The Ramblings of a Technominx

Dagnabbit!

I got half way through a big ole update last night and once again my iphone app just closed and didn’t save so here i am with absolutely no motivation to spew it all out again.

The news in brief:
interview at Norwich City college last week went OK, but it became clear a couple of minutes in that 95% of the role was dealing with the one essential competency in which I was weakest – Virtual learning management systems – specifically Blackboard. There is no doubt that i could do the job, but I’d have been pipped at the post by anyone with more experience in that specific area…and indeed on Friday I learned that I was. Although it was not a particular surprise, I was disappointed. I do like to be useful and these couple of weeks since my QM contract ended have been a little frustrating for me. I can sit about and do nothing much for a limited amount of time, but I like problems and tasks to get stuck into. I like earning my way.

Mum and Dad came down at the weekend. I now have new curtains, made by my mum and a shelf in the wardrobe – made by my dad. The place looks much better! I do love my little flat, which is a good thing considering how much time I am in it at the moment in a bid to keep my spending down.

I did go out after dinner with my folks and M on Friday night. We met A and eventually ended up at the pub – we were so late though we missed all but the last 10 mins of the band. I had been drinking white wine all night and was very ill indeed all day Saturday. I ended up having to have a nap late saturday afternoon! I felt much better afterwards, but if my insomnia was bad before it’s worse now as my body clock has somehow got turned totally around and I haven’t been able to sleep before 5am for the last 3 nights. On the plus side I am getting a lot of reading done! I love curling up with a good book, and everything is silent all around in the middle of the night. It’s a very peaceful time to read. The scary bits are extra scary though! No Stephen King for me!

I’ve been reading The Vampire Diaries. Not because of the TV series, but because of a recommendation from a friend. I do like the stories, but the writing is even more simplistic than the Twilight books. I like both series, but i have to turn off the grown up in me and read with my inner teenager. The Sookie Stackhouse novels are much better written and because their heroine is older they’re less prone to overly gushy hormonal emotional outpourings. Divorce will ruin your tolerance for that stuff.

I popped to the hospital today. My uncle was taken in yesterday. I put a bunch of audio books on my ipod for him and have left it for him to borrow as it must get pretty boring – especially since you have to pay quite a lot to use the TV there.

I’m off to see H tonight. I’m fixing her laptop in return for bolognaise! I have my bag of tools packed. It feels good to be doing some type of IT work. I know I’ve done a little bit for Q5 last week but I like the hands on stuff. If i don’t find a job soon I can see me dismantling one of my laptops and doing a totally unnecessary refurb just to get my geek on.

I saw a junior QA position yesterday. They don;t necessarily want QA experience but are happy to adapt from other IT skills. I am working on a cover letter for my CV. I’ve been interested in QA for a while but considered that boat to have sailed after I’d committed to a career in support. Maybe it’s time for a change? I love IT Support. I love helping people and working directly with users, but I have gone about as far as I can. I am happy to stay in the field forever, but maybe this is the type of opportunity that life puts in your way for a reason. Just like when I went from Information Officer to IT. It was not a career I had given a lot of thought to – but it matched my natural skills and competencies so well that it felt like donning a familiar jumper from the time I started. Something to think about.

I have finally made a start with my camera and have been taking some pictures. They’re not ready to post just yet – to be honest they’re worse than if I’d used the ‘auto’ setting – but at least I’m starting to understand why the picture didn’t take the way I wanted it to. Once the crocus’ open, I’ll see if i can do any better. Narrow that aperture…blur that background and master that spot focus….

Rightio – I need to get myself cleaned up and ready to see H.

Oh! Before I go! I am gradually weaning myself off TBG (I know, new anacronym – I’m not explaining) Lusting over people who are too taken, too young, too timid, or too dangerous to my sanity is just too much like hard work!

Blessed Be

Le Minx