Simps-on log

New Blog[roll]

28/11/04 4:03

I've just started a new blog at loo-read.uk.tt using WordPress. It's using my php/mysql web space provided by my isp, so that I can fiddle more with php/mysql [surprise surprise ;) hehe!]

I was going to have it as a test site for an extended period but I suppose that's just not me[!] Dive straight in and hang the consequences should be my motto! Just wait - there will be a flood of comment spam and the thing will be hacked to death in a week! Am I worried....er......

I'll keep you posted on my experiences on that score [I know you're so interested to know;) hehe]. This site will continue alongside for the time-being. As I've said - the domain name www.simps.co.uk is due to expire next month, and I'm not really interested in renewing - even at £2.99 a year it seems a bit of a waste. Me -- tight -- YES!!!

whinge whinge

27/11/04 11:58

I now order all IT related stuff at school - makes sense I suppose, but is a bit of a dumbing down of my job. Our finance person is more of and un-finance person - the new Head - Judith, has been making a special effort to improve things. I made her aware that in IT a week is a long time to place an order - let alone 3 months which seems to be the norm at school. Stock and prices can change rapidly. Once the finance bod ordered a new network switch for her office - it took so long to order that the company had moved! Payment of wages is so poorly organised that 2 newly appointed - and since departed Law teachers are suing the school!

So i've spent a lot of time these last cople of weeks chasing orders. Bad enough that it took the Head 8 months to approve the purchase of 15 new PC's, worse still now that I have everyone on my back again because finance are typically being obstructive.

She's leaving at Christmas - possibly the best present i'll get this year! ;)

live train timetabling!

24/11/04 7:33

php installment 2 today - 'tis why my eyes feel like burning coals in thier sockets! forms and such was the topic - seems like we crammed a lot in - i'll only know in a few days when my mind catches back up with the present. I wasn't so subconsciously averse to the subject today - I chatted with Heather about the whole thing since last week, and a lot of things seem clearer - she's *so wonderful*!! hehe!.

Everyone was complaining that trying to copy code from the projected image on the white board was straining thier eyes. I couldn't see the point of constructing scripts in this way - that stuff we could have done at home - in class a little more pure guidance would have been better ...dunno - ask me in a couple of days!

I never knew this great resource existed: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk - apparently this site has won awards - a first for the uk Rail sytsem methinks - you can check on your local trains - even out here in these remote climes - and see if they're running on time - or by how much there eta differs from the timetable - cool!

bfn :0)

Quack php

22/11/04 12:06

had a fun weekend thanks for arsking! ;0)

'did' a new [to us] play barn "Quackers" down in Llandrindod Wells [no biggie - about 40 mins away]. This literally IS a barn - some enterprising farmer has converted his cowshed - they had Cowpat & Flies on the resturant menu - It was really good anyway. The place is really big - you could get lost in there! obviously well planned - there were loads of different things to do. It boasts "Mid Wales' Highest Drop Slide" - probably Mid-Wales' ONLY Drop Slide me-thinks :0). Us BIGGER KIDS all had a pop. There were also loads of 3 foot high tunnel to crawl 'round - great for the kids to play "let's lose daddy"!!

We all had a ball. Definately got to go do that again sometime soon.

Today - i drained off the central heating system and added some inhibitor. Heather had pencilled in today for the job, being the EXACT date we needed to flush out the cleaning solution. you're supposed to do this stuff every year - or so it says on the label - but it's the first time i've ever done it! I wan't as painful as I'd thought - just attach a hose and get into the roof to add the stuff - piece a'cake!

'Bin mucking about with a load of php stuff [as i'm on a 4 part course at work]. I'm quite getting into it now - that is - after the initial shock of realising I was actaully doing PROGRAMMING :eek:! ...I sat there in class thinking how clever I was knowing all this html and web stuff when we launched into the real meat..... I had flashbacks to me age 15 sat in college class - my mind not at all able to focus on this guy trying to get us excited about programming using a ticker tape typewriter to produce a sine wave graph printout. Nirvana, way back then, was a LIFE SIZE POSTER of BRIDGET BARDOT made from o's and x's - and a godamn awful monotone beeping rendition of God Save the Queen. You really had to want to do it back then :LOL:

so : <?php print("hello world") ?> hehe - be very afraid!!! ;0)

Mari supplies again

18/11/04 11:35

1) I am a(n)... bionic superhero from the planet zog
2) My ex-boy/girlfriend was... in my imagination
3) I'm just a(n)... figleaf of your imagination
4) Maybe I should... grow up
5) I love... to boogie
6) ____________ is cute: small
7) Looking for... my keys usually
8) I don't understand... much
9) I lost my... heart to a starship trooper
10) My boy/girlfriend is a(n)... live!
11) In darkness, I... bump into stuff
12) Why do I... try to please first – then think later
13) Is there such a thing as... too much chocolate
14) Does the... pope live in the Vatican?
15) People say I'm... a dreamer
16) Love is... power
17) You make me wanna... puke [Heather told me to say that!]
18) Somewhere, someone is... doing something interesting
19) Is it true that... 2 + 2 = 4 [Heather answered: only in decimal]
20) I will always... be childish
21) Forever is... not what you mean to say
22) I never want to... have enough money

BOO!

17/11/04 11:12

Woeauh!! *jumps* - blimey - I thought you were dead or summat!?! :D haha!

Don't know what happenned here... certainly isn't blogolicious whatever it is.... just haven't felt the urge lately I spose.

I sorta made a conscious descision to try and stem my internet/ PC addiction lately. I figure it can't be healthy - well my eyes seem constantly tired and i've a persistent mild headache.... which intensifies if I stare at a screen for any length of time.

Watching "Property Developers" - or whatever it's called on TV tonight I thought - what a great idea - I'd love to get into that. I think I have a "nose" for "housy stuff"... I got plenty of experience in my younger days, and I'm a pretty good judge of properties [IMHO of course ;)] and recon I could make it pay. Those guys were makin' a fortune - I get that stressed doin' that stuff outta work anyway - cutting out the nasty work type'a stress seems all good.

Playmobil Heaven :0)

05/11/04 5:56

The final confrontation happenned yesterday. A bit easier that the previous day. The demon was satisfied with the temporary solution that I'd suggested, and is now all for his rougue section joining the rest of the school, on our terms of course. I'm thinking that the Head may have steered this happy eventuality. However it happenned i'm extremely pleased and shall sleep easy as a result.

After weeks of an annoying problem with our car ... the engine races intermittently, the garage have found out what was wrong. My first guess was correct [I think] - that the carburretta was dirty. A connected problem was that the onboard computer had made adjustments for this and needed re-setting to tell it that it had been cleaned. So much for smart devices huh ;).

We don't know how much we'll be charged yet, but the actual work done was a wipe with a cloth and a press of a button. We had a lovely new courtesy car for a day but only because of a problem of the garages own making.

Looks like we're going to have a PlayMobil christmas. We already have a few PM toys, and 2 PM advent calanders that are wonderful. I just love those toys!

I seem to be going on a bit in my latest entries. Most unlike me ;). On Dec 25 this domain expires, and as it was free I'm too mean to pay for a renewal. So the address will revert to the old http://www.s1mps.plus.com/weblog , unless of course I set up one of those .tt / no-ip.com ones. Trouble with those free ones is that they're not 100% reliable. ...we'll see!

Have a great weekend. I plan to do a bit of stuff around the house tomorrow. Oh yeah - tonight I'm taking Ben to see the fireworks at the football ground. We won't be going in this year - it's too damn loud! We'll have have to make a donation or summat!

Greetz to Nikki and Graeme

See Dave

03/11/04 11:17

Hiya! :)

Faced a personal demon today [maybe a real one too:)]. Thing is, I don't know when to stop when it comes to taking responsibility for my job. The downside of that is that you then have problems that you are unable to solve.

Discussing with friends last night I resolved to stand my ground and point said demon [not really mate ;)] to my superior. What actually happened was that I wimped out twice, and then was almost forced naturally into doing the right thing. See i'd taken it upon myself to uphold the law personally, as no one superior to me was taking the responsibility, but it had become to feel like I was fighting my line manager and the Head. I was growing to hate my job... but that's wrong - I love it!

I acted alone in turning off access for said persons PC's, a descision i'd personally arrived at after much personal agonising. This was how I was going to follow the law. And I didn't tell him. I knew that he'd force me to reverse it in some kneejerk fashion after berating the Head with some rubbish [ - no one seems to consider the pro's and cons anymore. If you're loudest or first to complain with a half plausible reason, then you get what you want ]. And my line manager would burst a blood vessel or two in a brief fit of madness before crawling back under his blanket of lethargy, having actually done nothing.

So I said it... 'see Dave'. I should say that up to this point was the usual tyrade. I struggle for words and he belittles and pushes. So off he went to 'see Dave'.

He returned to ask if i'd blocked his access and then denied the fact to him several times. I said yes. All he could say was 'i'm pissed off', and left the room saying it over and over, not accepting my apology.

He then told the Head and collared me on the way back from her office saying that she'd be giving me a 'severe bollocking'. Asking why I had done this I explained to him: the frustration of no-one taking responsibility and me wanting to do the right thing by the law, and trying to solve the problem the best way I could think of. He managed to weedle me around to agreeing to re-instate his connection if he followed a suggestion i'd just made to solve the mess he'd made to disrupt everyone in the school printing. I reversed this after telling Dave and pre-arranging another 'see Dave' response. After all - the illegal element was still there - the real reason for my actions.

So far the Head hasn't spoken of it, and I did see her soon after outside her office when she had the opportunity. Dave is relishing the contoversy. Trouble is he's really out of favour, for no good reason either. It's a shame 'coz he's a nice bloke. He wants me to bring in the union - basically way over the top stuff. It seems unbalanced but the poor guy is taking some hurt from these ambitious types.

So I figured out a way for 'safe' access to be achieved with little inconvenience - as a temporary measure 'till we set up the rougue PC access properly. I'm to document it to be passed on to said demon in the morning.

So far - so good ...peace of mind becons ;)

Thanks guys for your comments :: Graeme[read 'em & weep m8:)], Mari[shame on you!;)!] and Nikki [I think you've pulled with that old bloke ;)].

My holidays - by Me

01/11/04 8:04

Had a great holiday last week thanks ;)

Popped over to my folks for a few days last weekend. 'Twas good. We usually go for longer -- too long always -- three days was perfect. We took the kids to see Thomas at Loughborough Station which was fun. We visited the engine shed too which is always impressive. My folks had never been so they enjoyed it.

Friday we saw Bananas in Pyjamas at the local Theatre. Boy was that crap! It was just six people in big costumes miming to a tape. Even the cheering was canned. I really think that sort of low down trick is a rip-off. The kids were happy. So I guess that's what everyone wants.

Saturday we visited Heathers' folks. We walked up to the beachside park in Llandudno, and even played on the beach. It was really mild and sunny. Ben got Grandad to get his trains video out and Grandad kindly lent it too him so he could watch it some more at home. Ben's getting a real anorak - he tells me what each train is - a Diesel etc.. Emily meantime is turning into a little Daddys' girl :).

Today I went into work, tho' I don't know why - they still owe me holiday. The Head had booked me to set up a projector for her. She said it was ok for 9.15 so I needn't come in early. I turned up at 8:40 and was met by a pannicked Deputy Head - they needed the projector now 'coz everything had gone quicker than planned.

Amid all this I had fun playing at setting up a new web server with Apache, PHP & MySQL, the point being to install Moodle, a free [open source] learning environment thingy for eventual use at school. These things are the way to go, all schoolwork is set and resources made available online, so you can do schoolwork anywhere, anytime [can't you just hear kids jumping for joy ];).]. In reality they just use the chatrooms and forums... :D.

The boss was supposed to be setting up his own little web server - a project I'd set him. What had HE done... nothing!!! Teachers huh. Money for old rope if ya ask me :)

Tarra a bit! Greetz to Graeme and Nikki.

Rocco Buttillioni & John Peel

27/10/04 12:30

Rocco Butillioni

I cant believe the fuss at the moment over this mans statement of belief [threatening the endorsement of the EU] - that homosexuality is a sin. It seems to me like the worst kind of religious descrimination. It's not a fashionable view - but surely we can tolereate it. Surely we understand that this is something that Christians and Catholics are likely to believe. It just dumbfounds me.

John Peel

Sad to hear that John Peel has died today. This guy has kept in wlth current music since 1967. Kids like me still sent in tapes hoping that he'd play them. I went to a disco in the early 80's that he was doing and remember him ripping into the trendy students. Quite a laugh!

What I admire most is the guys intellegence that he used to keep solidly grounded.