The Mind Is Willing...

Now I remember why I don't get involved in anything hardware-related.

The PC I liberated from my employers seems to have a faulty CD/DVD drive -- it opens and closes but anything else (like actually accessing a CD) seems a little too much like hard work, so it's primary function currently is to act as cup holder.

Not a problem, thinks I, it's just a matter of swapping CD/DVD drives between the old and new PC. Well, yes that would work, if only the case on the new PC wasn't seemingly welded on. Now, I'm no 4 stone weakling (in fact after a very long stint sat at a desk 9-5, I'm well into double figures on the lardometer), but no matter what I did that case would not budge. So I resorted to using a USB memory stick to transfer the (mercifully few) files.

I fully intend to keep quiet about the dodgy CD/DVD drive; they're getting a free PC, it's not like they can moan, now is it? Only time will tell...

Much Ado About Nothing

Not much happening at the moment.

There are a number of hefty bits of work in the pipeline, but we have to wait for someone to sign off the work (and agree to stump up the cash). Our customers don't seem overly keen on spending money (tight buggers), so who knows how long this quiet time will last? While we wait for that to happen, there are always lovely little jobs that have been "on the back burner" that can be done. Of course, I'd rather chew off my own thumbs than do most of these tasks, so my "looking busy" and "paper shuffling" skills have been brought to the fore, and tea drinking has now reached fever pitch. The beady eyes of my manager can't be fooled for long, though, so I fear at some point I will succumb...

On a related note, we are in the midst of a clear-out of our old hardware etc., so I've snapped up a desktop PC for a friend whose own PC is on its last legs. As is the way with these things, I am now in charge of the transfer of data from the old PC, installation of software on the new one etc., and no doubt will be #1 IT Helpdesk contact for when it's Gone Horribly Wrong™. Joy.

Ending Before I Began

A short break from blogging, as I was off up th' hills and "feeling the burn" as I climbed/crawled up The Old Man of Coniston. I could make a joke here about going up the old man, but I won't. Honest.

Thankfully, aside from the hated hill walking, there was plenty of wine drunk (hurrah!) and generally doing very little. I'm not keen on walking at the best of times, even if it's just from bar to bar, so I think I've done my quota for the year. That said, I have plans to visit Madrid next month, and off to New York in December (I'm such a jet-setter!) so I'm guessing I'm not off the hook yet...

I am having issues loading images at the moment, but will update this post shortly (or add another) with a couple of images, just to prove I was there. Will also look at some more changes to blog layout and links etc., should I have time.

Back to work as from yesterday, so hopefully there will be something to moan about soon.

UPDATE: Some pictures for you to feast upon...

First, the Old Man as seen from way, way, way below:



And a view of the cairn on top, after regaining my breath and resting for a week:

Genesis

Well, as this is my first post I should probably start by telling you a little more about me.

I'm a "Software Development Consultant" (sic) in a software house in the UK, and have been for the past 9 years. Very little changes here - I get given dodgy work to do, based on ill-thought-out specifications, and have to magically shoe-horn this into our doddery system, which I lovingly refer to as Project Sisyphus (a link for those that don't "get it"). Imagine a drawn-out game of KerPlunk, with the objective being not to lose any marbles, and you'll be close to the mark. I also have the dubious pleasure of communicating with our wonderful customers, translating their requirements into something that (a) makes sense, and (b) is possible within the constraints of the laws of time & space.

I hope to post about some of the many things that annoy me in the day-to-day of my job, as well as any other nonsense I can come up with. I hope you enjoy.