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Monday, December 31, 2007

That was 2007 - an eventfull Year!

Wow! Here we are 2007 is almost a thing of the past - 31 December - early morning and I am thrown into reminiscing on the year that was . . .

Started off with a flurry of activity - Sam & Hud were in Perth for Christmas and then spent some time here as well - I had spent some time with Judi between Christmas and New Year - was up to my ears in uni work - had a programming assignment; an essay & an exam to prepare for . . . then James & family arrived from New Zealand - followed closely by Graeme from South Africa and almost straight into my Mum's 80 th at the Radisson hotel . . . phew! It was a busy month and basically a gathering of the clan -Mum; Judi & I as well as Sam & Hud stayed overnight at Radisson . . . . was a stressful evening in some ways - the event had been 18 months in the planning - my one regret - I did not have a photographer as didn't really get a lot of photo's out of the evening. Was sorry did not have more time to take James & co., around. Actually managed to pass my assignments - although Internet Programming by the skin of my pants . . lol

I can't remember Feb in quite as much detail - took Graeme to see Six nations game Wales vs Scotland and by all accounts he really enjoyed this -far more than the Kilmarnock Vs Rangers game at Ibrox . . . I booked up for a holiday in Rome as Judi had told me she always wanted to go there.

March my birthday - Judi bought me a ring - hmmm usually other way round . . . lol - and there were 2 rugby games - she spoilt me that whole weekend . . . I wasn't allowed to lift a finger.

April - exams again Designing Usable Systems & Artificial Intelligence . . . then it was the long wait - which proved longer than expected - to hear whether or not I had been accepted onto Masters component of course - things could have ended here and I would have been awarded a National Higher Diploma . . . .

May - Roma (was still awaiting results) Judi & I went to Rome - stayed near Navonna Plaza - in the heart of Old Rome - walking distance to Vatican City etc., - hired an apartment - everything turned out to be within walking distance - the odd day we could have taken a bus we just walked anyway - was great immersed ourselves in the local atmosphere (by going to all the tourist haunts . . . lol) - had a great time . . .

June - finally received confirmation was accepted onto Masters - chose my dissertation topic - not without some confusion - but eventually settled on 'A comparative evaluation of Java teaching environments' - which proved to be very interesting . . . this was to keep me really busy for the next 3 months . . .

July - dissertation . . . Judi's birthday (Rome had been the birthday present) - went down to London with Judi - she attended a acupuncture conference on fertility . . . met up with Sam & Hud at went Cuban for the night . . . I ended up smoking a cigar . . . felt quite sick afterwards . . lol . . . Judi kept stealing my glass of wine . . . lol

August - dissertation . . . a brief visit down to Sam - I had a airplane ticket from a year ago ( a long story) - anyway visited and basically cat & house sat - whilst Sam & Hud were in Switzerland. What a calamity when I got lost in London and missed my train . . . . and had to get back to Sam's place after having hidden the keys inside the door . . . lol - Babbaloo was pleased to see me again and I managed to let him out so he could wander - Sam had kept him inside all the time - as they had only had him for a week . . . a friend for life - after I gave him his freedom.

September - dissertation hand in . . . . a last rush to complete and tidy up - by this time I was sick of reading and re-reading it and eventually just handed in . . . was I to regret it . . . not in that sense but I had hoped to do better . . . Murray my mentor had been great - I should have paid a little bit more attention to a few pointers / requirements - some simple stuff I left out . . . Fiona my niece arrived with her two kids Rozita & Rosario - she has decided to come and stay here in Scotland now . . . Wow! How could I nearly forget an amazing weekend in the Lake District - Ambleside - I had no sooner handed in my Dissertation than Judi whisked me off for the weekend - lovely - apparently June suggested it - good one June! Thoroughly enjoyed and loved the area - worth exploring in more detail - file under - Well Worth another visit . . . lol.

My Mum and I shot over to Vancouver for a week - absolutely lovely - a great hotel / location-wise and we managed to do a lot in our week . . . even got to Whistler . . . I've always wanted to go here . . .

October - the big question - What now?? Academic / Work / Leisure ??? Central themes for this month - Graduation - the big day a year's work behind me - blood sweat and tears . . .

November - somewhat similar to last month - more focus on applying for jobs though and lo and behold end of the month an add on the Monday morning and by the end of the week I had the job - not permanent mind you - but seeing as some confusion and no definite decisions having been made it was ideal . . .also bearing SA 2008 birthday extravaganza - It seemed ideal . . . also somewhat depressing not working and not having that sense of urgency . . . uni work etc.,
Started work on the last day of November . . . .

December - Phew - what a baptism . . . a hell of a lot of work - very complex and involved - really enjoying it but I have to say - it is taking a lot out of me - not sure that I am being justly rewarded . . . perhaps that is a commonly held point of view . . .
Judi has just contacted me - her first delivery as a Dullah (???? spelling) she has been with a client since Sunday morning about 03h00 and she just arrived home at about 05h00 Monday morning - a baby boy . . . she is totally knackered and she is already wondering how this would have panned out in a normal work week . . . . have to say so am I . . . lol

Well its been an eventful year - one that stretched me in many ways - but I am a better person, in my opinion - a lot of personal growth - more apprecaition for who I am - setting limitations and allowing myself some quality time - relaxation. Judi & I have had some ups and downs and I am sure we will have some more - I am pleased to say that we appear to be ending off the year much closer with a deeper understanding and appreciation for each other -which I feel can only bode well for the future.

UK - wise Brown seems to be a total nightmare after starting off quite well - the best punchline was he has gone from 'Stalin to Mr Bean' and that really sums it all. Looks like a mild recession is on the way . . . house prices may actually drop . . . who knows ????

On a Global perspective If I could have one wish for 2008 - its that people start talking to each other . . . Hamas & Israeli's; Taliban & British / US; they are legitimate organisations with a following . . . too much to ask for?????

May you have a great 2008!

Friday, December 21, 2007

3 Weeks and running


(Motivational posters (not) accessed from www.despair.com
Well I told you I had started working again and it is all Go, Go, Go - lots of intensive analysis and trying to get to grips with what is actually going on - as you can imagine it is very difficult to parachute yourself in behind enemy lines - and try to instantiate yourself i.e. get to talk their language and understand their actual business . . . it is a real challenge one that I am enjoying though . . . majority of the people we are dealing with are most helpful and our profile has been raised with a memo that went out to everyone explaining that we had come on board and exactly what our role is . . . . so lets hope it gets just a wee bit easier . . . . we hope . . . .

Two things of note - company that hired me to work with this utility company 'XYZ' consultancy - had a meeting with us last Friday - and to cut a long story short it went on longer than it should have - everyone agrees - anyway eventually I had to say that I had to leave - so I could catch my train . . . I did so - did the 100m dash to the station and lo and behold I thought I had missed it but it turns out the train was cancelled . . . as there are only trains every 30 minutes - I had to just stand there and wait - eventually arrived at Dalmuir station - where I park my car now - at about 19h45 - only to realise that I had left in such a hurry that I had left my keys in my draw at the office - so a few seconds and there and then I decided I had to go back.

I had also agreed to pick a carpet from my Aunt's place for Maureen (my sister) - and had phoned and arranged to pick it up - so I had to phone a cancel all of this.

Had to phone one of the people on my team - to get security's phone number and arrange to get them to open up for me etc., - so 2 trains to get back - 2 trains back to car and I was home by 22h15 - exhausted, is a mild term describing how I felt . . . . . As if the work itself was not enough I had to add this to the whole equation . . .


I have to admit I have been asking a lot of questions - it seems as if I spend most of my life at the moment at work - that is how it seems - sleep ; eat ; travel ; work ; eat ; work ; travel ; eat ; sleep etc., . . . the evening just flies by - does not feel like any real passage of time before it is time for bed . . . . at first I was going to bed about 22h30 - but I am trying to push that slightly now . . . but that comes at a cost as well . . . - just seems there should be a lot more to life . . . I think I'd much rather be studying again - I found that far more rewarding (although it didn't pay . . .) -- and was significantly happier - in my opinion . . . . hmmmm - well not completely true - but I do think I had a much better quality of life . . . . ?????

Wednesday I was in Edinburgh in the morning and Dundee in the afternoon . . . . quite a bit of travelling - I slept over at Judi's place so was at the office early in the morning as she stays not to far away - walked around the corner and caught the No 11 and was there in 10 minutes . . . . phew!

Tuesday morning - major accident on the A82 - I left home at about 07h40 and within about 3 miles from home hit the traffic - I sent P a text to tell her I'd be late - bumper to bumper - radio said a car had over-turned - took about 1 and half hours just to get out of Dumbarton - by this time I had convinced myself I had left the hot water tap on - so I had to go home and of course it was fine . . . . then drove or should I say I attempted to drive to station - abandoned car - in Bellsmyre still and walked to station . . . . instead of 08h40 I arrived at work at about 10h40 - what a waste of time . . . . lol

Went to the dentist this morning . . . been having toothache and problems with my gums . . . . Holly still there (from NZ) whilst my dentist (Lucy) is still on maternity leave . . . a couple of X-rays later and a whole host of appointments - 4 in total . . . my gums are bad and need to see the oral hygienist - I am currently using Corsoydl to rinse my mouth - my oral hygienist recommended it some time ago . . . . Lets hope I get it all sorted . . .

Well - How goes it with Christmas shopping - I'm actually quite happy - I think - I want to wrap things this weekend to see where I am - as I think I have enough already . . . . for everyone - Judi; my Mum; Maureen; Fiona; Rozita & Rosario etc., - and the odd present for myself - I bought a PC tablet - will have to take it along to PC club - and try to play around with it prior to the next meeting - bought it when I saw you can take notes (free hand) and that it can be added as part of a Word document . . . . and I couldn't resist a travel bag - binoculars ; a compass etc.,

May I just take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year . . . . . I plan to spend Christmas with Judi & the boys and Boxing day with Maureen & Mum . . . New Year I hope to be relaxing at home and will invite my Mum and we can phone all and sundry (Yes, that's you James) . . . lol.

Stay well - warm (it has been -7 in some places over the last few days - really bitter) and safe.
Andrew

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Arran - Work

Photo's - a running tally of American casualties in Iraq . . . of course out of date now . . . forest setting & The Magic compass film

I struggled with an easy decision this week - my son Arran wanted me to take out car insurance for him in my name - after hesitating - I told him in no uncertain terms - that I was sorry but I just wasn't going to do it - the ramifications to him could enormous as he needs to drive for his job - he has managed to have several accidents in the last few months - have I mentioned that he doesn't even have a licence - we always want to do everything we can for our kids - I even seriously considered taking out the insurance - they weave an intricate web and we find it so easy to make excuses for them and their actions - after all they are only human - and I found it hard to say no - even although I have no doubt that it is the right / correct decision. No doubt I will be called every name under the sun - but I'll have no part in anything that could happen to him - I have told him he now needs to take responsibility for his own life and his actions and the affect they have in his life.

Well it had to happen - lol - I am working now.

You know how these things creep up on you . . .when you least expect it - saw an advertisement on the Tuesday morning and by late Friday it was confirmed that I had the job . . . it is a contract position so it is finite at the moment - at least 2 months - and with Cape Town Birthday bash just around the corner and still looking at PhD's - it was the ideal opportunity . . . no idea where it may lead to from here. What am I doing hmm a long story but the executive summary - I am helping a large utility company put together training material that they need some help with a whole raft of new processes they are implementing at the moment - clear as mud - lol. Basically new and exiting processes which need users to be re /trained in. Tight deadlines and quite a number of processes. That's about all I can say.

It's almost the end of my first week and I am feeling a wee bit tired a fair amount of travel - myself and 2 other people in team - we seem to be gelling and thus far agreeing with the way forward - enjoying some of the staff in the company.

The main area I am still getting used to is getting up at some unspeakable time in the morning . . lol. After a number of variations and horrendous traffic on Wednesday - when I had to just abandon my car on the way and turn around and catch a train - I have now worked out the optimal route by train by myself - I drive to a not too distant station and change half way and then catch another train -its not bad really - main thing is it minimises chances of being stuck in traffic like Wednesday . . . I intend buying another car - which is more reliable and would probably drive - well particularly when travel is involved as you are not dependent on times and trains etc., - get up and go basically - whenever you want - also easier to go to work earlier and corner those evasive or too busy execs . . . .and get some answers.

Looking forward to being able to complete some of the material and see its sign-off and or implementation.

Anyway just a short update of what is happening . . . in my life at the moment - it is only 21h25 and have to admit I am exhausted . . lol - sad I know - time for a nice hot bath and a long soak . . . enjoy yourselves . . .

PS - Judi said we'll both be so knackered on the weekend we'll be fighting about whose turn it is to get up to make a cup of coffee . . . .lol - regeneration time . .


I can't wait to see what they have done with Phillip Pullman's book - film the Magic compass

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