Work / life balance

November 19th, 2011

My friends have been telling me recently that I need to get out more, but I don’t really understand why. Though maybe it’s because I’ve been spending so much time planning my future business moves.

It’s true that I spend quite a lot of time in my room at home, but I do come out now and again when they ask me if I fancy a meal or whatever.

To stop them going on – and while I’m continuing to make plans for my own business – I think I’m going to look for a part-time job in a shop, as that’ll give me a bit of experience for when I come to think about running my own. I can pay lots of attention to things like stock control and sales techniques and learn how to do them – and also think about ways to do them better.

It’ll only be a part-time job, though, as I do want to start off doing some computer programming work at home and I need to leave some time for it. And then my friends can’t tell me off for working during the evening and at weekends!

I should probably think more about getting my own place to live, too, but whether I rent or buy, I need to save up a deposit. Obviously rent needs a smaller deposit, but I can’t decide whether renting is worth it. I think at this stage in my life it’s probably better if I keep saving money up for a mortgage, while I live with my parents – as if I do go ahead with my own business, I’ll need money for that, too. Especially if I rent a shop.

And I have to admit, even though I spend a lot of time in my room, it’s nice to have the option of spending time with my family at meal times, or just whenever I fancy some company. I could get a flatmate if I moved out, but that’s always a risk! I’m used to my family so there aren’t any issues. I will think about it, though.

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Expanding my technology business… once I create it, that is

November 13th, 2011

Further to my wonderings about starting my own business, I’ve actually thought about running my own electronics shop.

If my business goes well while I’m living with my family, I could then get my own flat – a shop unit and housing above. I could hire someone to do the sales bit while I stay upstairs and get on with my programming. It would be quite good to have a ‘public face’ – even if the face in question isn’t mine!

There are quite a lot of shops to let around at the moment, actually. I might be able to get one for a good price, when I come to look. Nothing too tatty, though… I’ve seen those independent computer shops that all look as though they were created in the 1980s and have never quite managed to catch up. No, mine would be cool and represent what I do really well.

I could keep an eye out for all the latest products that I think are worth having, then recommend them to my customers. Or rather, teach my sales assistant about them and get him or her to do it. That’d be great – I’d only need to explain each product once, then just let them parrot it off to anyone who comes in.

I’ll have to make sure they’re charming though. A pretty girl would be ideal. Not too bimbo-ish (as she’d never grasp the products) or too stunning (as she’d intimidate the quiet geeky types), but someone nice and approachable with a bit of an interest in technology. Wouldn’t be too bad to meet someone like that anyway, to be honest, but that’s by-the-by.

I suppose now all I need to do is get on with all these grand plans…

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Career musings

November 9th, 2011

I’ve been wondering lately whether I should look for work. It’s been a while since I left my old job, and though I really enjoy all the free time I have to work on my own technology projects, it’d be even better if I could earn money for doing it. It’d also stop people nagging me and asking what my plans are all the time.

The question is whether to look for an employed computer programmer job or run my own thing. I don’t really like working for other people, as they don’t always want to do things the right way or in the style that I do, and also when you work for another company they never leave you in peace to just get on with things! I don’t like being interrupted when I’m working, or being given last-minute things to do just because someone else at the company is too lazy or incompetent to organise their workload properly.

If I ran my own programming business, on the other hand, I could do everything my way. I think I’d really like that. It’s handy, as well, because I’m still living with my family at the moment and so don’t have to worry about set-up costs. I already have all the hardware and software I need. Well, there are extra things I’d love to have, of course, but on a basic business level I’d be fine.

I suppose I’ve answered my own question, there! I just need to figure out a way to advertise my services. There seem to be lots of freelance technology skills websites about… I guess I’ll give those a try, initially. I might have to meet with people sometimes, which is a bit of a pain, but I reckon I can do most of it from home using email and phone. If they REALLY want to see my face, I’ll suggest web chats. Hmmm, I’m actually quite looking forward to getting started.

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Christmas is getting closer… which means so are the January sales!

November 3rd, 2011

I may be getting a little ahead of myself, as it’s only the start of November – but when all the lights start appearing I can’t help starting to get excited about Christmas. When I was younger it was all about presents… but these days, it’s the post-Christmas sales that really get me going, if I’m honest. I start planning my purchases well in advance, so I know what to look out for!

Not in a girly way, though. There is so much up for grabs in the sales when it comes to electronics – and technology in general. And I’m not one of those crazy people who trudges to the high street at 4am to camp outside shop doors, waiting for the moment to storm inside and elbow my way to the best deals. No thanks. I like to do it all online, tucked up with a nice cup of tea. I count down to the start of the sales, then get shopping.

I’ve got a few things in mind that I’ll be watching – and some of them I would probably be happy to buy full price too, assuming I save enough money on other items. I’m particularly keen to get myself a Plantronics wireless headset. They’re just so useful for people like me who want to tinker away with stuff while talking on the phone. And if anything by Apple is discounted, you can bet I’ll be straight in there before anyone else. I’m the fastest click in Derby.

I do enjoy Christmas for other reasons too, though. It’s a great reason to catch up with people… and by that I don’t mean wasting time getting battered in the pub. I mean good food with family and proper friends. A nice quiet time at home or at a nearby restaurant is always my top choice.

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Super shopping

October 22nd, 2011

After all I said about my visit into town last week and about there being loads of shops closing down and it being all boring and everything, something happened this morning that changed it all. I went into town again just strolling around looking for something to do and I saw this brand new shop with loads of red balloons outside – reminded me of that song, ninety nine red balloons. anyway, it was this massive shop called TK Max or something, I’m not sure why I hadn’t seen it being built or whatever. It’s like it just sprung up out of nowhere.

I went in to have a look around because a women in a TK Max outfit gave me a piece of paper saying 25% off. it was like a big department store like debenhams, it has everything like clothes, shoes, presents, scarves, hats, furniture and stuff for the home. I was most interested in the shoes – they had loads of really cool trainers in bright colours they had some proper swish Nike Airs. me and dave c love our Nike Airs – we sometimes go to the big nike shop and just look at all the cool colour ones. they’re really dear in there though, like 120 quid a pair. But in TK Max they’re only like sixty. It was well good because I thought, with my 25% off piece of paper that lady had given me, i’d get a right good deal. But then I couldn’t find my size they only had like really tiny ones or really massive ones. what’s the point in that?

I asked the shop person and he said everything they had was out. So they open a new shop and already they don’t have all the sizes, I don’t understand. So even though there’s great deals a TK Max, apparently only children and giants can shop there! Not cool!

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Shops to Rent

October 19th, 2011

This post might seem a bit early – it’s not halloween until the end of the month, but last week strolling through the town at dusk felt like fright night. the nights have started getting darker earlier so even though it must have only been about half seven it was like totally dark and because the weather was so cold there was smoke in the air. you know like when you can see your breath? it was like that. scary.

We were just strolling around town looking for something to do as usual – this towns so boring. and I just couldn’t believe the atmosphere both dave c and me said it – it was like something out of goosebumps. we heard this horrible screaming noise as well just as we passed mcdonalds, I thought a girl was getting attacked but then this fox ran infront of us making this horrible noise – why was a fox running around the street at seven in the evening? it’s because the whole town is turning into a dump! everything’s desserted, like a ghost town. there’s so many empty buildings with signs saying shops to rent. I wonder how long it will be until they just knock the whole town down and start again.

I think it’s a conspiracy, to do with the economy or something, but it reminds me of those films set in 1920s New York when they had a ‘great depression’ too. Maybe these things are linked – the weather and the economy. When the economy’s bad the weather gets cold and fog hangs in the air. And when it’s good it’s sunny, like in Brewster’s Millions. what a great film. Anyway I hope they start filling these shops up again soon, i dont like this time of depression – its scary and boring. dave c agrees.

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Another Felony

September 26th, 2011

this is a warning for people who didnt know (i didn’t) apparently there are a lot more illegal things than i ever realised. other than visiting peoples sheds, apparently ive been engaging in other illegal behavior. These laws really are a bit ridiculous. i do sometimes wonder about the legal system of this country. theres a law saying if you need the toilet on a long journey, you have to go out the left hand side of the vehicle, thats fine. But, you cant go into other peoples sheds unless theyre called roald dahl. Wheres the justice in that?

and another thing thats illegal is ‘abusing people on the internet’. What? everyone knows thats just funny. its not exactly the same as throwing a brick through someones window is it? or hitting a child in the face. some people call it ‘trolling’. luckily i saw on the news this time that it was illegal before I got caught. a boy got arrested for years because hed written something on a website that someone else had found offensive. i was pretty shocked as this seems like a ridiculous thing to be arrested for, but if that’s the law, thats the law, so i’l be a bit more careful about what i send people now. although im wondering how they caught this guy – he must have also left a message saying his name, address and contact details as well. which is just really stupid if you ask me. everything i write is always anonymous. Mostly.

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Shark ban

September 22nd, 2011

The government have passed the shark hunting ban. well apparently they passed it years ago. but now the police have ‘officially cautioned’ me because of it.

they really should be more specific about things you can or cant do. i knew theyd banned fox hunting, which seems fair as foxes are cute and shouldnt be killed by horses, but i didnt know theyd also said that you cant visit other peoples sheds. i visited roald dahls shed before, where he wrote his books, so i didn’t know you needed permission from the owner first. – I never got roald dahl’s permission.

what happened was i wanted to go shed hunting but dave c said it was stupid, hed only been once and said it wasnt a good idea because someone might see us. what an idiot – ofcourse someone might see us, were on the hunt for people living in sheds, obviously if we find them they’ll see us. so i went on my own this time instead. and yea someone did see me – dave c was right. just as i hopped over the fence into the garden of number 12 a light came on, ‘don’t worry, its only me looking for people in sheds’ I shouted…then i went over to the shed and opened it. but then the people of number 12 started shouting and screaming at me to get out. i figured maybe they were a bit mental so it was probably safer if i left – didn’t want them to turn all tanisha on me and start throwing chicken thighs or something.

So i just went home and thought nothing of it, but then a knock at the door came and the police were there – thats when they explained the law and gave me an ‘offical caution’ so now im banned from doing that which is quite annoying. I’ll have to think of another way to help people solve their debt problems

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Shark Hunt

September 21st, 2011

Mine and dave c’s shark hunts have been going really well. A few days ive had to go on my own cos dave’s been busy playing football in the park with some losers from his school but its still going well without him.

i worked out using pythagoras theory and a complicated mathematical algorithm that theres roughly ten sheds in the gardens of streets on our house. Then I looked out of the upstairs window and into the gardens of the ten houses I could see and counted ten sheds. then i looked on google earth and still there were ten, a lot of sheds for one street so i think if anyone was hiding in a shed, running from sharks, they’d probably be on our street. Handy really. weve got a theme tune ‘going on a shark hunt, going to catch a big one’. i know it’s not the sharks we’re after so doesn’t quite work, but i liked the tune so it stuck.

The house next door was the first one I tried, but weve been to about 5 in total. All you have to do is wait till the middle of the night and then put on clothes for shark hunting, goggles, hats, gloves, belt, socks – then climb over a fence and look in the shed. sounds easy but some fences are quite high so can take up to three run and jumps before me and dave c both get over. the 5 sheds ive seen so far (dave cs only seen one) have only had garden stuff in but im not giving up the hunt…

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Haunting debt

September 20th, 2011

I sometimes think the computer knows what im thinking. It scares me so much, like last week I was thinking about those adverts that are on all day on tv – about debt consolidation. Who are they aimed at I thought? If people are running away from loan sharks, surely they aren’t just sat in front of their tvs? The sharks would be able to find them so easily there, they are more likely to be hiding in a shed with no water somewhere. That’s what id do if id borrowed money off a loan shark and spent it all on gambling and computer games.

So anyway, I was on the computer looking at debt consolidation and then it started – hundred of adverts, every time I go online. They know im worried about debts. Google knows. I do worry for people who need debt loans. I guess getting a loan to pay of your debt is a good thing – it keeps the sharks away. That way these people will be able to leave their sheds, but how will they hear about them? I doubt they’ve got wifi in their sheds. The more the internet reminds me about the plight of these poor people, the more want to do something to help them.

Ive asked dave c to help me out, we’re going to go on the hunt for these people who are running away from sharks and tell them that there is a way they can pay off their debt and keep the sharks at bay.

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