Time to tighten my belt…

No, this is not a topical rant brought on by the credit crunch, and/or my failed efforts to produce a proper budget, but rather more of a literal statement concerning my jeans etc. Yes, I mentioned a fair way back (about January) that I signed up for the local gym, and whilst I haven’t managed to go as often as I would like, my efforts have gradually taken their toll (in a good way) on my body. I’ve been caught out without belt twice now, the most recent being today when I was carting my prescription home – it effectively doubled my trip, having to stop to pull up my jeans to stop them falling down altogether in public, oh dear how embarrassing that would be.

It first became apparent when I went home for Easter, and whilst round Eric and Karlie’s, I spotted the scales and decided to check my weight. Now, I had weighed myself on the first time I went to the gym, and upon weighing myself at Easter, I had come down from 12 and 1/2 stone to around 11 and 3/4 stone. I was pretty chuffed at that. To add to the ego boost was my good buddy Carl’s comments on how slimmer I was now looking. It’s rather cool, and as it has been such a gradual thing it’s been much less obvious for myself. It’s quite terrible looking back at some older photos and see how how much fatter I was in the face especially. I think around about the time of my graduation I probably hit my peak weight, captured forever in my graduation snaps. And to make matters worse, my Nan insisted that I take one of graduation photos with me to hang up in my place here. First off, the photos were for my family not for myself, you have to be very vain to have pictures of yourself hanging up in your own home. Second, as I just said, I was quite a lot fatter in the face, so it’s not fun to be reminded of that. And the bonus third reason being, that I generally don’t photograph well (must be the subject matter /emo) – the photographer wasn’t happy until I showed some teeth whilst smiling, although he never said as much, so I actually look a little uncomfortable having to hold a smile for so long.

“Smile! Come on, really smile!”
(under my breath) I am smiling you jackass.
[inadvertedly shows teeth] “There you go!”

Anyways, I’m going all OT. Yeah, so personally I’ve noticed it on the ol’ face, mainly the cheeks and the chin, a lot more defined than they used to be. I’ve also noticed it in some of the clothes I wear. Some of my older shirts I have a 17″ collar, but that is a lot looser now, the recent shirts I’ve bought now have 16.5″ collar, and I could easily now take 16″ collar to be honest. Also, how cool do black shirts look? Hell yeah. It’s also noticeable in the belt I wear to work. A few months back I asked to get some new holes pierced into it, as the tightest hole was still quite loose. Now, those two holes are getting a bit loose now hehe.

Getting back to the gym and the other week I got back in from work, changed into my gym clothes as is my habit, this time putting on my Oakley shorts which I clearly had not worn for some time. Fast forward to myself on the treadmill and I’m noticing them starting to fall, oh dear I thought. Had to bring the jog to a close to avoid making an ass of myself, literally.

So overall, I very pleased with my progress, it’s been quite gradual but consistent so I’m really starting to reap the rewards. As it was pointed out to myself quite some time ago. It’s always better to be fit and healthy, you don’t get sick as often, the long climb up the stairs is nowhere near as taxing, and clothes fit better – all this combines to an improved self esteem. I’m not quite sure I’m a completely changed person, but I’m getting there and I really do feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Week 1 (actually it’s week 3 now :S)

Very overdue but it seems any free time I’ve got so far has spent in front of the TV like a zombie, or down the pub with a pint, err… like a zombie.

I did try and write this at the end of week 1, and then again at the end of week 2, and now I’m here on the Monday of week 3 and still nothing, oh dear. I think it’s now best to make a number of small(er) entries rather than try and do a catchup of everything that’s happened so far.

So, here we are, might as well make this a kind of overviewy exercise. I’ve started on a course which should train me up with the powers of performing desktop and/or network support in a professional capacity. Along with the lecture and the study towards certification, there’s also the help with making my CV better and making a better interviewee of myself as well. That’s been one of my probs, so along with the skills, we should hopefully get there.

Along with the course, they’ve given me a place to live for the couple of weeks. I am currently living in Earlsdon Ave South, quite literally a stone’s throw away from where the Red Faction house was when I was back at Uni. Living with 5 others, and they’re a pretty good bunch and surprisingly of all different ages.

There’s this guy called Dave from South Wales. His surname is actually Hughes which is again a surprise, but then again it’s a pretty common name in the land of Wales, so it’s time to get over that. He is 32 and has recently graduated from a Music Technology degree and is a bit of a classic rock/metal fan – in particular Guns ‘N’ Roses. Then there’s Aman, a recent graduate of a Computer Science degree and is 24. His twin brother has luckily got himself a job quite recently so Aman’s hoping to sort something out pretty sharpish. There’s Julian, 29, who currently works at Amazon in Milton Keynes as a problem solver. He’s originally from South Africa but is very cool, if a little hard to understand at times (I’m sorry). We then Peter, although that’s not the correct spelling – he is fact a Pole national and it’s spelt (and pronounced) a little differently, but that’s the English equivalent. And finally there’s Dal (full name Dalber – remember Dal and “beer” – easy!) who as Julian described him perfectly and concisely as a “party animal” – he is 25, also a computer science graduate, and is often out all night, or gaining points on his licence, usually not at the same time.

So that’s the guys, and it’s not that surprising that there are no girls living in the house, although there is a single girl in her course – Aeyeisha (sp) who seems nice enough, not really spoken to her much, and unsurprisingly, Dal has made it a bit of a mission to lay her – to his credit he did invite her back to the house late one night, not sure what came of that, she wasn’t in our house in the morning, and now Dal has moved out because of Asthma problems into her house, she better watch out lol.

It’s probs best to save anything else for another post, but it’s worth adding that some of the material in the course has been covered in my previous academic pursuits of computing, whether that be at A-level level (err..) or at degree level, so that’s a bonus, although I think the most useful stuff will be the practical stuff plus proprietary hardware/software like Cisco and Windows Server 2003 etc. Also it’s worth noting that a couple of the lecturers (Andy and Alex) are also party animals, pissheads at the least, and they are often out on the lash. I actually managed to make it out once so far with them, but that’s another post right there.

I will finish up by saying that I’ve signed up for random free photo hosting accounts (photobucket and flickr actually) and mean to get snapping with my mobile phone with pictures of the room, this Strongbow glass I managed to swipe (another post), random shots of Cov and if you’re lucky, me in my formal robes (read: shirt and tie).

Here’s spending another night decomposing in front of the TV.

On my way… (backdated 23/07/07)

Hey, lack of book and any other means of viable of entertainment has lead me to dish out the laptop and blog blog blog like some obsessed person, No but seriously, thought I’d share how quietly nervous I am, about the whole training scheme. As I said to Carl last night, I’m getting all stressed about the packing and living somewhere completely new, and there’s also all this learning I’m expected to do yikes! (note to self: bring back the word yikes!)

As mentioned before, these people like to run a presentable ship, so I’ve been stressing about making sure I’ve got enough formal shirts, trousers etc, but I also have to be paying attention, learning etc, let’s just say I would never have made the previous start to the course 4 weeks ago.

I am currently sitting on a train in Shrewsbury, waiting for it to leave for Birmingham New Street.  Thanks to the recent onslaught of rain, plus what seems like regular “random” engineering works that occur on Sunday, it means that I will be taking a bus from Brum to Coventry.  Now as you all know folks (also bring back folks…) the one thing I can’t stand more than riding trains is riding buses.  To make matters worse I am with suitcase, so the whole thing is gonna be one stressful ordeal.  This truly is the calm of the storm, thanks to the infrequent trains that run on a Sunday, I’ve had to spend just over an hour doing nothing on the platform.  Looking at trains and scaring pigeons away gets old really quick.

I’m not sure if it’s an omen or not but I forgot to pack my “lunch”.  Yep, a snack and my precious final can of pepsi which was carefully put aside ready for this trip and I went and bloody well forgot it.  I was getting a little worried that I may forget something pretty darn important.  I only remembered to pack towels just before I was gonna go out for a quiet farewell drink.  Yep, they stressed it in amongst the bold type of the rules of my stay that they would not be providing towels.  I think that’s where a lot of this nervousness(ness) comes from, the fact that the open day went by so fast, and a lot of details are still unknown to me.

One important detail is how many days of the week does the training consume.  Ideally I would like it to be Mon – Fri, but Saturday is considered a working day so can’t help but feel that perhaps there is no, or less, structure to that day.  The smart dress, shirt + tie is mandatory on weekdays, but on Saturday, they’ll let us get away with no tie – oh those rebels!

Another area of concern, probably the least largest, is the accommodation they’re gonna set me(us) in.  Yep, I will be living in shared accommodation with some other people on the course.  It’s not hugely important that I get on with these guys (they will be guys…) but the whole experience would probably be more enjoyable if I did.  Here’s hoping that a lot of other facilities are provided for us, i.e. cutlery and cooking equipment as I decided to risk not packing any, plus no more stuff would fit in :s.  As they state, fresh linens are provided every day, which is quite smart, not unlike halls at Uni, and I assume this will be done when we’re all out learning hard LOL.  Although this is great, I hope this service extends to keeping the communal area tidy and of course the providing of toilet paper.  One of the few downsides of the Red Faction house was how messy the shared areas got and it was always fun waking up and discovering there was no toilet paper just when you needed it, which spurred an impromptu visit to “the shop” to get some. Those were the days…

Anyways, to be more positive, this training course will give me the skills, both those specific to jobs and improved interview skills, which should guarantee myself a job at the end of it.  The course itself lasts just 7 weeks, so by the time I truly get used to the new digs and the routine of the day, it will be soon over.  So yeah, the ultimate goal to come out of this is a nice new shiny job that pays well enough for me to move out, comfortably live on, and start getting on with my life, like learning how to drive etc, so we’ll see.

A New Chapter…

Hey peeps, it’s been quite neglectful of me not to mention what is in fact a new chapter in my life about to begin.  That being that as of next week, I would have started on a training scheme which should (here’s hoping, although the family is that tiny bit more) lead to a nice shiny job in computing.

The training scheme is being put on by JBC Computers which as it happens are based in Coventry – it really is a small world, and if I’m a little honest was a tiny added motivation in going for the scheme.  The scheme itself is training myself to have the skills to fill a desktop/network support technician role.  So that goes right from the hardware of PCs, networks, servers etc, right through to the software aspects like configuration and security issues.

Now, I am cautiously optimistic about the scheme, the main worry is my financial situation which is looking in pretty dire form right now.  Moving on from that I am really looking forward to it, and the new skills and experiences the whole thing will bring.  I am a little apprehensive that it is not software development training, as that area was what I did (still do) want to go into.  But saying that, how much actual programming have I done in the last year since graduating? The answer is very little, and pretty much all of that has been web programming i.e. HTML, CSS, PHP etc

After going to the open day in which they practically offered me a place, I didn’t feel I had to earn it, or convince them – which is a good thing.  The place I have been offered is a sponsored place, and thus all of the fees for the course are void – which is also a good thing, as it would cost upwards and beyond of £5000 depending on which modules are done :S.  That being said they do offer discounted accommodation which I have taken them up on, as well a commute from Wem every day is just silly, and probably not even possible, especially in the morning.  Yeah, so living in their accommodation, which is very much like the place I stayed in back in Uni – the good ol’ Red Faction house.  We got shown one house that the company owns, and that was literally across the road from their main premises, so making it in on time shouldn’t be too tricky.

Also including in the scheme, which is very enticing for myself, is the grooming of ones self in preparation for interviews and then job beyond.  Cleaning up my CV, and those crucial interview skills are something I feel that I could benefit a lot from, so I’m hoping that aspect works out especially.  The whole course is over in about 7 weeks, with the option for the company to keep tabs on you as you/I progress in my new found job and continuing the learning process with more exams and the qualifications that go along with it.  Although it’s probs unlikely, but if I went for every exam they offer, I think I would gain something like at least 7 qualifications in various subjects like A+ networks, Windows Server 2003 etc.

To repeat my newly set facebook status, if you do see me in Coventry, then do not hesitate to tell me how tubular my tie is.  That being because, they are pretty strict when it comes to dress code, so I’m gonna have to look pretty smartish a lot of the time, but that’s no real problem, it may sound a bit weird but I actually am more uncomfortable in jeans now than I am in my work trousers, mmm.

 

Here’s waiting for his transport to the real world. hope the movie is a good un…

Concerning Biffy and Becca…. [Dated 18/04/07]

Hey all, the superb Biffy Clyro were playing my old student union on Saturday, so I thought hell yeah! I’m there, good band and a chance to see some of my uni friends again – sorted.

My mate Adam was also coming but he was getting a lift there in a minibus which arrived maybe half an hour before the gig so there was no real time to hang out. I get off the bus and discover that none other than Fran, Becca and Snowy were also on it – some confusion and delight later and we’re ready to head in.

Carter, suprise to me at least, can play guitar and sing, so he was warming up the crowd, his best being the cover of the quite recent dance song, “My heart is pumping for love”, I don’t know the title, whatever, but it brought a smile to my face, so congrats to that. The next band, This City were next, and they seemed like a load of scenesters, not very engaging and I spent most of the time flirting with Becca, more about that later.

The main act, and the reason we were all here, the Biff! We watched them open on Semi-mental from the side, but thanks to the positive mood I was in, and the alcohol coarsing through my veins, I had to get closer, so I threw myself into the pit, and stayed there for the rest of the set. I was listening solely to Biffy on the train down, and it cemented my belief that their early work, Blackened Sky and The Vertigo Of Bliss is their best, but with a new album soon out and the show being a warmup for the Bloc Party tour, it was not suprising that more recent material dominated the set list. They played new songs Asexual meat Kitchen, I’m a fire and new single Saturday Superhouse which despite me not being an immediate fan of the new stuff, I personally feel is a small step back towards the more chaotic stuff on Vertigo of Bliss. From Glitter and Trauma they played Some Kind of Wizard and suprisingly, The Kids from Kibble and the Fist of Light. They kept the hardcore fans happy as well, by playing classic 57 and also Hero Management, which was a suprise also. For their inevitable encore, they played All the Way Down (Ftw!) and Glitter and Trauma so very happy with that.
Biffy don’t say much inbetween songs, a small thank you and a short praise for the support bands, but they just keep to knocking out song after song with a violent energy that is still unrivaled. I’ve seen them quite a few times now, probs not the best I’ve seen them, but it was still a great gig, and was happy I got to see them once more, good to see that they have maintained a high level of consistency for their live shows.

And now onto Becca. My uni friends were all very pleased to see me, as I was them, but I dunno there was something about Becca’s manner, probably coupled with the couple of cans I had previously consumed that got me thinking, “hello, there may be something here”. Now for those that aren’t long prescribers of previous blogs, I can easily confess that I had a crush on Becca last year, around the start of the third term, then she went to germany and then the Koel thing sort of caught on, and we all know where that went. Anyways, back to the story, I reminded her that it has been in fact about a year since I’d seen her, coincidentally probs around the crush went away, lol. I had reasoned before of not ultimately going for it, cos well despite her being physically attractive, there didn’t seem to be anything truly engaging about her, I’m afraid to say, but that was a thought back in my elitist days.
The truth being that I didn’t really know her, and still don’t really, but at least now I’m more open into entertaining that idea now. Anyways, before the bands came on, I tried to be witty and flirty at every opportunity – one problem I have is not being as obvious as I should be towards liking someone. When I told Koel I liked her, she was all omg!, I had no idea! etc.. I was even started to get irritated when Becca was talking with other guys, which is usually a good/bad (depending on how you read it) sign that I’m smitten. Anyways, what with the distance and the fact that only one of us is a student now, it’s probs (read: defs) not a good idea to start anything despite being quite keen to :D.

Biffy came on as described above, so I left the company of my friends for some grooving to hot choons. When that was over, we met up again, and Fran/Becca was asking if I was getting the bus back – I was so joined them outside, where we met some of the Replica X guys. I met Paul the keyboardist and we got going about how hard it is to get a computing job, I mean, this guy has a first for christ’s sake and he hasn’t found one yet. It could be that he still prefers the student life, but that’s another hot topic of discussion.

I went back to their house, and some swivel chair spinning later, we decided on watching this foreign film about nuns and some drug conspiracy, I was hoping it was gonna be something else. Anyways, I wasn’t following the plot that much, so anything that could be interpreted as innuendo, I cried out “hell yeah!”, to be joined by Snowy when he got in from his walk. By this time, Becca had dropped off, so me and Fran were throwing bits of paper over her. Time went on, and I had to make tracks for fear that Mark wouldn’t be about.

I made the short walk back to Mark’s to find that he was still up doing a little bit of revision. I got another drink, and thanks to some sneaky webiste giving out the codes required to activate Television X, we watched a bit of lesbian porn, before settling into the low budget horror film Hellraiser 4, which after seeing the original in the cov house last year, equally enjoyed this sequel with it’s cheesy lines, questionable acting and dodgy special effects. We turned in around half 4, and not before discovering that Tom’s bed (mark’s housemate) had made holes in the wall from him and his gf getting freaky, as I was witness to the last time I stayed.
“shitttt!, Hooollllly Shiiiiit!” – that was hilarious, I almost pissed myself.

Overall a good weekend, I got back Sunday evening to discover that best of top gear, the film Lost in Translation, and match of the day was on, so my night’s viewing was sorted. Thanks to my mate Andy, I got to watch Lost in Translation when it came out a few years back, and well I watched it again, mainly for Scarlett Johansson (Schwing!), and also Bill Murray, who is a legend.
Although I got annoyed as well I don’t bother with celebrity crushes that much, but I got terribly annoyed, as she is very fine, and that’s not just because her arse features in the opening credits.
I probably actually have a crush on the character she played, as she is almost not like that IRL, beign an actress, she probs has the arrogance, looking down her nose at ppl etc etc. I was wondering if I would ever to get meet to girls like the one that Scarlett played, or will I have to wait till I hit Bill Murray’s age and become a dirty man, and then it’s frowned on, lol.

Anyways, enough moaning about things that will never happen, i.e. meeting Scarlett. I am here in the library blogging away like a soldier, to use a poor similie, thinking about the crushes I’ve got going in Shrewsbury. Question: can you have more than one crush at a single time, cos I think I have like 4 right now, oh dear *shakes head*. Anyways, remembering What Koel said and how I should go for it with the Hot Librarian Chick, and then succeed in not seeing her since that conversation about a month ago, and look who is behind the desk when I walked in today. They say coincedences only happen in fiction, but I beg to differ just like Bill Bryson comes across numerous times a book. I don’t know if i blogged somewhere about it, but she actually came into TJs one day – I was so stunned, I actually did do a double take. I unfortunately froze and couldn’t do anything more than gawp at her, and she hasn’t been in since, sigh. I would approach her, but with the setting being a library, it’s impossible not to have everyone listen in. Ultimately I shouldn’t care, and I like to practice the ideal that I don’t care what strangers think, but it’s not quite true and I can’t quite live upto it completely.

Saying that, I have managed to be more selfish which I’m happy with. And I mean this in the respect, that if I have a choice to hang out with someone who smokes, I simply won’t do it, or outings where I’m left a 3rd wheel, I will now avoid as I don’t feel I should go through the awkwardness of it all.
A prime example, getting the train back with carl, he, not us, really have assembled a group of ppl that will go with us. The latest addition is this girl, woman really as she has kids and a proper job. Anyways, she is Carl’s friend, and I did not enjoy having to tell part of my lfie story to her who is effectively a stranger when I first met her. Anyways, I don’t even remember her name, and she smokes and walks back the same way as I do from the station. Now I could walk with her, have to put up with inhaling her smoke and forced to make awkward small chat, OR I could do what I do, let her go some distance ahead of me, then I walk back on my home, where I can enjoy cleaner air and my music, horray for me I think. If she’s offended, then I’m not too fussed about it, at the end of the day, she’s not my friend.

Ok, I’ve ranted more than I wanted to, but that’s ok. Off to work I go, it seems the last few days, there hasn’t been that much important work for me to do, and have the feeling of making up the numbers. Hopefully I will get to leave that place soon, here’s hoping.

Take it Easy.
J-Man.