Happy/Merry:
Christmas/Beltain/Winter Solstice/Saturnalia/Hannuka/Other.
Or; Season's Greetings.
Christmas/Beltain/Winter Solstice/Saturnalia/Hannuka/Other.
Or; Season's Greetings.
What a week. It's been a toughie.
Apple gave me 4 weeks notice before I was due to start with them. I had to give a calendar month's notice at my old job. There was approx. a week crossover.
I've had some conflicting advice from Apple. First I was told that the first two weeks were going to be home study - turned out to be one week, which due to the aforementioned meant I spent most of last week working during the day and studying in the evenings. Secondly I was told we had an exam on Tuesday, the second day of training. Now I've had an email saying it will be on Monday afternoon. That made me fill my pants.
Anyway, I'm just about packed for 2 weeks training in London. I've been so busy this week trying to tie up loose ends at work and studying, it's only just really hit me. I'm going to be away from the wife for 2 weeks. That fucking sucks. I don't think we've spent that long apart in the time we've known each other, never mind since we've been together. Ugh. I don't even get to come home on the weekend inbetween. I'm assuming I won't be training (although I've had nothing to say either way,) but I can't afford the train fare back to Bristol and then back for the second week.
The home study has been pretty hard - lots to learn and my memory is not renowned for being good - hence I don't like "regurgitate what we've told you" exams.
I know I can do the job but exams are so fake. If I didn't know something in the real world, I'd look it up or ask someone. I can't envisage a situation where I'd HAVE to know the answer to a specific question or else the dead would rise from the grave... You'd ask for help or go online and look stuff up. Hell, in my last job there was no one I could ask anything of onsite as I was the only IT guy. If I got really stuck I could ask our 3rd party support but I only called them about once a month tops. Most of the time I just figured it out and that went ok.
Speaking of which I had my last meeting with the boss on Weds, (he wasn't in on Thurs for my last day and apparently only realised on Weds evening after I'd gone,) and he thanked me for all my hard work and for a professional handover - meaning I didn't reset the server passwords, shut them down and fuck off, leaving the business stranded. I have a need to be the bigger person, luckily for him.
They did a quick send off at the end of Thurs. No card, but I got £170 as a leaving gift. Not to be sniffed at.
So now it's on to Apple (well, technically I've been employed by them since Monday.). I'm looking forward to the training (having not had ANY in the last 3 & 1/2 years,) but not the exams.
I got an iPhone (I know, I know... but it will help to have one if I'm going to be fixing them. Plus, I REALLY, REALLY wanted one and they really are utterly fucking awesome,) and cancelled my contract with Orange.
I had an N95 which I dropped and because I didn't tell them it was broken within 48 hours, my insurance was null and void. They wanted £170 to replace it so I told them to shove it & went to O2. Trouble is, I still have a couple of months left on my Orange contract to pay and I had to put down £300 deposit for the bastard iPhone. I'll get it back in Jan after 3 months of clear billing, by which point I'll probably need it.
At least I get my travel and hotel paid for. The hotel includes breakfast, use of the gym (might try to go,) and internet use. I also get £60 per day food allowance. Nice.
In other news, I had my car clamped for being out of tax - that cost me £260, although I'll get £160 of it back once I renew my tax, (- £25 for a new log book, which is partly the reason I didn't get around to renewing in time,) although Pinklet is going to have to do that for me since I'm away, meaning she'll have to take a day off work.
Also, our cats have fleas. Yick, ack, ptthththth... I really dislike fleas.
Tired now, bed now, bye.
Apple gave me 4 weeks notice before I was due to start with them. I had to give a calendar month's notice at my old job. There was approx. a week crossover.
I've had some conflicting advice from Apple. First I was told that the first two weeks were going to be home study - turned out to be one week, which due to the aforementioned meant I spent most of last week working during the day and studying in the evenings. Secondly I was told we had an exam on Tuesday, the second day of training. Now I've had an email saying it will be on Monday afternoon. That made me fill my pants.
Anyway, I'm just about packed for 2 weeks training in London. I've been so busy this week trying to tie up loose ends at work and studying, it's only just really hit me. I'm going to be away from the wife for 2 weeks. That fucking sucks. I don't think we've spent that long apart in the time we've known each other, never mind since we've been together. Ugh. I don't even get to come home on the weekend inbetween. I'm assuming I won't be training (although I've had nothing to say either way,) but I can't afford the train fare back to Bristol and then back for the second week.
The home study has been pretty hard - lots to learn and my memory is not renowned for being good - hence I don't like "regurgitate what we've told you" exams.
I know I can do the job but exams are so fake. If I didn't know something in the real world, I'd look it up or ask someone. I can't envisage a situation where I'd HAVE to know the answer to a specific question or else the dead would rise from the grave... You'd ask for help or go online and look stuff up. Hell, in my last job there was no one I could ask anything of onsite as I was the only IT guy. If I got really stuck I could ask our 3rd party support but I only called them about once a month tops. Most of the time I just figured it out and that went ok.
Speaking of which I had my last meeting with the boss on Weds, (he wasn't in on Thurs for my last day and apparently only realised on Weds evening after I'd gone,) and he thanked me for all my hard work and for a professional handover - meaning I didn't reset the server passwords, shut them down and fuck off, leaving the business stranded. I have a need to be the bigger person, luckily for him.
They did a quick send off at the end of Thurs. No card, but I got £170 as a leaving gift. Not to be sniffed at.
So now it's on to Apple (well, technically I've been employed by them since Monday.). I'm looking forward to the training (having not had ANY in the last 3 & 1/2 years,) but not the exams.
I got an iPhone (I know, I know... but it will help to have one if I'm going to be fixing them. Plus, I REALLY, REALLY wanted one and they really are utterly fucking awesome,) and cancelled my contract with Orange.
I had an N95 which I dropped and because I didn't tell them it was broken within 48 hours, my insurance was null and void. They wanted £170 to replace it so I told them to shove it & went to O2. Trouble is, I still have a couple of months left on my Orange contract to pay and I had to put down £300 deposit for the bastard iPhone. I'll get it back in Jan after 3 months of clear billing, by which point I'll probably need it.
At least I get my travel and hotel paid for. The hotel includes breakfast, use of the gym (might try to go,) and internet use. I also get £60 per day food allowance. Nice.
In other news, I had my car clamped for being out of tax - that cost me £260, although I'll get £160 of it back once I renew my tax, (- £25 for a new log book, which is partly the reason I didn't get around to renewing in time,) although Pinklet is going to have to do that for me since I'm away, meaning she'll have to take a day off work.
Also, our cats have fleas. Yick, ack, ptthththth... I really dislike fleas.
Tired now, bed now, bye.
Exceptionally brief update:
I start with Apple tomorrow.
I don't finish my old job until Thursday.
The first week at Apple is home study, meaning I can do it even with the overlap.
But on evenings only until Fri.
But I started yesterday to get a head start.
And Pinklet made me a schedule.
But we've gone out to do necessary stuff.
And I haven't got as much done as I was scheduled for.
And now I'm starting to worry I won't have time for it all.
Pinklet tested me on the stuff I'd done today.
And I got lots right.
But I got some wrong.
And now I'm worried I won't remember everything.
And I have an exam a week on Tues which is described as 'tough'.
And I'm expected to pass first time.
But I don't know the pass mark.
I bought an iPhone.
It'll help to have one if I'm going to be working fixing them and advising about them.
It's the best thing ever - Facebook, Twitter, Email, Web from anywhere with a signal!
Apps, apps, apps!
But I had to get a new number.
Truly amazing interface.
And it makes phone calls.
I love my wife.
I start with Apple tomorrow.
I don't finish my old job until Thursday.
The first week at Apple is home study, meaning I can do it even with the overlap.
But on evenings only until Fri.
But I started yesterday to get a head start.
And Pinklet made me a schedule.
But we've gone out to do necessary stuff.
And I haven't got as much done as I was scheduled for.
And now I'm starting to worry I won't have time for it all.
Pinklet tested me on the stuff I'd done today.
And I got lots right.
But I got some wrong.
And now I'm worried I won't remember everything.
And I have an exam a week on Tues which is described as 'tough'.
And I'm expected to pass first time.
But I don't know the pass mark.
I bought an iPhone.
It'll help to have one if I'm going to be working fixing them and advising about them.
It's the best thing ever - Facebook, Twitter, Email, Web from anywhere with a signal!
Apps, apps, apps!
But I had to get a new number.
Truly amazing interface.
And it makes phone calls.
I love my wife.
Six days until we get married. SIX DAYS! How did that happen? I mean sure, I've been going to sleep and getting up and going to work and coming home and time has been passing as usual but... hang on, I think I answered my own question.
Anyway, Pinklet has an almost finished dress. I've been working on table favours and stuff. Obviously I'm really looking forward to getting married but I'm also looking forward to us having our lives back. Just stupid things like being able to go to the pub with friends when they invite us and to be able to think of anything other than wedding stuff. Hopefully the weather will be as nice as it has been this weekend.
I might have to go into work the weekend after the wedding. I managed to get the week off as I think I mentioned, but now it looks like I might have to work the weekend. It sucks but I'm almost at the end of my tether with my job anyway. I should hear back from Apple this week about the job I went for with them. Fingers crossed.
Here's some random photos from the last few months:
Guitar Hero meets Skate:
Violin Heroine
Check out this badass!
He's so bad, he's wearing Bruce Lee's outfit!
Wakka, Wakka, Wakka!
Vegan Birthday Cake, courtesy of TheKnives
The inimitable An Axe
The aftermath of one sip of latte.
Hobbes doing his male model pose
Wolverine gone to seed
We went to see Hot Fuzz at an outdoor showing in Wells, were it was filmed. Apparently the swan chase scene was filmed there. We honked at the relevant moment. I found out due to tweets from Edgar Wright the director, and the next day he asked me how it was! How cool. We ended up very cold and with numb bums, but had a great evening.
Trouble in Wells High St.
We got an ice cream from the crypt keeper (he was lovely btw.)
Lick my nuts!
Bloody hoodies! Loiterin'... sittin'!
We bought kids plastic police helmets to wear
And I got collared by the filth
Anyway, Pinklet has an almost finished dress. I've been working on table favours and stuff. Obviously I'm really looking forward to getting married but I'm also looking forward to us having our lives back. Just stupid things like being able to go to the pub with friends when they invite us and to be able to think of anything other than wedding stuff. Hopefully the weather will be as nice as it has been this weekend.
I might have to go into work the weekend after the wedding. I managed to get the week off as I think I mentioned, but now it looks like I might have to work the weekend. It sucks but I'm almost at the end of my tether with my job anyway. I should hear back from Apple this week about the job I went for with them. Fingers crossed.
Here's some random photos from the last few months:
Guitar Hero meets Skate:
Violin Heroine
Check out this badass!
He's so bad, he's wearing Bruce Lee's outfit!
Wakka, Wakka, Wakka!
Vegan Birthday Cake, courtesy of TheKnives
The inimitable An Axe
The aftermath of one sip of latte.
Hobbes doing his male model pose
Wolverine gone to seed
We went to see Hot Fuzz at an outdoor showing in Wells, were it was filmed. Apparently the swan chase scene was filmed there. We honked at the relevant moment. I found out due to tweets from Edgar Wright the director, and the next day he asked me how it was! How cool. We ended up very cold and with numb bums, but had a great evening.
Trouble in Wells High St.
We got an ice cream from the crypt keeper (he was lovely btw.)
Lick my nuts!
Bloody hoodies! Loiterin'... sittin'!
We bought kids plastic police helmets to wear
And I got collared by the filth
