Apparently I'm off to Worksop tomorrow, in the van, Yay. Then Birmingham. Feck.

Last Wednesday I met up with Keif, Alex and some of his friends for some drinks. Pictures here.

Right-o. Back from Worksop on Friday (2.5 hour drive). Thursday I got rather more drunk than I had hoped. I can't remember past about half past nine. Apparently I locked myself in the toilet and had to be assisted out.

I just wish I could remember some of it. Or maybe it's a good thing that I don't, as I'm not a fan of being drunk.

Saturday I spent a nice time with Julie, watched Spider-Man 2 (pretty good, though no where near as good as Shrek 2, which we saw the weekend before).

For once there is at least a plan for the next few days - Tuesday training in the office (Health and Safety) and Wednesday back to Worksop. or possibly Birmingham, depending where the buses I need to work on are. Shouldn't be too difficult as most if not all the work has already been done. After that, I plan to pull in the work as I'm not going to be around after 2 weeks. Time to get some things in motion again.

I've been sent away to Worksop to work out how to fit the 'new' MDR4+ to Scania bendy buses. Done two in the first day - target 9 by Friday. I have 8 computers. This might be a challenge.

Think you know everything about me? Take the "How Well Do You Know Julian?" quiz I created on Tickle and see how you score.

Here's my first question:

1. Did I like, love, or hate high school?
* Like
* Love
* Hate

Just click (or copy and paste) this link and you'll be taken to my quiz.
http://connect.tickle.com/test.html?id=p8BxHp3blE_ALdu_&

Julian

17:43 05/07/04
Travelling back from work after a less frustrating day than usual. Still far from ideal. I guess this is why people have hobbies - to take their mind off things.

I've been thinking about learning to fly again. If I had a things to do before I die list, flying would be number 1. Also build a house, though that is going to be much tougher. Then also on that list would be visit New Zealand, Nova Scotia, ski, visit the Pyramids, walk somewhere on Antarctica, climb a mountain in South America, have some kids. On kids, I'm stuck between the sensible 2 or the idea of one of each, which is anywhere between 2 and 8 depending how you count them. The point 4 might be the tougher challenge.

Is this a mid life crisis? It can't be, I'm not in a crisis and nor is it the middle of my life yet, unless I die aged 68 and five eighths.

One thing is blindingly clear. Work is not good for me. It's boring, stressful, unfulfilling and not what I want to do. I think I felt this way when I quit accounts aged 20. I know with any job there are boring parts, but these are often the foundation of more interesting tasks. The only thing I do like about this job is the materials science side - learning how different things act and can be used together.

So what now? More likely I'll carry on a slightly self destructive course, though I may just manage to enroll myself in the possibility of changing my life. I think I do need to.

22:51 03/07/04

I have been wasting my time lately working too much. Mainly in Enfield, less than a mile from where Graham used to live. It is now safe to say I grok relays. Well, the ones we have been using anyway. 6 relays used to switch output to a monitor of 4 cameras and 4 inputs.

Wow that was by far the best meal in a restaurant I have had.
I met up with Bruce, Steve Palmer, Simon Clelend, Jon Honeyball and his friend Andre.

The first impressions from The Gaucho Grill are of a dividing staircase descending into a cellar. This leads into the bar where I sampled a gin and tonic and loved it. This is the pervading idea of this experience. The food was nothing less than sumptuous. I chose a 400g Rump steak, rare as is my preference. The 6 of us ordered vegetables to go with the meat, which was served separately. The sides were baked sweet potato, roasted garlic, grilled mushrooms, grilled beef tomatoes, mashed (or pureed) potatoes, spinach and carrots.

The cut I had was cooked as I wanted, unlike my last experience some time ago elsewhere.

For dessert 4 opted for cheesecake, 2 for Don Pedro, which is basically iced cream with a dash of whiskey. For cream likers, I would recommend the Don Pedro.

The subject of conversation drifted about from Bruce's various business ideas, to Steve's partner's health and lots of reminiscing.

Heavy on the irony afterwards. More on that, perhaps, later.

Related to the personality thing is "Better Job"

Your job's score is 39.

Your job is mind-bendingly bad. So incredibly bad. So shooting-spree inducing bad. Why are you in it? Is it deeply rewarding work? Are there a few kindred co-workers whose positive spin make the whole mess bearable? Are you shlepping through two more years of this hell so you can escape into a well-respected, well-salaried position? You had better hope at least one of the above is true, or otherwise your life is on a one-way train to Stinksville. You like that? I made it up myself.

According to Jenny Turpish I'm:

Wackiness: 28/100
Rationality: 50/100
Constructiveness: 68/100
Leadership: 32/100

You are an SECF--Sober Emotional Constructive Follower. This makes you a hippie. You are passionate about your causes and steadfast in your commitments. Once you've made up your mind, no one can convince you otherwise. Your politics are left-leaning, and your lifestyle choices decidedly temperate and chaste.

You do tremendous work when focused, but usually you operate somewhat distracted. You blow hot and cold, and while you normally endeavor on the side of goodness and truth, you have a massive mean streak which is not to be taken lightly. You don't get mad, you get even.

Please don't get even with this web site.