Day: September 25, 2020

Viewing Habits

I think I’m going to have to stop watching what was my favourite news programme.

I started watching the show tonight, as normal, and the main stories are virus-related. The focus tonight was on universities – in the UK they are just about to start up again, several of them are able to implement their own testing (they have their own labs, after all), and several of them have already detected virus outbreaks. Some universities are implementing a “no going out” policy, else they will kick you out. I’m not sure how that would work because universities have no jurisdiction over day-to-day life.

Anyway, a UK tradition is Freshers’ Week. Basically, a week of socialising for new students. Every university has one. When I was at mine, I was not sober for a week.

This year, of course, this is all curtailed.

And they interview a new student. “It’s not fair”, she complains, “we don’t get a Freshers’ Week like they did in other years”.

And I’m sitting here, just thinking: “Fair? For fuck’s sake, it’s not fair that people out there are dying because of this, let alone you being unable to have a piss-up”.

So, my BP goes up a notch.

A few minutes later, they talk to some other students, about this out-of-bounds rule. The two students are studying for Master’s degrees, rather than standard degrees. So, they’re not sure whether the rule applies to them.

Another FFS moment, I’m afraid. They clearly have no idea that these rules are put in place to discourage people from meeting other people. Of course you’re fucking included!

I don’t need to be watching these idiots. What’s on the other side?

Fandango’s One Word Challenge (25 September 2020)

Today’s word was “elucidate”,
It’s not a word I can relate,
I find the word “clarity”
Suits my partiality,
And that’s not even up for debate.

for Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC), elucidate.

Ties (Fandango’s Friday Flashback)

Yay, it is Friday again, and Fandango has just published his Friday Flashback post. The idea is that he picks a post from this day in a previous year, to give newer readers a better insight into what does and doesn’t make him tick.

I have always liked that idea, so shall also post my own reminiscence. As much as anything, it reminds me of where I was, where I am now, and how far I have come. Hopefully, you will find it entertaining along the way.

Oh, and thank you to Jennifer at Paperkutzs for allowing me to use her image.

I went back to 2018 today. After the stroke in 2016, I’d got myself back on my feet and decided to reskill myself again at the start of 2018. In my career, I’d been an IT system designer, but I’d done an awful lot of development to get there. By September of that year I was obviously happy enough that I had just started putting myself forward for jobs again, and posted about my initial exploits.

The things I mention in the post were all disappointing. The job, they were looking for someone with a lot less experience, and I’d have probably been a fly in their ointment. That job fair was also a total waste of time. Every stand was some social care provider. It does, however, show which direction the UK is headed.

Two years later… I develop from home and have released two apps since then, but in terms of paid work, I am still looking. I’ve come to appreciate just how little IT work there is around here. I never used to mind commuting but the stroke has made me quite travel-phobic to this day. I’m sure there must be a word for that.

Add: Hodophobia. So, stick that in your pipe and use it in next week’s prompt, Melanie!

Ties

On the subject of getting myself back into work, last week I managed to pick up a suit in the sales. And today, I got a pack of white shirts – I’d already got a couple of silk, clip-on ties, and have just checked myself in the mirror and… I look like I can go … Continue reading “Ties”