .yaml extension and that will be loaded instead.   This is done
 because YAML files are far easier for a human to write.
 
-You can use JSON, HJSON or YAML files to override any other file by prefixing the
-outer variable name with a `!` e.g.
+You can use JSON, HJSON or YAML files to override any other file by prefixing the outer variable name with a `!` e.g.
 
 ```js
 {
@@ -276,7 +284,7 @@ Main features:
 
 Example syntax
 
-```js
+```hjson
 {
     # specify rate in requests/second (because comments are helpful!)
     rate: 1000
diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index 1bd6789..4742ab5 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 version: 1.0.{build}
 
 environment:
-  nodejs_version: "6"
+  nodejs_version: "8"
 
 # Install scripts. (runs after repo cloning)
 install:
diff --git a/config.js b/config.js
index da95ee5..c4cd9cd 100644
--- a/config.js
+++ b/config.js
@@ -4,66 +4,125 @@ const path       = require('path');
 
 const cfreader   = require('./configfile');
 
-module.exports = new Config();
+class Config {
+    constructor (root_path, no_overrides) {
+        this.root_path = root_path || cfreader.config_path;
 
-function Config (root_path, no_overrides) {
-    this.root_path = root_path || cfreader.config_path;
-    this.module_config = function (defaults_path, overrides_path) {
-        const cfg = new Config(path.join(defaults_path, 'config'), true);
-        if (overrides_path) {
-            cfg.overrides_path = path.join(overrides_path, 'config');
+        if (process.env.HARAKA_TEST_DIR) {
+            this.root_path = path.join(process.env.HARAKA_TEST_DIR, 'config');
+            return;
+        }
+        if (process.env.HARAKA && !no_overrides) {
+            this.overrides_path = root_path || cfreader.config_path;
+            this.root_path = path.join(process.env.HARAKA, 'config');
         }
-        return cfg;
-    }
-    if (process.env.HARAKA_TEST_DIR) {
-        this.root_path = path.join(process.env.HARAKA_TEST_DIR, 'config');
-        return;
-    }
-    if (process.env.HARAKA && !no_overrides) {
-        this.overrides_path = root_path || cfreader.config_path;
-        this.root_path = path.join(process.env.HARAKA, 'config');
     }
-}
 
-Config.prototype.get = function (name, type, cb, options) {
-    const a = this.arrange_args([name, type, cb, options]);
-    if (!a[1]) a[1] = 'value';
+    get (name, type, cb, options) {
+        const a = this.arrange_args([name, type, cb, options]);
+        if (!a[1]) a[1] = 'value';
 
-    const full_path = path.resolve(this.root_path, a[0]);
+        const full_path = path.isAbsolute(name) ? name : path.resolve(this.root_path, a[0]);
 
-    let results = cfreader.read_config(full_path, a[1], a[2], a[3]);
+        let results = cfreader.read_config(full_path, a[1], a[2], a[3]);
 
-    if (this.overrides_path) {
-        const overrides_path = path.resolve(this.overrides_path, a[0]);
+        if (this.overrides_path) {
+            const overrides_path = path.resolve(this.overrides_path, a[0]);
+
+            const overrides = cfreader.read_config(overrides_path, a[1], a[2], a[3]);
+
+            results = merge_config(results, overrides, a[1]);
+        }
 
-        const overrides = cfreader.read_config(overrides_path, a[1], a[2], a[3]);
+        // Pass arrays by value to prevent config being modified accidentally.
+        if (Array.isArray(results)) return results.slice();
 
-        results = merge_config(results, overrides, a[1]);
+        return results;
     }
 
-    // Pass arrays by value to prevent config being modified accidentally.
-    if (Array.isArray(results)) {
-        return results.slice();
+    getInt (filename, default_value) {
+
+        if (!filename) return NaN;
+
+        const full_path = path.resolve(this.root_path, filename);
+        const r = parseInt(cfreader.read_config(full_path, 'value', null, null), 10);
+
+        if (!isNaN(r)) return r;
+        return parseInt(default_value, 10);
     }
 
-    return results;
-}
+    getDir (name, opts, done) {
+        cfreader.read_dir(path.resolve(this.root_path, name), opts, done);
+    }
 
-Config.prototype.getInt = function (filename, default_value) {
+    arrange_args (args) {
+
+        /* ways get() can be called:
+            config.get('thing');
+            config.get('thing', type);
+            config.get('thing', cb);
+            config.get('thing', cb, options);
+            config.get('thing', options);
+            config.get('thing', type, cb);
+            config.get('thing', type, options);
+            config.get('thing', type, cb, options);
+        */
+        const fs_name = args.shift();
+        let fs_type = null;
+        let cb;
+        let options;
+
+        for (let i=0; i < args.length; i++) {
+            if (args[i] === undefined) continue;
+            switch (typeof args[i]) {   // what is it?
+                case 'function':
+                    cb = args[i];
+                    break;
+                case 'object':
+                    options = args[i];
+                    break;
+                case 'string':
+                    if (/^(ini|value|list|data|h?json|yaml|binary)$/.test(args[i])) {
+                        fs_type = args[i];
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    console.log(`unknown string: ${args[i]}`);
+                    break;
+            }
+            // console.log(`unknown arg: ${args[i]}, typeof: ${typeof args[i]}`);
+        }
 
-    if (!filename) return NaN;
+        if (!fs_type) {
+            const fs_ext = path.extname(fs_name).substring(1);
 
-    const full_path = path.resolve(this.root_path, filename);
-    const r = parseInt(cfreader.read_config(full_path, 'value', null, null), 10);
+            switch (fs_ext) {
+                case 'hjson':
+                case 'json':
+                case 'yaml':
+                case 'ini':
+                    fs_type = fs_ext;
+                    break;
 
-    if (!isNaN(r)) return r;
-    return parseInt(default_value, 10);
-}
+                default:
+                    fs_type = 'value';
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
 
-Config.prototype.getDir = function (name, opts, done) {
-    cfreader.read_dir(path.resolve(this.root_path, name), opts, done);
+        return [fs_name, fs_type, cb, options];
+    }
+
+    module_config (defaults_path, overrides_path) {
+        const cfg = new Config(path.join(defaults_path, 'config'), true);
+        if (overrides_path) {
+            cfg.overrides_path = path.join(overrides_path, 'config');
+        }
+        return cfg;
+    }
 }
 
+module.exports = new Config();
+
 function merge_config (defaults, overrides, type) {
     switch (type) {
         case 'ini':
@@ -86,8 +145,7 @@ function merge_config (defaults, overrides, type) {
 function merge_struct (defaults, overrides) {
     for (const k in overrides) {
         if (k in defaults) {
-            if (typeof overrides[k] === 'object' &&
-                typeof defaults[k] === 'object') {
+            if (typeof overrides[k] === 'object' && typeof defaults[k] === 'object') {
                 defaults[k] = merge_struct(defaults[k], overrides[k]);
             }
             else {
@@ -100,60 +158,3 @@ function merge_struct (defaults, overrides) {
     }
     return defaults;
 }
-
-/* ways get() can be called:
-config.get('thing');
-config.get('thing', type);
-config.get('thing', cb);
-config.get('thing', cb, options);
-config.get('thing', options);
-config.get('thing', type, cb);
-config.get('thing', type, options);
-config.get('thing', type, cb, options);
-*/
-
-Config.prototype.arrange_args = function (args) {
-    const fs_name = args.shift();
-    let fs_type = null;
-    let cb;
-    let options;
-
-    for (let i=0; i < args.length; i++) {
-        if (args[i] === undefined) continue;
-        switch (typeof args[i]) {   // what is it?
-            case 'function':
-                cb = args[i];
-                break;
-            case 'object':
-                options = args[i];
-                break;
-            case 'string':
-                if (/^(ini|value|list|data|h?json|yaml|binary)$/.test(args[i])) {
-                    fs_type = args[i];
-                    break;
-                }
-                console.log(`unknown string: ${args[i]}`);
-                break;
-        }
-        // console.log(`unknown arg: ${args[i]}, typeof: ${typeof args[i]}`);
-    }
-
-    if (!fs_type) {
-        const fs_ext = path.extname(fs_name).substring(1);
-
-        switch (fs_ext) {
-            case 'hjson':
-            case 'json':
-            case 'yaml':
-            case 'ini':
-                fs_type = fs_ext;
-                break;
-
-            default:
-                fs_type = 'value';
-                break;
-        }
-    }
-
-    return [fs_name, fs_type, cb, options];
-};
diff --git a/configfile.js b/configfile.js
index 1eccfc3..f7e61be 100644
--- a/configfile.js
+++ b/configfile.js
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ function fsWatchDir (dirPath) {
 
     if (cfreader._watchers[dirPath]) return;
 
-    cfreader._watchers[dirPath] = fs.watch(dirPath, { persistent: false }, function (fse, filename) {
+    cfreader._watchers[dirPath] = fs.watch(dirPath, { persistent: false, recursive: true }, function (fse, filename) {
         // console.log(`event: ${fse}, ${filename}`);
         if (!filename) return;
         const full_path = path.join(dirPath, filename);
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ cfreader.read_dir = function (name, opts, done) {
             return fsReadDir(name);
         })
         .then((fileList) => {
-            const reader = require(`./readers/${type}`);
+            const reader = require(path.resolve(__dirname, 'readers', type));
             const promises = [];
             fileList.forEach((file) => {
                 promises.push(reader.loadPromise(path.resolve(name, file)))
@@ -322,9 +322,9 @@ cfreader.get_filetype_reader = function (type) {
         case 'value':
         case 'data':
         case '':
-            return require('./readers/flat');
+            return require(path.resolve(__dirname, 'readers', 'flat'));
     }
-    return require(`./readers/${type}`);
+    return require(path.resolve(__dirname, 'readers', type));
 }
 
 cfreader.load_config = function (name, type, options) {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b94f1fa..fff3e23 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "name": "haraka-config",
   "license": "MIT",
   "description": "Haraka's config file loader",
-  "version": "1.0.16",
+  "version": "1.0.17",
   "homepage": "http://haraka.github.io",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/test/config.js b/test/config.js
index 9c2f3a5..843a031 100644
--- a/test/config.js
+++ b/test/config.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 const fs   = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-const cb = function () { return false; };
+function cb () { return false; }
 const opts = { booleans: ['arg1'] };
 
 function clearRequireCache () {
@@ -359,7 +359,6 @@ exports.get = {
         _test_get(test, 'missing.json', 'json', null, null, {"matt": "waz here"});
     },
 
-    // config.get('test.bin', 'binary');
     'test.bin, type=binary' : function (test) {
         test.expect(2);
         const res = this.config.get('test.binary', 'binary');
@@ -367,6 +366,19 @@ exports.get = {
         test.ok(Buffer.isBuffer(res));
         test.done();
     },
+
+    'fully qualified path: /etc/services' : function (test) {
+        test.expect(1);
+        let res;
+        if (/^win/.test(process.platform)) {
+            res = this.config.get('c:\\windows\\win.ini', 'list');
+        }
+        else {
+            res = this.config.get('/etc/services', 'list');
+        }
+        test.ok(res.length);
+        test.done();
+    }
 }
 
 exports.merged = {
@@ -451,7 +463,7 @@ exports.getDir = {
     },
     'loads all files in dir' : function (test) {
         test.expect(4);
-        this.config.getDir('dir', { type: 'binary' }, function (err, files) {
+        this.config.getDir('dir', { type: 'binary' }, (err, files) => {
             // console.log(files);
             test.equal(err, null);
             test.equal(files.length, 3);
@@ -462,7 +474,7 @@ exports.getDir = {
     },
     'errs on invalid dir' : function (test) {
         test.expect(1);
-        this.config.getDir('dirInvalid', { type: 'binary' }, function (err, files) {
+        this.config.getDir('dirInvalid', { type: 'binary' }, (err, files) => {
             // console.log(arguments);
             test.equal(err.code, 'ENOENT');
             test.done();
@@ -470,8 +482,7 @@ exports.getDir = {
     },
     'reloads when file in dir is touched' : function (test) {
         if (/darwin/.test(process.platform)) {
-            // due to differences in fs.watch, this test is not reliable on
-            // Mac OS X
+            // due to differences in fs.watch, this test is not reliable on Mac OS X
             test.done();
             return;
         }