It's been a tough 2 days since my company announced it was to loose 10% of staff. Being in the office has been unbearable, especially since they started the UK redundancies yesterday in the London office and us Cambridge people had to wait until today. No one knew how and when you were to be notified for your "final" meeting, so its been totally agonising to wait this long. This morning was the worst as my boss texted me whilst I was at home to say he "wouldn't be there" when I got in.
I've worked with him for the past 5 years, through one project till the next, thick and thin. I was very upset and in tears when he told me he was going and of course I was terrified for myself.
Once I reached the office I was running on adrenaline, and one by one people started to email to say they were leaving. I've also lost some brilliant workmates and this year Iforum wont be happening. Looks like my future in UI Evaluation is cut short - for the time being.
Finally after lunchtime we received an email to say that was it - no more people would be leaving. We all breathed a sigh of relief but I also think we all felt sorry for the ones who had left.
I'm hoping all my departed colleagues get work soon.
Will miss you all
:(
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Geek or Nerd
Have I officially entered Geekdom or Nerd Central? I'm not sure what the difference is but I certainly belong in one when I start laughing at programming jokes. I found this website funny http://xkcd.com/208/
Onto other things - the Dude and I have started to psychologically potty train Emily. This means before bath time we take the potty out, we talk about the potty, Emily sits on the potty, Emily gets off the potty, we talk about the potty, we clap about her sitting on the potty - ok see where we are going here? All talk and no action - right? Yes - we all talk about it but someone is not producing any "actions".
Though tonight the converstation when like this :
Me: "Emily, can you sit on the potty?"
Emily : "Yes, Emily sit on potty"
Emily: "Do bum cake on potty"
Me: "yes that would be brilliant Emily, do bumcake on the potty"
Emily gets off, scratches bum and says "bum cake coming!"
Me: "oh great sit on the potty then"
Emily sits on potty for 3 seconds
Emily: "no bum cake"
Emily "Emily get sweety now?"
Me : *sighs* "no, no bumcake no sweety"
(the bribe of sweeties worked with her older sister-it pottied trained her in a week - so am I a bad Mum?)
Onto other things - the Dude and I have started to psychologically potty train Emily. This means before bath time we take the potty out, we talk about the potty, Emily sits on the potty, Emily gets off the potty, we talk about the potty, we clap about her sitting on the potty - ok see where we are going here? All talk and no action - right? Yes - we all talk about it but someone is not producing any "actions".
Though tonight the converstation when like this :
Me: "Emily, can you sit on the potty?"
Emily : "Yes, Emily sit on potty"
Emily: "Do bum cake on potty"
Me: "yes that would be brilliant Emily, do bumcake on the potty"
Emily gets off, scratches bum and says "bum cake coming!"
Me: "oh great sit on the potty then"
Emily sits on potty for 3 seconds
Emily: "no bum cake"
Emily "Emily get sweety now?"
Me : *sighs* "no, no bumcake no sweety"
(the bribe of sweeties worked with her older sister-it pottied trained her in a week - so am I a bad Mum?)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama
I have to admit that I'm very excited that Barack Obama is now the 44th American President. I hope his arrival heralds a new era for us all.
Ok emotional bit over for the day - back to my evening lecture on "putting Java to work". And if you are still awake after reading that sentence you are doing better than I am :)
Ok emotional bit over for the day - back to my evening lecture on "putting Java to work". And if you are still awake after reading that sentence you are doing better than I am :)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Road Sense or no sense
I've recently watched the latest 
DfT Tales of the Road "The Girl Who Didn't Dress Bright" safety films for children. This time I didn't find the characters too scary or "dark". I think its great they are mixing the types/genres of this films as its easy to fall into trap of producing same style films year after year, and kids being kids get bored of things pretty quickly. I like the darker style of the films and hopefully they get the message across to older kids too. I'll be getting some bright stripes for when I'm out on my bike in the dark mornings! Makes more sense :)
DfT Tales of the Road "The Girl Who Didn't Dress Bright" safety films for children. This time I didn't find the characters too scary or "dark". I think its great they are mixing the types/genres of this films as its easy to fall into trap of producing same style films year after year, and kids being kids get bored of things pretty quickly. I like the darker style of the films and hopefully they get the message across to older kids too. I'll be getting some bright stripes for when I'm out on my bike in the dark mornings! Makes more sense :)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Quick Update
Ok I'm almost over the flu - just the remnants of a cough.
Completed 1st tma of my current course, signed up for another course with the OU. Means I will be extra busy (if not doubly busy than previous!).
Bought some Venezulan Black - no not drugs but Willy's Chocolate (fnar) pure cacao, and made truffles - no one really liked them in this house apart from me -well no surprise there, but here is a picture anyway :)
Venezuelan Black
my attempt at truffles (cacao OD)
Booked some private skiing lessons for Phoebe and I, also booked a weekend away with my kids, my friend and her kids to a holiday camp style place.
Started running again this week - managed to get to 2.4 miles without my lungs or heart bursting out of my chest like that part in Alien.
Painted the chimney breast to cover up little Miss Sticky Fingers marks. Did more DIY like de-scaling the shower head, blah blah blah.
Oh did some shopping - can't find any nice boots anywhere but did find a nice dress and jumper.
And finally Emily has started doing the hoovering (hurrah - now if I can get away from paying her pocket money for the next 10 years?
Can be hired out for hourly rate of £5.
Oh and cut my hair short! eeks!!!
Love ya all X
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Bumper crop again!
Oh my god how many babies are due this year? LOADS
I'm so chuffed so many friends are expecting (some for the first time and 3rd for others!)
Just when I thought it was safe to put away the sewing machine - Wendy finds out she's expecting her first :), then Lucie tells me she's expecting her third and just after that Lisa tells me about her pregnancy (Girls where do you get the energy from) when finally an old friend from Aberdeen tells me she is just about due to have her 3rd too! Not also forgetting that Karen from Aberdeen has just had a little girl and so has Karen from my office! Thats an amazing 6 !! 6 babies :)
Anyone else want to tell me anything? :)
I'm so chuffed so many friends are expecting (some for the first time and 3rd for others!)
Just when I thought it was safe to put away the sewing machine - Wendy finds out she's expecting her first :), then Lucie tells me she's expecting her third and just after that Lisa tells me about her pregnancy (Girls where do you get the energy from) when finally an old friend from Aberdeen tells me she is just about due to have her 3rd too! Not also forgetting that Karen from Aberdeen has just had a little girl and so has Karen from my office! Thats an amazing 6 !! 6 babies :)
Anyone else want to tell me anything? :)
Monday, January 05, 2009
Virtually weird
Welcome to the world of the Wii'rd! This is a game called Animal Crossing that Phoebe recently bought for her Wii. This is her friend Hayley playing with Phoebe in their "virtual world" - I find it a bit weird personally.
And this is the snowman that was made in this virtual world (it even talks to her!)
This production today was brought to you by Phoebe and her friend, and also thanks to LisaD who gave Phoebe the voucher that helped to buy the game!
And this is the snowman that was made in this virtual world (it even talks to her!)
This production today was brought to you by Phoebe and her friend, and also thanks to LisaD who gave Phoebe the voucher that helped to buy the game!Saturday, January 03, 2009
2009
Happy 2009 everyone!
Well I'm still full of snot, coughing and look absolutely awful today. I went back to work yesterday as I needed to get some work done on my first TMA for my current Open University unit M257 - putting Java to work. I called my HR department to ask if I needed a sick note from the doctors and after being off for 9 days they said I had to. So I made an appointment that day to see a Doctor, drove back home, sat in a waiting room for 20 mins before I saw her and after discussing what had happened, you know high fever, aching like I've been hit by a bus, being sick, sinuses inflamed so badly that I thought my head would split, snot like you've never seen before and and a cough! She said no, she would not give me a note retrospectively! WHAT? I took it in good heart though as normally I would have kicked ass about it. I've not had problems before getting a sick note retrospectively! Sigh some people are a bit petty, I could go back and see another doctor I'm sure I would not have a problem. Lets hope my pay is not docked!
Well I'm still full of snot, coughing and look absolutely awful today. I went back to work yesterday as I needed to get some work done on my first TMA for my current Open University unit M257 - putting Java to work. I called my HR department to ask if I needed a sick note from the doctors and after being off for 9 days they said I had to. So I made an appointment that day to see a Doctor, drove back home, sat in a waiting room for 20 mins before I saw her and after discussing what had happened, you know high fever, aching like I've been hit by a bus, being sick, sinuses inflamed so badly that I thought my head would split, snot like you've never seen before and and a cough! She said no, she would not give me a note retrospectively! WHAT? I took it in good heart though as normally I would have kicked ass about it. I've not had problems before getting a sick note retrospectively! Sigh some people are a bit petty, I could go back and see another doctor I'm sure I would not have a problem. Lets hope my pay is not docked!
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