Maybe Quiet

Posted: Mon 20 October, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Cynicism, Work-related | Leave a comment »

Today things may be quiet round here – as I’ve mentioned before, I’m starting a new “proper” job today, and as such I’ve no idea what the internet access will be like.

Also it looks like the first day is induction-tastic, going through HR guff, staff policies and the like. Oh what fun. Just the way to motivate me and make me really want the job. Not.

Hey ho, we’ll see how it goes – and if all else fails, I’ll write more tonight.

Glasses Old and New

Posted: Sun 19 October, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Domestic, Driving, Thoughts | Leave a comment »

Yesterday, I went and spent £300 on two pairs of new glasses – that’s £300 for the pair, not each. Yes, I did go to Specsavers.

I don’t mind too much when it comes to spending money on glasses – they’re an essential part of my life, and I wouldn’t be able to do much without them. I still think that when it gets to the point where I simply wouldn’t be able to go out safely without glasses, the NHS should contribute more than £12.40 to the price (their complex lens discount voucher – and that’s not even 10% of the price of the frames…) but there we go.

Today, I managed to bend the frame of my main pair of glasses. I picked up a bag of compost, and whacked myself in the face with it. Not my finest hour, I admit. They’re OK, and pretty much unbent now, but at the moment I’m wearing one of my backup pairs – not great, but a whole lot better than the alternative.

So I’ll be happy when the new pairs are ready – possibly this coming weekend, possibly the one after. I can get by for now, but it’ll still be good to be back to normal…

New Job – The Downside

Posted: Sat 18 October, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Domestic, Thoughts, Work-related | Leave a comment »

Oh yeah, I’d forgotten, the new job looks like it’s already got a significant downside.

It looks like I need to wear shirt and tie in the office. *shudder*

Other than interviews, I don’t think I’ve done that consistently since ohhh, 2002 – and even that was only a contract that lasted three months. The only possible saviour of this situation is that there isn’t an office dress-code mentioned in the contract and introductory gubbins I’ve got.

So we’ll have to wait and see, but for now it means that I’m stocking up on new shirts and ties. Admittedly that’s kind of fun – and will stand me in good stead for future work as well, I guess. All the same, I’d rather not be wearing ties…

Electoral Prejudice

Posted: Fri 17 October, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Charm School, Cynicism, Weirdness | Leave a comment »

I’ve been fairly good about not mentioning the US Presidential Election campaign, but Holy Jesus Fuck, sometimes Americans scare me.

Some of the sentiments in this report are just bizarre – you have to wonder how people get to be so bigoted and prejudiced. Very, very scary viewing.

Projects

Posted: Thu 16 October, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Photography, Thoughts | Leave a comment »

One thing that’s been interesting so far in this NCFE Photography course I’m doing is that it sets weekly photographic projects or assignments that need to be completed. If nothing else, it means I’m getting out more with the camera – and that’s really what I needed.

The assignments aren’t hugely complicated (so far) but they at least make you think a bit more about photos, what will work, what won’t, and what will fulfil the requirement.

This week it’s been around taking a series of shots of the same subject, but at different shutter speeds and apertures. Now, I know how that all works, and what the results will be, but it’s still something that’s of interest – and even meant that this morning I had the tripod out, as one of the shots is a full one second exposure, which is impossible to take hand-held without insane levels of blurring.

Having seen the cameras of the other people on the course, there’s only myself and one other with a full DSLR, so most of the conversation on Tuesday was around how to get the other people’s digital compacts to do the same things – and I must admit that I was quite surprised by the percentage of the people there who just shoot on auto all the time. I suppose I shouldn’t be, but well, I was. Hey Ho.

Still, it’s going OK so far, and like I said – at least it’s getting me out more with the camera. And that’s definitely a good thing.

Take Your Dog To Work – Day Two

Posted: Wed 15 October, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Animals, Domestic, Work-related | Leave a comment »

This morning, Hound was actually OK to stay in the house – and then the bloody Psycho Cat got involved.

I’d left the house, and locked the front door, with Hound safe and fine inside, no hassles at all. But then Psycho Cat jumped down from the fence, and started yelling at the front door.

And me, being a big softy (and knowing that the weather’s disgusting today, so we’d have ended up with a soaked/filthy/disgusting cat if he stayed out all day) went back to let him in. Which then resulted in Hound having a fit of the mini-hysterical type, and running out to stand by the car. And once she’s been in that state, well, it’s easier to give in than have to fight the battle.

So yes, she’s in the car at the office again.

Normality will resume tonight/tomorrow.

Quote of the week

Posted: Wed 15 October, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Cynicism, Thoughts | Leave a comment »

(as usual, from SlashDot)

It’s like a nuclear weapon – the most important fact is that you have one, so actually using one is silly (because then you no longer have one, and you’ve pissed someone off very badly)

Made me smile, anyway.

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