Not Completely In The Dark

Went to Hatton Farm Village on Saturday which was ok if a bit pricey for what it is. Why do these places always charge so much for adults when there is only stuff for kids? It's pure extortion and I do resent it. Anyway, the sun shone a bit and the kids had fun and that's the main thing. Bumped into Paul from the Wire list and we rode on a VERY bumpy tractor. Nice to see him. The jammy bugger has tickets to one of the upcoming Radiohead gigs. Grr.

I took some more snaps with the new camera and I'm still pleased with it. In general, it's helping me take a much better picture. The indication of the focus point is a godsend.

Installed new hard disk into our pooter and setup Windows XP afresh. Once I was happy with that, I connected up the previous disk and proceeded to recover the data and made numerous backups. Soon I'll reformat the old disk and I'll have acres of room for data and backups, hurrah.

All in all a very enjoyable extended weekend and now I'm looking down the barrel of another week away down in fun old Winchester. Not really looking forward that much, I'll miss everyone but I'll be earning some extra cash. As I remarked to t'wife earlier today, being in Winchester is probably the best place to be with all the current company shenanigans. If I was still in Coventry I'm sure I'd be feeling completely in the dark/

A Couple Of Days Off

Only did a couple of days down in Winchester following the Easter weekend and I'm back up home for two more days off with the kids. No fresh news work-wise. Seems like they're still trying trying to sell us even though the rumour is that no-one will touch us.

Weather weren't so good today. We went over to Coventry to the Transport Museum, which was pretty good. Popped into Micom to pick up a new hard drive for our PC.

Jacq got more Enid Collins bags in the post today. Her collection has now grown to four. At some point I need to put up some shelves to display them.

A Fine Weekend

The weather was unusually kind for an Easter weekend. The Sunday was spent over at Theresa's mostly in the garden all day. I took a load of shots with the new camera and am pretty pleased with the results. Steve, who has just bought a Nikon D50, the git, was quite impressed with it too. Got some nice effects shooting into the sun with the flash forced on. Also macro shots with flash had a cool unreal feel. Look out for some examples on flickr.

A Brighter Outlook

Much talk during the week of future work plans. I've started coming around to the idea of going down the contracting route. The positions currently advertised are double my current hourly rate. It's got to be worth a try, and if it's not for me then I'll just get another staff job. Quite fancy the idea of working for myself.

Very last thing on Thursday before driving back up, Trapper had a chat that indicated things may not be done and dusted with regard the sale of the business. Juergen is down for a meeting on Tuesday and it needs to be made clear to him what the opinion of the staff is regarding recent management performance. I'm looking forward to that meeting, it should be very interesting if he gets a rough ride.

The thought of positive future work plans and a possible 11th hour change of plans has meant that I've got a stress-free outlook on work stuff going into this Easter holiday weekend. Not stressing at all like I was last weekend. That's got to be good news health and family-wise. In fact I don't really mind what the outcome is now. Maybe a slight preference for staying within Siemens for all the technical interest, training, travel, etc. But if that don't happen, then I'll take the contractor wages thank you very much.

Back To Business

Back down in Winchester again this week. No new info about the sell-off so it was pretty much 'back to business'. It works for a while. Time passes and the job moves forward. Then I remember the current situation and the full sense of the BETRAYAL hits home. It takes a while then to gather my thoughts and get back to the task in hand.

Seems from a quick jobsearch on t'web that Pete's crew, ADI are recruiting. Very tempted to call and get the head's up. Took a call from an agency fishing for info about the sale. I told them I might be in touch in a few weeks.

Back up home this afternoon for dentist visit and a night in my own bed. Bliss compared to last nights hotel room. The hotel heating and ventilation plant was directly below me and had the room vibrating all night.

Goat Kids Bouncing

In-between classic April showers, we managed to get out this afternoon and visted Rays Farm. It was very nice to be out and about together in 'holiday mode'. The sight of some little goat kids bouncing around had us all in hysterics. Completely diverted my mind from dull work matters. In fact I can't even think straight about work stuff anymore. Spent too much energy going over things in my mind and have simply exhausted the subject. Until more is known, there's simply nothing to be said, decided or acted upon.

Aftershocks From The Bombshell

Many beers last night at the irish bar. Helped a bit. Didn't bother going into the Winchester office this morning. Straight into the car and up the motorway after some breakfast with my German colleagues. Back home and feeling more down than yesterday. Can't get straight in my head quite what I should be doing now. Nothing I guess, just wait and see what the next few weeks hold. Struggling to control the urges to make the jump to another company. I just want out right now. Is there any chance that there will be any opportunities arising to stay in Siemens? Conversations with colleagues aren't helping me to make sense of any of this now. How I'm going to have any shred of work ethic left for next week I really don't know.

In other, non-work related news, the hard drive I ordered from Micom for Dad's PC came in the week so I fitted that this afternoon and setup it up for him to take away tonight. Had a little go with our new camera that also came this week. Looks sweet. Need to take some photos now. Picked up the kids from school. They broke up today for the two week Easter holidays. Lucky things.

Big Change Is Coming

Been down in Winchester all week. The work has been going quite well and the project team spirit high, but that all ended today with the announcement that Siemens is selling us. Total bombshell! I'm pissed off. It's always been my plan to develop my career within the orgainisation but now it seems that will never happen. So what choice now? Why travel to Coventry every day when I could do similar work closer to home? I guess big change is coming then. Oh well.

Post Pre Another Week Away

Back from the last stint in Germany and haven't had much time to blog so here's a quick post before I dash off down to Winchester for yet another week away. I'm not looking forward to the coming week much, purely because I'm sick of the hotel lifestyle. I just get used to the pleasure of having my stuff around me at the weekend and then I'm off again to the bland suitcase life.

Last weekend I built up my new CD shelves, and this weekend I got them filled. Not completely organised to my liking yet, but getting there. Wire on the top obviously, followed by a general alphabetical order with grouping for bands and solo projects. I should post a picture here but the camera's been playing up for ages. The good news is we ordered a new one this weekend cos we're feeling a bit flush and we need one before the summer arrives. Ordered a Canon A620 from Jessops for 195GBP which is a 100 quid off their store price! Quite a bargain I reckon. Looking forward to having a play next weekend and maybe I'll post a piccy then. Must get the CD's orgainised too.

All in all a lovely weekend, which made up for last weekend's limp Mothers Day. The kids have been a delight. Occasionally annoying and stroppy as all kids are, but delightful all the same. Hints of sunshine have me looking forward to weekends spent a bit more 'out and about' soon. Hopefully catching the moments with our new camera.

Changed the links area again on the blog. Trying out the Google Reader sharing function. Now any stories I 'star' in my reader should appear here in a list box. If anyone notices a problem with it, give me a shout.

I'll try and keep online during the coming week but as for the 'interestingness' of any blog posts, I can't promise anything. Apparently there will be a big meeting on Thursday about the company's future so if you're interested in that sort of thing, I might post a report.

Horrible Flight

Horrible flight over this week. Oppressed by a sweating fat man sat next to me and surrounded by the Moldova womens soccer squad. It certainly wasn't the standard business flight I've been used to. A scarey patch of turbulence added the final flavour. Definitely the worst flight I've had. I'm so glad this is the last week of here in Germany. No more flying for me for a while.

Minds Think Alike

Very, very interesting to see Mindfulness popping up on the 43 Folders site. I can see the link. At a certain level, it's about clearing mental space. Wether the reason is to get more stuff done or to combat stress, it all involves 'being in the moment' more. I'll be checking on the progress of this thread on the site.

Switch It Off And Switch It On Again

Things are back on track. Knocked out the Test Spec last night in my room, it's a bit pants but it'll do. Tried to go online this morning with my PLC and it worked first time. So I guess last night I simply needed a reboot. The old 'switch it off and switch it on again' trick. Funny how I forget to do that nowadays since so much stuff works without reboots now.

Karlsruhe Spring

It feels like spring has sprung over here in Karlsruhe today. I flew over with a case full of warm clothes and I don't think I'll be needing them. The sun has been out and so are the people in pavement cafes.

Starting software testing today and the first challenge is just to get online with the system! No fix at the moment and most colleagues have now gone home. So, I'll park that problem up till tomorrow and get on with some test spec writing which I'll have to carry on with this evening in the hotel.

Flat Pack Hell

After recent days spent building up Ikea shelving units, today provided hopefully the last of the flat-pack hell. It seems like we're starting to get straight with some books coming out of boxes and onto shelves for the first time since the move. Jacq's been trying to get me to dump some vinyl as part of the sort-out. It's a really tough call. Should an LP be dumped if you now own the CD? I don't know. These are tough philosophical questions. I'm not sure I'm qualified to provide answers.

The Gaps In Between

Another busy 'working from home' Friday in which lots of things happened and I managed to fit some project work into the gaps in between.

Dropped the kids off at school and went to see my doctor for another blood pressure check. This check was at the end of a month on the tablets he prescribed me. The good news was that my BP was down to just about the right numbers for my age. I've now got the go ahead to start getting into some exercise and get my act together lifestyle-wise.

Put the car into the garage for an engine service. While waiting to drop it off I stood for a long while chatting with a mechanic and admiring the 1965 Mini he was working on. It was in superb condition and made me smile just to look at it. Just a year younger than me and still going strong.

Back home for a few hours at the project work then another session with Linda. We practised quite a lot of Chi Kung which felt really good this time and I was complimented on my stance. I'm seeing her again in two weeks so I need to work at integrating the practise into the coming weeks in Karlsruhe.

Took our old two-seater sofa round to Mikes with his help. It was easy enough to carry round to the house, but a bit of a bugger to get through to the back room. Now they've got two sofas in there it's a bit full but I reckon they'll be real comfy in there. I hope so anyway.

Parents came over in the evening. Dad glad to be back from Ireland.

I Understand No German

Finally got around to putting some German language lessons on my iPod. I've been really slack about this, Adrian and Phil have been studying it for ages now. I had a go with lesson 1 on the drive to work. As I got to the office the only phrase I could recall was 'I understand no German'. I tried my phrase out on a German guy working in the office and at least he understood me!

Running Taper

Mark Clifford, the genius behind Seefeel, has a new CD 'Running Taper' out on his Polyfusia label. If you click the link, you can hear a track from it. Just been listening to 'Idealess' and it is a lovely thing. Really makes me want to make some noise.

Working At Home, Blogging In Bed

Back from Germany late last night and up bright and early for quite a busy 'working from home' type day. We took Dylan to school and then hung around, Jacq did the refreshments prior to the year 2 assembly, and I nipped out and got my hair cut. After Dylans cute assembly we picked up some supplies and headed home for the last bit of the morning. At midday the coach arrived bringing Harriet home from Ingestre Hall. Sounds like she had a great time there with stories of 'eating tuck after light's out', absolutely classic.

Jacq helped out with year 1 kids in the afternoon while I had another session with Linda. The practise didn't go so smoothly over in Germany. The hotel environment proved to be a distraction and we discussed some strategies for dealing with that. Sitting practise was good and the body-scan practise tried for the first time. Must try to maintain a consistent approach in this coming week to really fix it into my routines.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing some actual work. Design decisions made while in Germany are now being questioned. If only these issues had been addressed by the original design process then we would not have been forced into making decisions at this late stage. Sometimes, despite what the customer says, we have to trust that we know a thing or two about designing control systems. It's the only way to go forward at this point.

Went over to visit Mum tonight as Dad is over in Ireland catching up with people. Sounds like he's having a good time there and I'm glad he's finally making the space for himself to do this sort of thing. Long overdue.

Typing this from bed. Blogging in bed rocks! It's the future.

Working In A Karlsruhe Stylee

A bit of snow, a warm hat, lots of walking, public transport, iPod soundtrack, PCS7 programming, hotel breakfast, canteen salad, Subway sandwich and mumbling the occasional words in German.

Working in a Karlsuhe stylee.

I think there's worse places to be sent to work in than Karlsruhe. I'd rather be working at home of course but this place is better than being stuck in Winchester which is where I'll be in a few weeks no doubt.

Jacq and Dyl sound like they're having a fine time while Harriet is away at Ingestre Hall for the week. Looking forward to friday when we're all back together.

Siemens Industriepark Karlsruhe