As predicted, I have a virus. This verdict brought to you courtesy of a doctor, a very nice man who took less than 90s to arrive at the same conclusion I did last week. It's all very nice knowing what's wrong with me, but he stubbornly refused to prescribe me any fun drugs (opium, for instance) to fix the problem / render it inconsequential. So I prescribed myself a large decaf latte from Nero and a quantity of overpriced food from M&S ("This isn't just a ripoff, this is a Marks and Spencer wallet rape with a dollop of creamy middle class finer things in life delusion").
Then I tried to work. Today I'm trying to get automated graphs into my reports. This is a pig, because the ranges of data are non-continuous so you have to build arrays and translate them into strings and insert quotes and all sorts of other head bending bollocks. Tricky at the best of times, even worse when your brain's so tired it can't concentrate on anything for more than two minutes and you feel dizzy most of the time. Struggled through that, then ordered myself to rest on the side of St Giles hill for an hour in the sunshine. That did the trick alright. Now I'm going to send lots of emails. It's been a good day's work all things considered - my output's less than normal, but the amount of effort it required to concentrate was quite draining in itself.
In current state have decided it's not terribly wise to drive so I'm going to train it up there tonight. This means foresaking my bass this week, but that's ok. I'm sleeping a huge amount at the moment and we're not learning anything new this week anyway. Wandering around winchester in the sunshine reminded me of the time off I had last year. I'm enjoying this project, but I can't wait for a break. 8 weeks so far. I'm broken.
April 30, 2007
A Full Weekend
Commenced with cricket on Friday night. Indoor game again at hedge end. Mash ran when he shouldn't have, I didn't tell him to stop when I should have so I got run out without facing a ball. How inglorious. Fielding went better. Ian (captain) and Phil (top bat) were on. Phil hit the ball and it hit the wall. I retrieved it super quick and chucked it to Matt, who ran Ian out - much to his disgust. All I can remember is Matt's grinning face after I chucked the ball to him. It was all happening so quickly, but you could see him thinking "I'm going to run skipper out, har har har".
Good few beers down the pub after, then collapsed in a heap at home. Been feeling on and off under the weather. When it kicks in I need to lie down pretty urgently, so I did. Early doors start with band practice on Saturday. Met Ade in this scuzzy hole down in Southampton. Really dodgy area - junked cars lined up against the wall outside, bikers hanging round outside. Had a great session. Still don't have a drummer, but should have two or three to check out next weekend, so might be a long one. Dan was going to be late but ultimately couldn't make it down. Ade's worried that his ability and commitment might be holding us back. This is not a nice thing to talk about. We're also having trouble finding a singer who just sings. More often, the people we find are rhythm guitarists. But Dan is also a rhythm guitarist...so there's a bit of overlap there. We've resolved to look for a singer whether they play or not. Plenty of bands have three guitars, so it's not a biggy. The session itself went really well. We're really integrating well. Everything's, well - not exactly easy, but there's just this understanding that's grown between us. He knows I'm good at holding the rhythm, so if we're out of time he knows it's generally down to him. I know he's better at arrangements, so I don't interfere in that stuff. This week we learned Keep On Rocking In The Free World. Not exactly a hard song. We'd got it down in less than half an hour. Not world class, obviously, but I'm so pleased.
Straight from practice to the pub to meet Ian and the skipper of one of the teams in the league. It's all looking good for the season - we've got 5 teams in our new league. Happy days. Couple of pints, then over to the bowman, where Benny was working, for a few more. Lovely afternoon in the sunshine. Caught up with Tom and Charlotte, then had a really nice chat with Mark. Archie (Mark's dog) is a pedigree german shepherd and has a renal problem than means he only has 6 months to live (he's only six months old, but he's huge). I guess a lot of people would have him put down. The insurance is meeting 85% of the [significant] vet bills. But Mark's view is that Archie is a member of the family. He's a lovely, lovely dog. I don't think I've ever met a dog who's just nice to be around, but Archie is. Really nice afternoon.
Back to Winchester for Dinner with Al and Deb and Laura. Bit drunk by this point so tried to be on best behaviour. Did very well, actually, until I was having a look around Al's splendid new Mac. They told me a number of times not to open Photobooth. This is normally a pretty good way to get me to do anything, but moreso when I've had a beer. Basically, Deb has taken to flashing Al's computer when he ignores her. I can't remember what I saw, but I remember that I saw something I shouldn't have. Whoops. I thought it was very amusing. I think Deb thought it was very amusing too. I wonder if she felt the same after she sobered up. Al seemed a bit annoyed. Whoops. I still find it very amusing. Perhaps I should apologise. Benny says he was relieved Al didn't start slicing me up with one of his ornamental swords :)
Had a look round the farmer's market on Sunday morning. Bumped into Meg Mash and Kate on the way over, drooled with envy over their haul of lovely things. Ending up looting M&S for Chorizo, Manchego, Salami, Tortillas and Rioja. Barbecue with Rob, Ursula, Mick, Phil and Dee over lunch. Lovely lovely food and some fucking awesome wines (which, as designated driver, I only tasted). Some beautiful whites, a couple of brilliant champagnes. Pimms was good as well. Phil's been in fine form lately and Dee (who is part of the gang that I'm off on holiday with in a couple of weeks) is always a lot of fun to be around. Great afternoon lying around in the sunshine and eating too much.
Headed over to the pub last night to catch up with Meg and Mash. Mash has been making bread - brought a roll down, properly gorgeous. I must start making bread again, it's just so time consuming. San Franciso Sourdough. Wild yeast. Mmmmmmm. Almost as soon as I got to the pub I was tired. Couldn't drink my beer - most unusual! Only managed 1.5 pints, then bailed. Very rude, but I was about to pass out. Went to bed at half ten - amazingly early by my standards. Sooo tired.
Good few beers down the pub after, then collapsed in a heap at home. Been feeling on and off under the weather. When it kicks in I need to lie down pretty urgently, so I did. Early doors start with band practice on Saturday. Met Ade in this scuzzy hole down in Southampton. Really dodgy area - junked cars lined up against the wall outside, bikers hanging round outside. Had a great session. Still don't have a drummer, but should have two or three to check out next weekend, so might be a long one. Dan was going to be late but ultimately couldn't make it down. Ade's worried that his ability and commitment might be holding us back. This is not a nice thing to talk about. We're also having trouble finding a singer who just sings. More often, the people we find are rhythm guitarists. But Dan is also a rhythm guitarist...so there's a bit of overlap there. We've resolved to look for a singer whether they play or not. Plenty of bands have three guitars, so it's not a biggy. The session itself went really well. We're really integrating well. Everything's, well - not exactly easy, but there's just this understanding that's grown between us. He knows I'm good at holding the rhythm, so if we're out of time he knows it's generally down to him. I know he's better at arrangements, so I don't interfere in that stuff. This week we learned Keep On Rocking In The Free World. Not exactly a hard song. We'd got it down in less than half an hour. Not world class, obviously, but I'm so pleased.
Straight from practice to the pub to meet Ian and the skipper of one of the teams in the league. It's all looking good for the season - we've got 5 teams in our new league. Happy days. Couple of pints, then over to the bowman, where Benny was working, for a few more. Lovely afternoon in the sunshine. Caught up with Tom and Charlotte, then had a really nice chat with Mark. Archie (Mark's dog) is a pedigree german shepherd and has a renal problem than means he only has 6 months to live (he's only six months old, but he's huge). I guess a lot of people would have him put down. The insurance is meeting 85% of the [significant] vet bills. But Mark's view is that Archie is a member of the family. He's a lovely, lovely dog. I don't think I've ever met a dog who's just nice to be around, but Archie is. Really nice afternoon.
Back to Winchester for Dinner with Al and Deb and Laura. Bit drunk by this point so tried to be on best behaviour. Did very well, actually, until I was having a look around Al's splendid new Mac. They told me a number of times not to open Photobooth. This is normally a pretty good way to get me to do anything, but moreso when I've had a beer. Basically, Deb has taken to flashing Al's computer when he ignores her. I can't remember what I saw, but I remember that I saw something I shouldn't have. Whoops. I thought it was very amusing. I think Deb thought it was very amusing too. I wonder if she felt the same after she sobered up. Al seemed a bit annoyed. Whoops. I still find it very amusing. Perhaps I should apologise. Benny says he was relieved Al didn't start slicing me up with one of his ornamental swords :)
Had a look round the farmer's market on Sunday morning. Bumped into Meg Mash and Kate on the way over, drooled with envy over their haul of lovely things. Ending up looting M&S for Chorizo, Manchego, Salami, Tortillas and Rioja. Barbecue with Rob, Ursula, Mick, Phil and Dee over lunch. Lovely lovely food and some fucking awesome wines (which, as designated driver, I only tasted). Some beautiful whites, a couple of brilliant champagnes. Pimms was good as well. Phil's been in fine form lately and Dee (who is part of the gang that I'm off on holiday with in a couple of weeks) is always a lot of fun to be around. Great afternoon lying around in the sunshine and eating too much.
Headed over to the pub last night to catch up with Meg and Mash. Mash has been making bread - brought a roll down, properly gorgeous. I must start making bread again, it's just so time consuming. San Franciso Sourdough. Wild yeast. Mmmmmmm. Almost as soon as I got to the pub I was tired. Couldn't drink my beer - most unusual! Only managed 1.5 pints, then bailed. Very rude, but I was about to pass out. Went to bed at half ten - amazingly early by my standards. Sooo tired.
April 26, 2007
Viral Consulting
I'm crook. Bleughh. Got 8 hours sleep last night which is more than I've had in months. Rocked into the office. Hacked away at some stuff. Started to feel a bit dodge. Started running a temperature, feeling dizzy etc. Funny red dots on my hands. Bailed at 4, passed out at 4:30 fully clothed and roused at 6pm by Nicky telling me some fresh air would help. One pizza express later, not feeling much better. Now everyone looks worried because if I'm sick the project's screwed. Hey Tom, no pressure, take this funny herbal stuff, yeah, actually, take two.
Ho hum. If this buggers my weekend I will be unamused.
Time for some more sleep praps.
Ho hum. If this buggers my weekend I will be unamused.
Time for some more sleep praps.
April 21, 2007
HOWZAT!
Got my first ever wicket at cricket last night. Indoors again. I was fielding at point, Matt hit the ball short and started to run. I ran in, scooped up the ball and threw it at the wicket, beating Simon by a few metres. Not a glorious one, but a pretty fucking cool moment.
Bandwise, this morning we nailed Slither. All the songs are great. It's just awesome being in the room and being a part of it. Drummer from next week, all being well. Bye bye drum machine!
Bandwise, this morning we nailed Slither. All the songs are great. It's just awesome being in the room and being a part of it. Drummer from next week, all being well. Bye bye drum machine!
Bye Bye Joe
Joe has headed up to a project in Yorkshire. We saw him off with one last wagamama (I swear, the man's obsessed) and a nice bottle of champagne. From next week we've got Nicky with us. Nicky's great fun. Last time I saw her we were necking cocktails and playing drinking games here. I'm going to miss Joe. I'm not sure how much fun the evenings are going to be without him. Next week will be week 7. I haven't eaten room service once so far. Nothing worse than room service.
It was quite an eventful week. Workwise all very intense but I'm on time and on target. Lots of long days. Lots of pacing. I did a side piece of analysis to help the client out with some work they're doing. Had a brilliant meeting when I talked them through my findings. In some areas they're doing 60% less work than they thought they were - because they were counting items of work started rather than completed. Absolutely shocking for them. I imagine I've caused a serious bun fight somewhere.
We found a great great great restaurant. I'm drinking a lot of amaretto on this project. How very queer. After that we all went for a walk in the dark in the park. On reaching the other side we found we had to climb out because the gate was stuck. Sarah almost impaled herself on a spike.
Sarah took great pleasure in telling me she that has a gay dog called Tom. Apparently Tom the dog is an excellent hunter, but refuses to mate. Personally, I think he's just discerning.
It was quite an eventful week. Workwise all very intense but I'm on time and on target. Lots of long days. Lots of pacing. I did a side piece of analysis to help the client out with some work they're doing. Had a brilliant meeting when I talked them through my findings. In some areas they're doing 60% less work than they thought they were - because they were counting items of work started rather than completed. Absolutely shocking for them. I imagine I've caused a serious bun fight somewhere.
We found a great great great restaurant. I'm drinking a lot of amaretto on this project. How very queer. After that we all went for a walk in the dark in the park. On reaching the other side we found we had to climb out because the gate was stuck. Sarah almost impaled herself on a spike.
Sarah took great pleasure in telling me she that has a gay dog called Tom. Apparently Tom the dog is an excellent hunter, but refuses to mate. Personally, I think he's just discerning.
Full House!
How brand disloyal am I? Hmmm? Focus group's worst nightmare, me.The coffee machine at work broke and my productivity suffered. Not that I drink coffee. I drink tea, but the water was too cold. The other vending machines all do instant tea which is simply terrible. So I went shopping for good tea. Favourite was green tea from starbucks.
But you do feel a bit, well, robbed, going into a coffee shop and having tea. There's none of the steam, the clanking, the banging that goes with making a coffee. None of the ceremony. It's so fucking flat. Anyway, tea secured, productivity returned.
April 17, 2007
Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby
'Cos there's nothing at all
'Cept the space in between
Finding out what you're called
And repeating your name
One of the managers we're working with is called Ruby. Quite often we'll just be sat in the meeting room and someone will take a call from her. I just can't stop myself from singing the song.
This is doing absolutely nothing for my vigorous assurances to Dennis that six weeks spent hacking together gigabytes of data has had no negative impact on my sanity.
'Cept the space in between
Finding out what you're called
And repeating your name
One of the managers we're working with is called Ruby. Quite often we'll just be sat in the meeting room and someone will take a call from her. I just can't stop myself from singing the song.
This is doing absolutely nothing for my vigorous assurances to Dennis that six weeks spent hacking together gigabytes of data has had no negative impact on my sanity.
Don't Force it, Outsource it
I love music.
That's a lame sentence. Let's evidence it. I have 3674 songs in itunes. 580 of those are purchased, and I've been buying music off itunes for 2 years. That means an average spend of c. £230 a year, or one new album every fortnight or so. I spend a minimum of 10 hours a week playing bass. I leave the hotel early in the morning so that I don't have to walk to work with my colleagues so that I can listen to my ipod. I endure the combined delights of the M3 and the M25 (as opposed to a nice relaxing train journey) twice a week so that I can practice playing in the hotel. I know there are people who take the whole thing more seriously than me - and that's fine. But what follows was not a casual decision.
This is week 6 of the project. I've not been listening to much new stuff, and that made me feel bad. Benny, on the other hand is somewhat funds-challenged but has an awesome amount of knowledge about new stuff. Cue brainwave. So, on the weekend (which was already pretty crowded) I set up this thing on itunes that gives his account £15 a month to spend on tunes. Then I get to listen to them as well. The rules are that I have absolutely no say on what he spends the money on and that he can only buy one whole album (because if he bought two then that increases the chances of me hating everything). I've modeled the terms of reference on those granted to the bank of england. If he spends more than 10% of the allowance on girl bands then he has to write me an open letter explaining why.
This month, Benny has selected:
Witchita Lineman / Glen Campbell
Radio / Robbie Williams
Lovelight / Robbie Williams
Stop Me / Mark Ronson
Kick Push / Lupe Fiasco
Because of the Times (Whole Album) / Kings of Leon
What Goes Around / Justin Timberlake
I Still Remember / Bloc Party
We Were Lovers / Bloc Party
The Prayer / Bloc Party
Thou Shalt Always Kill / Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (My Favourite)
Seriously - buy the last one. The lyrics are geenyus, but when they drop out at the end, the last 1:40 is fucking brilliant.
That's a lame sentence. Let's evidence it. I have 3674 songs in itunes. 580 of those are purchased, and I've been buying music off itunes for 2 years. That means an average spend of c. £230 a year, or one new album every fortnight or so. I spend a minimum of 10 hours a week playing bass. I leave the hotel early in the morning so that I don't have to walk to work with my colleagues so that I can listen to my ipod. I endure the combined delights of the M3 and the M25 (as opposed to a nice relaxing train journey) twice a week so that I can practice playing in the hotel. I know there are people who take the whole thing more seriously than me - and that's fine. But what follows was not a casual decision.
This is week 6 of the project. I've not been listening to much new stuff, and that made me feel bad. Benny, on the other hand is somewhat funds-challenged but has an awesome amount of knowledge about new stuff. Cue brainwave. So, on the weekend (which was already pretty crowded) I set up this thing on itunes that gives his account £15 a month to spend on tunes. Then I get to listen to them as well. The rules are that I have absolutely no say on what he spends the money on and that he can only buy one whole album (because if he bought two then that increases the chances of me hating everything). I've modeled the terms of reference on those granted to the bank of england. If he spends more than 10% of the allowance on girl bands then he has to write me an open letter explaining why.
This month, Benny has selected:
Witchita Lineman / Glen Campbell
Radio / Robbie Williams
Lovelight / Robbie Williams
Stop Me / Mark Ronson
Kick Push / Lupe Fiasco
Because of the Times (Whole Album) / Kings of Leon
What Goes Around / Justin Timberlake
I Still Remember / Bloc Party
We Were Lovers / Bloc Party
The Prayer / Bloc Party
Thou Shalt Always Kill / Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (My Favourite)
Seriously - buy the last one. The lyrics are geenyus, but when they drop out at the end, the last 1:40 is fucking brilliant.
April 15, 2007
There are no winners in Jenga
Only a loser. And it sure wasn't going to be me. Sorry Debbie.
A very nice afternoon down the pub. Lots of orange juice and lemonade. Very chilled.
A very nice afternoon down the pub. Lots of orange juice and lemonade. Very chilled.
Magnolia
Ian, Ben and I helped the nice chaps who own the ground that our team play at paint their pavilion on Saturday. We made good progress but it was quite boring. It reminded me of painting the brewery a bit but it's a good marker of how stuff changes. During the brewery stuff I was just looking for something dumb and repetitive to help my brain chill. 5 days up ladders, went in a flash.
Recently, I've felt under a lot of pressure to make the most out of my weekends. Painting walls is mind numbing in a nice way, but if your mind doesn't want to be numbed it's not easy to enjoy. Bonnie ran around on the grass outside and Phyl studied for her exams. Ian had brought some beer along. A very nice way to spend a couple of hours.
Recently, I've felt under a lot of pressure to make the most out of my weekends. Painting walls is mind numbing in a nice way, but if your mind doesn't want to be numbed it's not easy to enjoy. Bonnie ran around on the grass outside and Phyl studied for her exams. Ian had brought some beer along. A very nice way to spend a couple of hours.
Dhai Puris
On Monday Rob, Ursula, Mick and Carla were kind enough to take me with them to an indian restaurant in Southall for lunch. This was the proper shit, apparently. I was dead keen. When Rob gets wound up about food it's always with good reason.
It was an odd place - kind of place I'd normally walk past, anyway. Southall itself, in part, feels like another country. The colours, the smells all seem a bit alien in a nice way. Spices in the air. It's like a treat.
Anyway. The place wasn't aesthetically all that. Plates of food uncleared, suspended ceilings, hand drawn signs, laminated menus, stacked chairs in the corner of the dining room, paint seemingly having run out halfway down the hall on the way to the loos etc. Odd, but no one else seemed bothered. We ate a lot of stuff. It was all fantastic.
The thing that really sticks out are those things in the photo - Dhai Puris, I think. It's so difficult to describe and so unlike most things I've ever had. They're savoury starters. There's a crisp pastry shell. Inside is a mixture of natural yoghurt, some spices and perhaps some diced onion. And plenty of other stuff. But when these things burst in your mouth, well, boy do you know about it. Amazing. Fucking amazing. And there was this mango / yoghurt drink as well which was just out of this world.
After we said goodbye to Carla we went home and then on to the pub quiz. Benny insisted that we called the team "Thank God it's Easter - now I can wank again". Benny having given up self abuse for lent, you see. Charming boy, isn't he?
It was an odd place - kind of place I'd normally walk past, anyway. Southall itself, in part, feels like another country. The colours, the smells all seem a bit alien in a nice way. Spices in the air. It's like a treat.
Anyway. The place wasn't aesthetically all that. Plates of food uncleared, suspended ceilings, hand drawn signs, laminated menus, stacked chairs in the corner of the dining room, paint seemingly having run out halfway down the hall on the way to the loos etc. Odd, but no one else seemed bothered. We ate a lot of stuff. It was all fantastic.
The thing that really sticks out are those things in the photo - Dhai Puris, I think. It's so difficult to describe and so unlike most things I've ever had. They're savoury starters. There's a crisp pastry shell. Inside is a mixture of natural yoghurt, some spices and perhaps some diced onion. And plenty of other stuff. But when these things burst in your mouth, well, boy do you know about it. Amazing. Fucking amazing. And there was this mango / yoghurt drink as well which was just out of this world.
After we said goodbye to Carla we went home and then on to the pub quiz. Benny insisted that we called the team "Thank God it's Easter - now I can wank again". Benny having given up self abuse for lent, you see. Charming boy, isn't he?
Repeat After Me
Whenever I get stuck behind a car transporter I have to periodically remind myself that I'm not playing Grand Theft Auto.
Pace>Pace>Pace>OhFeckHadn'tThoughtOfThat
Seattle, London, Milan and Brussels. These are, quite literally, the names of some of the meeting rooms I've worked in this week. Here is a picture of me in one of them. In the almost-canceled Studio 60, when the writer character Matt is having trouble with stuff and under stress he shouts "I'm eating it". Well, this week has mainly looked like this picture. Me, by myself in a big meeting room, trying to make stuff work, eating it.
This week was crunch week, project wise. Serious, serious deadlines. Serious money at stake. Serious amounts of head bending thinking to do and then code to write. Plus all the politics, translating really hard to understand technical stuff into concepts our glorious leaders can understand. Plus liasing with their techies, trying to get the data we need. Very Hard from every perspective. I don't get stressed easily, but I've been stressed this week. Sleeping and eating properly are not easy when your brain's buzzing. Close your eyes and all you can see is code. There's no easy way to come down. You either work until you pass out or drink to tranquillise your brain. Every night this week I've been a wreck, staring into the distance and playing with my food while I try to get work out of my system. The others know that what they're doing relies on what I'm doing, so they do nice things like bring me tea and remind me when it's lunch. They also tolerate my swearing. When I'm frustrated with how slowly my brain's working I like to concatenate swear words together and shout them at my laptop. It helps, trust me. All together now: ShitJugglingTwattyCunts.
It's hell. But what a fucking rush it is when it works. It's like designing this huge machine and trying to predict how all the different elements will work together. Sometimes I think I could go back to software stuff full time. It was great seeing my stuff being used back in the day. £15m a year, flowing through something massive that I built from scratch. Get in. And, here's the kicker - I didn't steal a penny. But it was a bit dull in the end. Only very very rarely do you get to be the hero. More often, people see you as a roadblock. Normally because they've had a brilliant idea and you're the first person who tries to translate it into reality, asking nasty detailed questions as part of that process.
When I started consulting again in 2004 the guys on the team called me Peripatetic Tom because I kept turning up everywhere. No errand too small. You want someone to go to Liverpool to do a one hour workshop? I'm your man. I loved being back in the country and wanted to see it all. In greece there was a school of philosophers called the peripatetic school because they spent all their time wandering around working things out. I'd lay no such claim. But I do find a walk helps me out immeasurably when my brain's stuck. Pity the poor fuckers of greece who didn't have ipods to drown out the sounds of the 'city'.
This week was crunch week, project wise. Serious, serious deadlines. Serious money at stake. Serious amounts of head bending thinking to do and then code to write. Plus all the politics, translating really hard to understand technical stuff into concepts our glorious leaders can understand. Plus liasing with their techies, trying to get the data we need. Very Hard from every perspective. I don't get stressed easily, but I've been stressed this week. Sleeping and eating properly are not easy when your brain's buzzing. Close your eyes and all you can see is code. There's no easy way to come down. You either work until you pass out or drink to tranquillise your brain. Every night this week I've been a wreck, staring into the distance and playing with my food while I try to get work out of my system. The others know that what they're doing relies on what I'm doing, so they do nice things like bring me tea and remind me when it's lunch. They also tolerate my swearing. When I'm frustrated with how slowly my brain's working I like to concatenate swear words together and shout them at my laptop. It helps, trust me. All together now: ShitJugglingTwattyCunts.
It's hell. But what a fucking rush it is when it works. It's like designing this huge machine and trying to predict how all the different elements will work together. Sometimes I think I could go back to software stuff full time. It was great seeing my stuff being used back in the day. £15m a year, flowing through something massive that I built from scratch. Get in. And, here's the kicker - I didn't steal a penny. But it was a bit dull in the end. Only very very rarely do you get to be the hero. More often, people see you as a roadblock. Normally because they've had a brilliant idea and you're the first person who tries to translate it into reality, asking nasty detailed questions as part of that process.
When I started consulting again in 2004 the guys on the team called me Peripatetic Tom because I kept turning up everywhere. No errand too small. You want someone to go to Liverpool to do a one hour workshop? I'm your man. I loved being back in the country and wanted to see it all. In greece there was a school of philosophers called the peripatetic school because they spent all their time wandering around working things out. I'd lay no such claim. But I do find a walk helps me out immeasurably when my brain's stuck. Pity the poor fuckers of greece who didn't have ipods to drown out the sounds of the 'city'.
April 14, 2007
You'd walk right past it
Here is a video of where the rehearsal space we're using is. You'd seriously have no idea it was there. You go through a gate, through someone's garden, through two thick layers of soundproofing and then you're in the live room. Great space though. Good, er, vibe or something.
April 13, 2007
You think you've got problems (II)
This is my very good friend Nick. Nick is a very successful estate agent in North London. Nick is also rubbish at sharing problems. It took four glasses of cava, half a bottle of malbec and a brandy before he told me how his year's been so far.
On new year's day he heard one of his close friends had been killed in a car crash. Nick and friends convened down the pub to commiserate. Nick drank two pints, and was then pulled over on the way home by the police and has lost his license. He only held onto his job on the basis of the amount of cash he made the company the previous year.
A month later, Nick split up with his girlfriend. A couple of weeks later, he found out that she was pregnant with his baby. She said she was going to keep it. A couple of weeks ago, she had an abortion.
So we sat there, drank a lot and cracked a lot of jokes at each other's expense. Hoyan joined in once or twice, but spent most of the night laughing at us / occasionally with us. We moved on to Fridays - a treat for Walker - and got talked into lots of silly drinks by the barmaid. It was fun, but the next day at work sucked. Actually, the week mainly sucked, but more on that later. After all he'd been through it was great to make him laugh and to feel like he could relax.
On new year's day he heard one of his close friends had been killed in a car crash. Nick and friends convened down the pub to commiserate. Nick drank two pints, and was then pulled over on the way home by the police and has lost his license. He only held onto his job on the basis of the amount of cash he made the company the previous year.
A month later, Nick split up with his girlfriend. A couple of weeks later, he found out that she was pregnant with his baby. She said she was going to keep it. A couple of weeks ago, she had an abortion.
So we sat there, drank a lot and cracked a lot of jokes at each other's expense. Hoyan joined in once or twice, but spent most of the night laughing at us / occasionally with us. We moved on to Fridays - a treat for Walker - and got talked into lots of silly drinks by the barmaid. It was fun, but the next day at work sucked. Actually, the week mainly sucked, but more on that later. After all he'd been through it was great to make him laugh and to feel like he could relax.
You think you've got problems (I)
My very good friend Hoyan has been going out with my mate Dom for two years now. Dom wants to fly helicopters for a living, so he's learning to do so out in Hawaii, where it is cheaper and easier to do so. So they've been in a ridiculously long distance relationship for a very long time.
Now Dom has finished learning and needs to fly. The only place he can find work is Australia. Hoyan's looking at not being with her boyfriend for another year or two. Visa eligibility's not as tight as it used to be, but you still need to jump through some serious hoops.
I tried to cheer her up by drawing her an entry visa on a napkin.
She looks mighty red in this pic. Mainly because someone convinced her that a cocktail would cheer her up. Not too clever because she doesn't drink.
When she got home to Whetstone apparently she was so drunk that she called Dom and told him to come down and pick her up. She'd move to be with him but she has to look after her mum, who's been a little adrift since Hoyan's dad died 6 or 7 years ago. Dom would probably move home if she asked him to, but she won't because she knows how important his career is to him.
Now Dom has finished learning and needs to fly. The only place he can find work is Australia. Hoyan's looking at not being with her boyfriend for another year or two. Visa eligibility's not as tight as it used to be, but you still need to jump through some serious hoops.
I tried to cheer her up by drawing her an entry visa on a napkin.
She looks mighty red in this pic. Mainly because someone
When she got home to Whetstone apparently she was so drunk that she called Dom and told him to come down and pick her up. She'd move to be with him but she has to look after her mum, who's been a little adrift since Hoyan's dad died 6 or 7 years ago. Dom would probably move home if she asked him to, but she won't because she knows how important his career is to him.
April 08, 2007
April 07, 2007
Communication Breakdown
Band practice this morning over in Eastleigh, a place we haven't rehearsed in before. An amazing studio in the back of someone's garden. Lots of space, lots of noise insulation. Big fluffy cat and two amusing children who swing on the back door included in the price. Pity about the parking - I didn't see the sign and got a ticket. Oh well. That's the price of rock, baby.
We went through the old stuff. We haven't quite got The Bends yet - we've got the sections, just not the transitions. The tempo changes are killing us. Hopefully a drummer or a drum track with tempo cleverness thrown in will sort that out. Day Tripper rocks, though I forgot the number of bits in each section on the first run, which was a bit embarrassing. Iron Lung's almost there. Communication Breakdown, the one we've been working on this week, was fantastic after an hour, which had us all really happy.
We had a nice pint afterwards at the Cricketers, near my old college. Had earned it after 4 hours of hard work. I was, and am, broken. Met Ben for a coffee in town afterwards, couldn't walk fast enough to keep up with him. Tired as hell.
We went through the old stuff. We haven't quite got The Bends yet - we've got the sections, just not the transitions. The tempo changes are killing us. Hopefully a drummer or a drum track with tempo cleverness thrown in will sort that out. Day Tripper rocks, though I forgot the number of bits in each section on the first run, which was a bit embarrassing. Iron Lung's almost there. Communication Breakdown, the one we've been working on this week, was fantastic after an hour, which had us all really happy.
We had a nice pint afterwards at the Cricketers, near my old college. Had earned it after 4 hours of hard work. I was, and am, broken. Met Ben for a coffee in town afterwards, couldn't walk fast enough to keep up with him. Tired as hell.
Stockbridge / Cricket
On Friday we headed to Stockbridge to pick up some birthday pig, say hello to some hens and avoid buying things I didn't need at a brilliant farm shop. We took a talk down the high street. Ilana hugged a bear, got ambushed by some fish and anaesthatised her tongue with stilton. Never a dull day with Fox.
After lunch we went for a walk by the river. Benny, still in his cowboy hat, took a walk in the river, scaring a dog out of the river in the process. There's a big common over in stockbridge; big, flat wide open space. Strolled around that for a bit, then headed home.
That evening cricket practice was a bit surreal. The big nets hall down at the rosebowl was wide open - all bar one of the nets had been rolled back. After a two week absence I was a bag of shit, it must be said. I spent the whole session trying to bowl straight. It's fair to say I got better towards the end, but I still wasn't much good. Must keep trying. My batting felt better, but I ascribe this to my new special magic cricket pants which have a big pocket down the left hand leg for putting a big bit of foam in. That ball still scares the hell out of me. Benny was very good. I don't often get jealous of people, but I get jealous of him at cricket. He's improved so much.
Post cricket pub was fun. Some of the usual suspects had been in there all day. Kelvin, not normally one given over to discretion and sophisticated small talk, engaged Ben in a loud debate on whether Mylene Klass was fitter than the model she replaced in the Marks and Spencer ads and then asked whether Ilana was Number 9. The boys down the pub allocate Ben's girlfriends numbers in order to track progress. Fox had her own issues, having been buttonholed by Widge and Adam. Post post cricket pub we enjoyed cumquats, ipods and ginandtonics. A brilliant day, and still 3 days of the weekend left.
After lunch we went for a walk by the river. Benny, still in his cowboy hat, took a walk in the river, scaring a dog out of the river in the process. There's a big common over in stockbridge; big, flat wide open space. Strolled around that for a bit, then headed home.
That evening cricket practice was a bit surreal. The big nets hall down at the rosebowl was wide open - all bar one of the nets had been rolled back. After a two week absence I was a bag of shit, it must be said. I spent the whole session trying to bowl straight. It's fair to say I got better towards the end, but I still wasn't much good. Must keep trying. My batting felt better, but I ascribe this to my new special magic cricket pants which have a big pocket down the left hand leg for putting a big bit of foam in. That ball still scares the hell out of me. Benny was very good. I don't often get jealous of people, but I get jealous of him at cricket. He's improved so much.
Post cricket pub was fun. Some of the usual suspects had been in there all day. Kelvin, not normally one given over to discretion and sophisticated small talk, engaged Ben in a loud debate on whether Mylene Klass was fitter than the model she replaced in the Marks and Spencer ads and then asked whether Ilana was Number 9. The boys down the pub allocate Ben's girlfriends numbers in order to track progress. Fox had her own issues, having been buttonholed by Widge and Adam. Post post cricket pub we enjoyed cumquats, ipods and ginandtonics. A brilliant day, and still 3 days of the weekend left.
Poker
Al, Ben, Debbie, Ilana, Mash, Meg and I played poker on Thursday night. Ben won. I didn't come last, which was nice. We drank mojitos. It turns out my mojitos are rubbish. Fortunately, Fox's are very good; although much like her Roast Potatoes it turns out that good things really do come to those who wait. Those who wait a lot, in fact.
I met Al and Debbie over at the pub. Rob and Carla popped in, Benny having shooed them away (rudely, I imagine) while he was cleaning the flat. It was really nice to see them both. Rob has had a lot of trouble lately with his health. We're going for a curry near carla's house on Monday, I think. Swift, my favourite beer from the brewery was on as well. I could have stayed all night, it was that kind of evening.
After poker there was some drunken hilarity, benny in a cowboy hat, then made it to bed. A brilliant evening in every respect. Really wonderful stuff. And:
BUNDLE!
I met Al and Debbie over at the pub. Rob and Carla popped in, Benny having shooed them away (rudely, I imagine) while he was cleaning the flat. It was really nice to see them both. Rob has had a lot of trouble lately with his health. We're going for a curry near carla's house on Monday, I think. Swift, my favourite beer from the brewery was on as well. I could have stayed all night, it was that kind of evening.
After poker there was some drunken hilarity, benny in a cowboy hat, then made it to bed. A brilliant evening in every respect. Really wonderful stuff. And:
BUNDLE!
Another week
A great week at work. I feel like I'm at the top of my game. I've been there, done it and got the t-shirt baby. The work I'm doing is just me and a laptop, but I'm in a room with people doing more interactive work that I'm also familiar with. So I'm thinking about lots of stuff at once, which is good, and working to a tight deadline which is always good for the soul. No one else understands what I'm doing really, which means I have to understand everything at the lowest level of detail but still be able to talk about it to clienty people. Really good stuff.
This week just gone was week 4, I think. We moved hotels, and now we're staying somewhere where all the staff talk like Borat. Every day we walk to work past the Home Office immigration building. Behind some fence / screen things you can see big snaking queues of people. There are monitors and rails to guide the queue round, just like Alton Towers. The building itself looks a bit like the Vogon spaceships from Hitchhikers Guide.
Food this week:
Wagamama - Joe is still in love with the place. I had ginger chicken udon which hit the spot. Joe had chicken katsu curry and I was very jealous of him.
Some Italian Place under a bridge - we went a bit nuts and had three courses and a bottle of wine. I had grilled sardines with garlic and lemon then a fillet steak which was gorgeous. I talked myself into having a Tiramsu. My first proper job was in a semi-italian restaurant. All those years of having to watch tiramasu exiting the kitchen have made it very difficult for me not to order it when I see it on menus.
Fish! Borough Market - Oysters followed by Sea Bream. Hollandaise Sauce. Great chips. Really lovely. Nice to be back in the old hood. Glad we managed to get round to taking the ridiculously quick train up there instead of hanging around Croydon after talking about doing it for a month. Nice pint or two in the globe after. Fish! had some lollies in a bowl by the door. I stole lots.
Fish! is a silly name for a restaurant. When reporting on Yahoo! The Register often do headlines like "Yahoo! Q3! Filing! Delayed!" which always makes me laugh.
This week just gone was week 4, I think. We moved hotels, and now we're staying somewhere where all the staff talk like Borat. Every day we walk to work past the Home Office immigration building. Behind some fence / screen things you can see big snaking queues of people. There are monitors and rails to guide the queue round, just like Alton Towers. The building itself looks a bit like the Vogon spaceships from Hitchhikers Guide.
Food this week:
Wagamama - Joe is still in love with the place. I had ginger chicken udon which hit the spot. Joe had chicken katsu curry and I was very jealous of him.
Some Italian Place under a bridge - we went a bit nuts and had three courses and a bottle of wine. I had grilled sardines with garlic and lemon then a fillet steak which was gorgeous. I talked myself into having a Tiramsu. My first proper job was in a semi-italian restaurant. All those years of having to watch tiramasu exiting the kitchen have made it very difficult for me not to order it when I see it on menus.
Fish! Borough Market - Oysters followed by Sea Bream. Hollandaise Sauce. Great chips. Really lovely. Nice to be back in the old hood. Glad we managed to get round to taking the ridiculously quick train up there instead of hanging around Croydon after talking about doing it for a month. Nice pint or two in the globe after. Fish! had some lollies in a bowl by the door. I stole lots.
Fish! is a silly name for a restaurant. When reporting on Yahoo! The Register often do headlines like "Yahoo! Q3! Filing! Delayed!" which always makes me laugh.
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