Well its the last day of term, time for the jelly, ice cream and playing board games.
People are in aren't really in a work focus way. It's a case of donuts, quizzes and because its my company, trying to get one last emergency fix to live before everyone heads off down the pub and 2pm.
Merry Christmas
D
Friday, December 22, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Loads of insurance
Its a big chunk of change 460 pounds but its an expensive trip and the insurance also covers a Heli-skiing trip, so I had to pay it. I've left it this late waiting for a pay check to cover it as my cash flow is a bit nuts at the moment.
I also plan on getting a helmet as well just to be doubly safe
I also plan on getting a helmet as well just to be doubly safe
Busy Day
As well as getting my new job offer a load of other stuff happened yesterday
1) we had the big office move around
I walked into the office and it was complete bedlam. in order to work in a more agile way (agile is a style of project management) we are moving so that the different project teams are closer together and not spread out all over the office.
This meant that I've had to give up my very nice seat in the corner with the great view across london. I'm now at a desk right in the middle of the office with no view and no space. But I don't really care as I'm not here for very many days and its quite likely they will have moved offices by the time they come back.
I do however have a little more simpathly with the guys who were complaining all summer about how rubbish and hot this part of the office is.
2) I got my new ski jacket
Had to go the post depot and sign for it. Its a very nice Helly Hansen Precon Jacket (about £150) specially done for the ski academy with the
logo on the back and front right breast. Should keep me warm on the slopes. So now I'm wearing around the place, basically showing off that I'm off skiing!
3) I got my flight tickets and Itinerary
Funnily enough went I got home this letter about my flight was waiting for me. Now I didn't have to sign for it or anything unlike the jacket!
4) went to check out the storage units
A couple of doors down from my flat in the Vanguard storage unit and so I decided that getting a small unit there would sort out most of my storage issues.
Also I have to work out what to do with the bedding on the Friday morning before I go as I can't really leave it in the flat. This way I can put the last of
my stuff in a bag and drop it off at the depot on my way to the airport.
Its an expensive business, I got quoted 40quid a month for a one metre cubed box. which is the smallest they do. I was already to hire one but they haven't actually built them yet which is a bit of a problem but they said they should be done over Xmas. So hopefully they will have one ready in time. so now that I don't have to ship out my cooking stuff or furniture (leaving it all for the tenants to use) it should just be a half a dozen boxes of book to store.
1) we had the big office move around
I walked into the office and it was complete bedlam. in order to work in a more agile way (agile is a style of project management) we are moving so that the different project teams are closer together and not spread out all over the office.
This meant that I've had to give up my very nice seat in the corner with the great view across london. I'm now at a desk right in the middle of the office with no view and no space. But I don't really care as I'm not here for very many days and its quite likely they will have moved offices by the time they come back.
I do however have a little more simpathly with the guys who were complaining all summer about how rubbish and hot this part of the office is.
2) I got my new ski jacket
Had to go the post depot and sign for it. Its a very nice Helly Hansen Precon Jacket (about £150) specially done for the ski academy with the
logo on the back and front right breast. Should keep me warm on the slopes. So now I'm wearing around the place, basically showing off that I'm off skiing!
3) I got my flight tickets and Itinerary
Funnily enough went I got home this letter about my flight was waiting for me. Now I didn't have to sign for it or anything unlike the jacket!
4) went to check out the storage units
A couple of doors down from my flat in the Vanguard storage unit and so I decided that getting a small unit there would sort out most of my storage issues.
Also I have to work out what to do with the bedding on the Friday morning before I go as I can't really leave it in the flat. This way I can put the last of
my stuff in a bag and drop it off at the depot on my way to the airport.
Its an expensive business, I got quoted 40quid a month for a one metre cubed box. which is the smallest they do. I was already to hire one but they haven't actually built them yet which is a bit of a problem but they said they should be done over Xmas. So hopefully they will have one ready in time. so now that I don't have to ship out my cooking stuff or furniture (leaving it all for the tenants to use) it should just be a half a dozen boxes of book to store.
I have it in Writing!!!!
Yes its true
I've got the fabled bit of paper.
Richard gave it to me yesterday and I've just signed it and returned it to HR
It says I will come back on the 2 April as a Senior Dev on a 23% pay rise. Also
if I'm back promptly I get this years 2 grand bonus which I would have lost out on.
So now quite the sabbatical that I wanted but close enough. Also I don't have to do
a probation period and so it won't hurt my pension too much.
So they were as good as their word and I will look forward to getting back in April.
I've got the fabled bit of paper.
Richard gave it to me yesterday and I've just signed it and returned it to HR
It says I will come back on the 2 April as a Senior Dev on a 23% pay rise. Also
if I'm back promptly I get this years 2 grand bonus which I would have lost out on.
So now quite the sabbatical that I wanted but close enough. Also I don't have to do
a probation period and so it won't hurt my pension too much.
So they were as good as their word and I will look forward to getting back in April.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Bond, Lego men and getting it all in writing
Friday was a busy day
1) It was the company Christmas party
2) I had my final 1-2-1 meeting with Rob
Panic was starting to set in, during the day, I was waiting for a box of 25 assorted Lego keyrings to arrive which I had ordered the day we knew the Redesign drinks where cancelled so they would come in time for the new Redesign drinks night which was on Tuesday. However by Friday I was starting to wonder if they would come at all and I badly wanted to give them out at the Christmas dinner. The day before Gordon and I had worked out which of the different types of Lego man should go to who.
The selection included...
Darth Vader (for Richard), Police Officer, Chewbacca (for Gordon), Viking, Boba Fett, Imperial Royal Guard, Brazil Footballer, Pilot, Doctor, Batman (I took that one), Robin, Joker (for one of the testing guys), Wizard (for Rob),
6 STORMTROOPERS and 6 UK Footballers (for the developers) plus 25 Cowboys from the original order.
So I got them all together each with a little note to say thank you for the hard work on the project and took them with me to the meal.
The meal itself was James Bond themed (so I was in a Black Tie) at London Zoo. It started with drinks in the reptile house. and then onto the main house for the meal. I had a mad dash at the start trying to get all the correct keyrings on the right place settings before the others arrived. I just about made it with just a few cowboys to place as everyone started to enter.
It was great, people would discover the gift on their napkins and everyone said it was cool and thanked me. I got some kind comments about doing it without anyone knowing and the good choices on who got what keyring.
the rest of the evening was good and we went to a casino afterward for some more beers. The evening ended with a few of us hanging around waiting for the tube to open so we could go home. I got in about 6:45am and was asleep by 6:47am.
The 1-2-1 was OK I told Rob about the business not putting anything in writing and said it's just like giving out a job offer so what's the problem. He agreed and said he would get some thing sorted before he left for his holiday. And yes I think he did as Richard said something along those lines while we were out the back of the Xmas party in a big group having a whiskey and a cigar.
1) It was the company Christmas party
2) I had my final 1-2-1 meeting with Rob
Panic was starting to set in, during the day, I was waiting for a box of 25 assorted Lego keyrings to arrive which I had ordered the day we knew the Redesign drinks where cancelled so they would come in time for the new Redesign drinks night which was on Tuesday. However by Friday I was starting to wonder if they would come at all and I badly wanted to give them out at the Christmas dinner. The day before Gordon and I had worked out which of the different types of Lego man should go to who.
The selection included...
Darth Vader (for Richard), Police Officer, Chewbacca (for Gordon), Viking, Boba Fett, Imperial Royal Guard, Brazil Footballer, Pilot, Doctor, Batman (I took that one), Robin, Joker (for one of the testing guys), Wizard (for Rob),
6 STORMTROOPERS and 6 UK Footballers (for the developers) plus 25 Cowboys from the original order.
So I got them all together each with a little note to say thank you for the hard work on the project and took them with me to the meal.
The meal itself was James Bond themed (so I was in a Black Tie) at London Zoo. It started with drinks in the reptile house. and then onto the main house for the meal. I had a mad dash at the start trying to get all the correct keyrings on the right place settings before the others arrived. I just about made it with just a few cowboys to place as everyone started to enter.
It was great, people would discover the gift on their napkins and everyone said it was cool and thanked me. I got some kind comments about doing it without anyone knowing and the good choices on who got what keyring.
the rest of the evening was good and we went to a casino afterward for some more beers. The evening ended with a few of us hanging around waiting for the tube to open so we could go home. I got in about 6:45am and was asleep by 6:47am.
The 1-2-1 was OK I told Rob about the business not putting anything in writing and said it's just like giving out a job offer so what's the problem. He agreed and said he would get some thing sorted before he left for his holiday. And yes I think he did as Richard said something along those lines while we were out the back of the Xmas party in a big group having a whiskey and a cigar.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Just had a quick Scum
Just had a quick Scum meeting for Richard to say a quick thank you for peoples effort during the redesign project and to give out a few jokey gifts. I got a mirror and a lip balm. The balm because I'm off skiing and the mirror so I can look at my own aspect. An aspect is one of the underlying object in the Customisation system and apparently I keep talking about them.
Other gifts included a guide to being a manager for the test manager Tush, A swear calendar for Owen the lego developer, nice soap for Matt because he goes to the gym alot, a Movie book for Gordon the PM, he's big on Movies and did the Perfect day video for the Quarterly meeting, and Rob got some cigars and a light cos he smokes.
and now we all off down the pub on Richard's Credit Card
Nice...
Other gifts included a guide to being a manager for the test manager Tush, A swear calendar for Owen the lego developer, nice soap for Matt because he goes to the gym alot, a Movie book for Gordon the PM, he's big on Movies and did the Perfect day video for the Quarterly meeting, and Rob got some cigars and a light cos he smokes.
and now we all off down the pub on Richard's Credit Card
Nice...
Fast Delivery
My new laptop arrived Monday in time for me arriving at work. I didn't of course get that much done.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Resignation Letter
Well I'm just about to print it out...
Dear Susie,
Subject: Sabbatical request/Resignation
As required by my contract of employment, I hereby give you notice of my intention to leave my position as Programmer.
I have decided to take up a 3 month Ski Instructor training course in Canada and my only reason for resigning is that uS****h is unable to handle unpaid sabbatical leave.
I wish both you and uS****h every good fortune and I would like to thank you for having me as part of your team. I also look forward to work with you all again in the future should that become possible when I return in April.
Sincerely yours,
David Dunhill
Programmer
uS****h
Dear Susie,
Subject: Sabbatical request/Resignation
As required by my contract of employment, I hereby give you notice of my intention to leave my position as Programmer.
I have decided to take up a 3 month Ski Instructor training course in Canada and my only reason for resigning is that uS****h is unable to handle unpaid sabbatical leave.
I wish both you and uS****h every good fortune and I would like to thank you for having me as part of your team. I also look forward to work with you all again in the future should that become possible when I return in April.
Sincerely yours,
David Dunhill
Programmer
uS****h
Credit OK
I got back in contact with the building society as they haven't called me. They said the credit check was fine, they didn't give a reason as to what happened or why there was a problem. So I popped in at lunch time and signed the agreement and it should all be sorted now. I also dropped off my request to them, as mortagage lender, to be allowed to let out my property.
No I'm going to have to sort out all the stuff in my flat and call up a few letting agents.
No I'm going to have to sort out all the stuff in my flat and call up a few letting agents.
Computers
I bought a new laptop last night. I was in the office doing my Xmas shopping on line and had a little moment and bought a laptop.
TOSHIBA A100-147 Laptop - TOSHIBA A100-147 INTEL CORE DUO T2050 PROCESSOR 1.6GHz LAPTOP - Intel Core Duo T2050 Processor 1.6GHz
533 MHz FSB
2 MB Cache
1024 MB RAM
60 GB Hard Drive
DVD ReWriter SuperMulti
15.4" Widescreen TruBrite Display
Microsoft Windows Media Center
128mb Intel UMA 945 integrated Graphics
1 year FREE warranty
normal cost £599 at PCWorld
I managed to get a deal for £404
hopefully they won't cancel it and it will be delievered to the office sometime next week.
TOSHIBA A100-147 Laptop - TOSHIBA A100-147 INTEL CORE DUO T2050 PROCESSOR 1.6GHz LAPTOP - Intel Core Duo T2050 Processor 1.6GHz
533 MHz FSB
2 MB Cache
1024 MB RAM
60 GB Hard Drive
DVD ReWriter SuperMulti
15.4" Widescreen TruBrite Display
Microsoft Windows Media Center
128mb Intel UMA 945 integrated Graphics
1 year FREE warranty
normal cost £599 at PCWorld
I managed to get a deal for £404
hopefully they won't cancel it and it will be delievered to the office sometime next week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)