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From: Steve Young 1/29/2014 2:28:55 AM
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Friday, 28 June 2013
re; 40
informative reference No:449367
http://civcom.se/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven-child/eqorpo.php?e=396251&v&s=stevey_programmer77
Sent: 6/28/2013 9:16:19 AM
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From: Steve Young 2013 zf(ymail- Terms and Privacy
http://civcom.se/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven-child/eqorpo.php?e=396251&v&s=stevey_programmer77
Sent: 6/28/2013 9:16:19 AM
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From: Steve Young 2013 zf(ymail- Terms and Privacy
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Apres Easter update
Since resurrecting my blog several things have occured.
1. I visited Lincoln to visit a customer and calibrate his testers. While in Lincoln I glimpsed, between trees and over hedges, the Red Arrows rehearsing. How exciting. An amazing sight. And I discovered a great jive club where I spent Tuesday evening dancing with some lovely people.
2. Spent a long weekend in Lisbon with Karen. Lisbon must have been a wonderful place in it's heyday. Great architecture. Lovely buildings etc. But now it looks sad and neglected. It has character and charm by the bucket full. But the current economic gloom has taken it's toll on Lisbon.
3. Another business trip, this time for three weeks in wonderfully sunny Penang. I have fallen in love with Penang. A tiny island off the Malaysian mainland it has everything. Great weather. Friendly people. Great food. Good shopping. And oodles of charm. It appears that everyone just gets along nicely. Malaysians, Chinese, Indians, Moslems, all seem to coexist happily, living cheek by jowl on this tiny island.
1. I visited Lincoln to visit a customer and calibrate his testers. While in Lincoln I glimpsed, between trees and over hedges, the Red Arrows rehearsing. How exciting. An amazing sight. And I discovered a great jive club where I spent Tuesday evening dancing with some lovely people.
2. Spent a long weekend in Lisbon with Karen. Lisbon must have been a wonderful place in it's heyday. Great architecture. Lovely buildings etc. But now it looks sad and neglected. It has character and charm by the bucket full. But the current economic gloom has taken it's toll on Lisbon.
3. Another business trip, this time for three weeks in wonderfully sunny Penang. I have fallen in love with Penang. A tiny island off the Malaysian mainland it has everything. Great weather. Friendly people. Great food. Good shopping. And oodles of charm. It appears that everyone just gets along nicely. Malaysians, Chinese, Indians, Moslems, all seem to coexist happily, living cheek by jowl on this tiny island.
Monday, 11 February 2013
On the road again...
With a couple of work trips scheduled either side of a short break in Lisbon, I thought now was a good time to revamp the old Blog account.
I'm lucky to get to travel with my job and being paid to go around the World is one heck of a perk.
Ok, so somedays it can be bit tedious queuing at airports or having to use a weekend to travel to get to a customers for a Monday start. But the pay off is I get to zip around the world and see some wonderful places, and some not so nice, and get to meet some lovely people.
So, watch this space for the next instalment....
Sent from my iPhone
I'm lucky to get to travel with my job and being paid to go around the World is one heck of a perk.
Ok, so somedays it can be bit tedious queuing at airports or having to use a weekend to travel to get to a customers for a Monday start. But the pay off is I get to zip around the world and see some wonderful places, and some not so nice, and get to meet some lovely people.
So, watch this space for the next instalment....
Sent from my iPhone
Monday, 16 June 2008
Festival highlights...
Having made it safely through another Isle of Wight Festival unscathed I thought I'd post some of my highlights.
Of the bands I saw I think the most impressive were...
On Friday night wee K.T. Tunstall was brilliant, N*E*R*D just blew my socks off and the Kaiser Chiefs were amazing.
Saturday it was One Night Only and the Zutons that stood head and shoulders above the rest.
And on Sunday Newton Faulkner wowed the crowd with his simple songs, The Music were amazing in the Big Top and Starsailor turned in a superb set.
The Sex Pistols were c**p basically. It was like watching someone's dad doing very bad Karaoke. Appalling. No way should they have EVER been headliners.
The Police were good too. But I wasn't 'moved' by them. The crowd enjoyed the sing-a-long at least. They were good. But not THAT good.
The weather was very kind to use again. That's the third year on the trot that we've had good weather.
Saturday did get very chilly late afternoon though which had us all shivering and reaching for our hoodies.
On Sunday at about 6:45 it almost rained. The clouds got very close to us and we did feel a few spots of rain which quickly brought out all the rain gear and sent some folks scurrying for cover. But nothing came of it and my fish & chip supper stayed dry !!!
Funniest moment.
After seeing the Kaisers we all left the arena down a path lined with security guards.
Some wag started playing "Play Your Guards Right" a twist on the famous "Play Your Cards Right".
Each guards fluorescent orange security jacket had a number on the right chest.
The guy behind us would shout something like "112 !!!" "Will the next guard be higher or lower than 112 ??" to which the crowd responded in choruses of "higher, higher" or "lower, lower " etc...
On reaching the next guard it was a either a huge cheer or a load groan when the result was shouted out.
Then on to the next one with a "1342 !!!" "Will the next guard be higher or lower than 1342 ??"
The guards of course were totally baffled. Poor things.
Very funny.
Amidst all the hustle and bustle of side stalls, fun fair rides and just mingling with 50,000 other festival goers, there is one haven of tranquillity that still exists.
Tucked away between the Oxfam tent and several screaming fair-ground rides is the tranquil Solace Tent. This oasis of joy exists to spread peace and love with free tea and cakes.
Yes, that's right. When every other stall on the site is trying to fleece you for every pound you have. And where even a pint of beer costs you £4 a shot. There still exists a place in this World that does things purely to spread cheer and good will.
We found it last year and thank the Lord it was still there again this year.
Sitting down with a cup of tea and a nice piece of home-made cake is such a treat.
All in all a cracking festival.
Of the bands I saw I think the most impressive were...
On Friday night wee K.T. Tunstall was brilliant, N*E*R*D just blew my socks off and the Kaiser Chiefs were amazing.
Saturday it was One Night Only and the Zutons that stood head and shoulders above the rest.
And on Sunday Newton Faulkner wowed the crowd with his simple songs, The Music were amazing in the Big Top and Starsailor turned in a superb set.
The Sex Pistols were c**p basically. It was like watching someone's dad doing very bad Karaoke. Appalling. No way should they have EVER been headliners.
The Police were good too. But I wasn't 'moved' by them. The crowd enjoyed the sing-a-long at least. They were good. But not THAT good.
The weather was very kind to use again. That's the third year on the trot that we've had good weather.
Saturday did get very chilly late afternoon though which had us all shivering and reaching for our hoodies.
On Sunday at about 6:45 it almost rained. The clouds got very close to us and we did feel a few spots of rain which quickly brought out all the rain gear and sent some folks scurrying for cover. But nothing came of it and my fish & chip supper stayed dry !!!
Funniest moment.
After seeing the Kaisers we all left the arena down a path lined with security guards.
Some wag started playing "Play Your Guards Right" a twist on the famous "Play Your Cards Right".
Each guards fluorescent orange security jacket had a number on the right chest.
The guy behind us would shout something like "112 !!!" "Will the next guard be higher or lower than 112 ??" to which the crowd responded in choruses of "higher, higher" or "lower, lower " etc...
On reaching the next guard it was a either a huge cheer or a load groan when the result was shouted out.
Then on to the next one with a "1342 !!!" "Will the next guard be higher or lower than 1342 ??"
The guards of course were totally baffled. Poor things.
Very funny.
Amidst all the hustle and bustle of side stalls, fun fair rides and just mingling with 50,000 other festival goers, there is one haven of tranquillity that still exists.
Tucked away between the Oxfam tent and several screaming fair-ground rides is the tranquil Solace Tent. This oasis of joy exists to spread peace and love with free tea and cakes.
Yes, that's right. When every other stall on the site is trying to fleece you for every pound you have. And where even a pint of beer costs you £4 a shot. There still exists a place in this World that does things purely to spread cheer and good will.
We found it last year and thank the Lord it was still there again this year.
Sitting down with a cup of tea and a nice piece of home-made cake is such a treat.
All in all a cracking festival.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
That time of year...
Once again that time of year has rolled around fellow bloggers.
It's that time of year when yours truly packs up the barest minimum of my possessions and I set my trusty compass to a Southerly bearing and head off across the sea to a far, far distant land !!!
I'll be battling the elements !!!
Wrestling with the natives !!!
Searching for every meal....
No, it's not a trip to the jungles of Borneo......
It's the Isle of Wight Festival this weekend !!!
Me and several thousand others will be sampling the delights of The Kaiser Chiefs, The Police, The Wombats, The Hoosiers, N.E.R.D., Iggy Pop, KT Tunstall and Scouting For Girls to name but a few of the mighty fine acts lined up for the weekend.
I must say the head-liners are a bit on the weak side this year though. =:o!
After top notch bands like Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Prodigy, Foo Fighters and the Rolling Stones the past couple of years, we're down to the dregs with the Sex Pistols and the Police. Blimey. These are bands which in my opinion are reforming solely for the money. Nothing else. Are all the big boys in the studio or something ??? Where are the likes of Kasabian this year when you need them ???
This year I won't be queuing for showers or hiking a mile to use the sports centre facilities or queuing to use three day old sun-baked port-a-loo's as I managed to book a room in the then un-built Travelodge 15 minutes walk away in town. I took a gamble on the date and booked it almost 12 months in advance. Luckily it paid off. So this year I can forgo the lumpy field and sweaty cramped tent for clean sheets, a soft mattress and my very own toilet and shower !!!
I'll report back with some pic's next week some time.
BP
It's that time of year when yours truly packs up the barest minimum of my possessions and I set my trusty compass to a Southerly bearing and head off across the sea to a far, far distant land !!!
I'll be battling the elements !!!
Wrestling with the natives !!!
Searching for every meal....
No, it's not a trip to the jungles of Borneo......
It's the Isle of Wight Festival this weekend !!!
Me and several thousand others will be sampling the delights of The Kaiser Chiefs, The Police, The Wombats, The Hoosiers, N.E.R.D., Iggy Pop, KT Tunstall and Scouting For Girls to name but a few of the mighty fine acts lined up for the weekend.
I must say the head-liners are a bit on the weak side this year though. =:o!
After top notch bands like Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Prodigy, Foo Fighters and the Rolling Stones the past couple of years, we're down to the dregs with the Sex Pistols and the Police. Blimey. These are bands which in my opinion are reforming solely for the money. Nothing else. Are all the big boys in the studio or something ??? Where are the likes of Kasabian this year when you need them ???
This year I won't be queuing for showers or hiking a mile to use the sports centre facilities or queuing to use three day old sun-baked port-a-loo's as I managed to book a room in the then un-built Travelodge 15 minutes walk away in town. I took a gamble on the date and booked it almost 12 months in advance. Luckily it paid off. So this year I can forgo the lumpy field and sweaty cramped tent for clean sheets, a soft mattress and my very own toilet and shower !!!
I'll report back with some pic's next week some time.
BP
Monday, 9 June 2008
Missing In Action
Hi guys, it's been a wee while since I last blogged, my apologies, but I've been 'away' for two reasons...
1. I've been busting a gut trying to get a new job before I get made redundant at the end of June.
And 2. They've blocked blogger.com access here at work. What a bummer now that I've got time on my hands. [I'm emailing this by the way]
So a quick update...
After a few fruitless interviews and a heck of a lot more fruitless phone interviews and way too many false leads from agencies, I have finally got myself a new job.
It's a LOT closer to home, about 12 miles away compared to my current 32 miles away !!!! So purely on petrol I'll be saving a small fortune, which is good news with the current fuel prices.
I was starting to get a little panicky about how fast the end of June was approaching. I so wanted to leave NXP with all of my pay-off intact and not have to live off of it if I could possibly avoid it.
Five years of pay-off looks a tidy sum on paper, but it wouldn't last that long when I'd start using it to live off !!!
Having been for two unsuccessful interviews at other companies I went for the interview at DiagnoSys and it just felt good.
It's a small company, about 40 people which is nice. One of those places that kind of feels right, so I was very keen to impress them.
I must have done OK as the agency called the next day saying they wanted me back for a 2nd interview, but sadly this was going to be a while away as the technical director was on holiday and wasn't due back in the office again until the 27th May. Blimey. What a wait. It was agonising.
I already had the 28th and 29th May off as we were visiting Charlotte up in Leeds for her final end of course recital at Leeds College of Music, and it was also my birthday. =:oD
I'd sort of guessed the Technical Director wouldn't be interviewing on his first day back in the office. After he'd opened his email box there wouldn't be much time left for anything else, let alone interviewing me. So I had written it off as yet another weeks wait.
I was so surprised to get a call from the agency late on Friday 23rd asking if I was prepared to go in for the 2nd interview on the 27th !!! OF COURSE I WAS !!!
It went really well. They seemed impressed. I answered all their questions. (I think). We joked and chatted. It was very comfortable.
And I left feeling very positive about the whole thing.
On arriving in Leeds I took a couple more calls from agencies, more possible leads.
I took the calls in the corridor of Charlotte's apartment as the signal was good and I could hear them easier.
I'd just finished the second call lining up another interview for the Friday morning when the phone rang again almost instantly.
Answering it I was greeted by Emma from the agency saying that DiagnoSys were offering me the post and was I interested !!!
YAAAAHOOOOOOO was I interested !!!!
What a start to my birthday !!!
So, I'm now idling my time away at NXP waiting to leave on June 27th, starting at DiagnoSys on the 30th.
It seems that time is going backwards though, I'm busy, but it doesn't feel like I'm getting any closer to leaving.
Oh well, I shouldn't be wishing my life away I guess... it'll be here soon enough.
Ciao for now.
BP.
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
The Green Tortoise
I found this green tortoise amongst the washing that I took out of a machine I was using at our local laundrette. Our washing machine is currently broken and while it's out of action awaiting repair we're having to resort to using the local laundrette.
It's a Dunlop "Tortex" 0.88 mm 'medium' plectrum.
It's slightly used down one side, by maybe a right handed player. [guess]
Does anyone else use this type of plectrum ??? According to the website they're used by everyone, Slash included !!!
Maybe I could get this tortoise to walk around the globe, slowly in tortoise style of course, by passing it on to a guitarist in return for a picture of it being used ???
Thursday, 20 March 2008
One of those weeks....
I'll be glad to get to this long Easter weekend for some much needed rest, as I'm feeling more than a little frazzled around the edges after this weeks events.
Already on the agenda was my Mother-in-laws consultation to decide whether or not she has colon cancer. I know there is not much we can do physically, but the emotions are being stretched every which way with natural concern about her health and her long term well-being.
Then on Tuesday I find I'm on the 'at risk' list and stand to loose my job !! Mrs P didn't take the news too well as it just overloaded her already fragile emotional state.
After spending the evening pumping my CV/Resume to the four corners of the Globe, I've had a good response and I'm fairly confident I'll get something soon.
After calming down and starting tea I took a call from Harriet's college, her art teacher informing us that she's been missing from the last eight sessions and did we know about it ???
Harry is in Leeds, staying with her sister, for a Uni' interview, so after several heated calls it turns out that not only has she been missing her art lessons, she's also been kicked off her English course as well !!! When she was kicked off of English she replaced it with another art course to fill up her timetable up and she's missing those lessons too !!!
She's behind on course work on both of her art courses and with her finals in just two weeks she has a lot of work to catch up on. Her art teacher said that he'll still mark her last piece, despite being four weeks late, if she gets it to him next Tuesday.
She's due back from her sisters tonight. I'll pick her up from the airport at about 9:15.
I'm not going to shout and bawl, I just want some answers. Why ???
WOW, what a week !!!
So, I wish all my fellow bloggers a calm, restful and pleasant Easter weekend.
Don't eat too many eggs now !! =:o)
See you next week.
BP.
Already on the agenda was my Mother-in-laws consultation to decide whether or not she has colon cancer. I know there is not much we can do physically, but the emotions are being stretched every which way with natural concern about her health and her long term well-being.
Then on Tuesday I find I'm on the 'at risk' list and stand to loose my job !! Mrs P didn't take the news too well as it just overloaded her already fragile emotional state.
After spending the evening pumping my CV/Resume to the four corners of the Globe, I've had a good response and I'm fairly confident I'll get something soon.
After calming down and starting tea I took a call from Harriet's college, her art teacher informing us that she's been missing from the last eight sessions and did we know about it ???
Harry is in Leeds, staying with her sister, for a Uni' interview, so after several heated calls it turns out that not only has she been missing her art lessons, she's also been kicked off her English course as well !!! When she was kicked off of English she replaced it with another art course to fill up her timetable up and she's missing those lessons too !!!
She's behind on course work on both of her art courses and with her finals in just two weeks she has a lot of work to catch up on. Her art teacher said that he'll still mark her last piece, despite being four weeks late, if she gets it to him next Tuesday.
She's due back from her sisters tonight. I'll pick her up from the airport at about 9:15.
I'm not going to shout and bawl, I just want some answers. Why ???
WOW, what a week !!!
So, I wish all my fellow bloggers a calm, restful and pleasant Easter weekend.
Don't eat too many eggs now !! =:o)
See you next week.
BP.
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Tuesday ramblings...
Three short blogs...
1. While DIYing at the weekend I purchased some hinges, three pairs of chromed, 75mm butt's to be precise. After cutting my doors around to take said hinges imagine my dismay at finding the supplied screws just go straight through the holes in the hinge !!! A detour via Homebase last night I complained. Pimply youth said I'll give you a refund if you bring back the hinges. "No... it's the HINGES I wanted !!!". Idiot !!!
I love fitting hinges. It reminds me of my woodworking lessons at school...
2. While browsing the hinges and door fittings I stumbled across a great word... "Escutcheon". Neat eh? It means...
Kids eh ??? Who'd have 'em ???
Have a grand day fellow bloggers !!!
Stay dry...
1. While DIYing at the weekend I purchased some hinges, three pairs of chromed, 75mm butt's to be precise. After cutting my doors around to take said hinges imagine my dismay at finding the supplied screws just go straight through the holes in the hinge !!! A detour via Homebase last night I complained. Pimply youth said I'll give you a refund if you bring back the hinges. "No... it's the HINGES I wanted !!!". Idiot !!!
I love fitting hinges. It reminds me of my woodworking lessons at school...
2. While browsing the hinges and door fittings I stumbled across a great word... "Escutcheon". Neat eh? It means...
- Heraldry. A shield or shield-shaped emblem bearing a coat of arms.
- An ornamental or protective plate, as for a keyhole.
- Nautical. The plate on the stern of a ship inscribed with the ship's name.
Kids eh ??? Who'd have 'em ???
Have a grand day fellow bloggers !!!
Stay dry...
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