A Busy Week
Its been a busy week for me after moving out of Stafford after finishing my second year of uni. I have been busy working for my parents, sorting out computers, moving printers all sorts it seems as well as having fun with Windows SBS 2003 but more on that later… I managed to escape and had a trip to Alton Towers last Tuesday. I had a great time and I managed not to spend an arm and a leg on crazy ride photos with rather funny poses however it did rain. On the up side the queues were short and we managed to get a good day of thrills. We did go on the new pirate ride, Battle Galleons, in which you fire water canons at other pirate ships and incidentally the queue of people waiting to get on.. although they can fire back. I have to admit I didn’t think it would be as enjoyable as it was, but as all good things must end I managed to hurt my neck. I think it was on the Spinball Whizzzer ride and the past few days I’ve been quite a bit of pain with a stiff neck however it only happened at the end of the day.
The biggest thing I suppose is that is was my birthday this week, it appears I have turned 20. I had a good day and a nice meal at Damons in Lincoln, very good food and if it is your birthday your meal is on the house so its all good, they also give you a cake so recommended to all!
With this stiff neck I also started to get a burning sensation in my pocket but I quickly sorted that out with a purchase of an Xbox 360. I did have one at the start of uni but I never really used it and I ended up selling it. This time around I have got myself an Elite console with my collection of games starting at Left 4 Dead. I’ve noticed the dashboard has changed dramatically which is a big improvement..
I haven’t yet hooked it up to the Windows Home Server to stream content to it as it is currently being used elsewhere but hopefully by the end of weekend I’ve have my hands back on it.
Next week I’m hopefully going to get round to checking out Windows 7 what with uni and exams I’ve not had a chance to have a look a the RC I was about to install it on my laptop which has a new screen (I won’t say how I broke it) but I don’t have any blank DVD’s. When I get some I’ll also be checking out Gentoo which is used at my placement.. which I can’t wait to start.. I’ve signed contracts for my accommodation in Birmingham and move in on the 27th! so I’m playing the waiting game…
On that note I’m going to end this rather unusually long post…
A Cup of Tea…
Doesn’t solve everything as I am absorbed with the flu (just flu and not swine flu) right in the middle of my exam period. I haven’t been totally with it this week as I turned up for my cisco skills test with the wrong crib sheet as I was under the impression I had a different exam.. Although I feel I did pretty well in it and I will find out the results soon. Having said that my first exam went better, someone found it a little too boring though as one of the invigilators fell asleep.. (and yes I am not joking, snoring and everything!!)..
Anyway apart of the flu and my exams I have acquired another computer! A small compact pc that I’m going to use to test the various operating systems I should really know about,. Mainly Linux distros like Ubuntu and Gentoo which is a popular OS at my placement I am told…
I have also set my moving out day which is the 14th of may a couple of days after my last exam and on that note I am off to do some more cisco reading..
The Easter Break
The Easter break hasn’t been much of a break yet from me. I am finishing off my last assignment of the 2nd year. Although it is nice to be home and to see the family its a shame I have word to be done when is it the weather decides to be nice and sunny.
I suppose I am still in a mind wandering dase after getting a placement last Friday, I’m very excited and really looking forward to it. Although at the moment I am still deciding on where to live Stafford or Birmingham but its still early days yet.
As I am home and not really paying for the electric bill I have started number crunching for grid networks again. I’ve participated on and off over the years but after a couple of lectures in my Network and Grid computing module on BOINC and its projects I decided it turn it all back on again.
I’ve taken the break to get my car in for its MOT. The garages in and around Stafford don’t seem to really offer value for money and as a student that is a top priority so its in and I’ll find out soon how much damage it is going to cause to my bank account.
Placement
On Friday I was pleased to have been accepted for a placement with Blueberry Consultants in Birmingham. I start at the end of June so I’ll have short break after my exams.
One Week To Go…
There is one more week of uni for me in 2008 left, which makes me half way though my second year… Scary! I’m not so much stressing out like most as I have planned ahead and I’m not doing my assignments last minute, which is a surprise. OK well one of them I have still got to do, The PED poster, I’m putting it off to be honest but I am half way through my Data Recovery Assignment! Yay!
I have had my final CCNA skills test which I didn’t think went well as I had a problem with the Frame-Relay connection which I think will hit me on marks but I haven’t had the confirmed marks back yet. Which brings me to placements, I have applied for a Cisco Internship. I think it’ll look great on my CV but I think I’ll learn so much if I get the job, I have my fingers crossed but I won’t hear back for a while I don’t think.
I have also got my car back from the body shop, a whole two weeks off the road, it was missed at 10am in the morning when it was freezing cold and I was walking to uni, but I have it back now and the work looks great! I have also had my wing mirror repaired from when it was hit during the first night on the road at my house.
I’m getting distracted by After Effects at the moment, I have seen some of its possibilities and thought I’d give a few tutorials ago!
Busy, Busy, Busy!
I thought I’d take a break and write a post. I’m currently in the process of updating my CV and I’m starting to apply for placements for the sandwich part of my course at Stafford! As expect Year2 has a lot more work involved I’m working on 3 assignments at the moment!
C++ I’m finding hard which I expected and the assignment is going to be a challenge I foresee but I’m sure I’ll get over that bridge.
I have also joined Trentham Canoe Club to escape for all this work on Wednesdays, only been once so far and I did end up in the lake but I hope to join and it be regular occurrence.
