Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
Posts: 7,500
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Post by Hero on Jun 17, 2009 16:09:17 GMT
I could have some work or as a bonus media work coming up soon. I am just continuosly plugging away.
===KEN
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 17, 2009 16:52:41 GMT
Tarquin? The Liege Maximo? When I look at him, I see... Angus. Or possibly a Dwayne. Happy birthday, the Piglet. Martin |
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 17, 2009 17:50:13 GMT
He is Tarquin!
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 17, 2009 17:53:49 GMT
OK, OK! He's Tarquin.
Martin
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 17, 2009 18:46:50 GMT
Thank you for all the Piglet birthday wishes!
She had a fab day. Many happy scoobery-dooberies were had. We now no longer have a front room due to the amount of prezzies she received! Our own fault, the largest of the prezzies is an indoor material Wendy House! A pair of "Noclias" are her fave prezzie so far, she'd been after a pair for a while. We had prezzies in the morning before our usual toddler group where 'Happy Birthday' was sung by all her little friends. Lunch out, and then a trip to a local Farm Park where there was much feeding of animals, holding of smaller animals and running and general crazyment. So the Little Creature's had a great day, and I aint talking 'bout the rabbits! Mrs and I are knackered!
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Post by grahamthomson on Jun 17, 2009 20:54:15 GMT
Glad to hear Piglet had a nice day. When will she be old enough to be Pig?
Tickets booked for a Saturday evening showing of Revenge of the Fallen for myself and five friends at the IMAX in Manchester. Birmingham's IMAX is opening on Friday, but their screen is over half a double-decker bus* smaller than Manchester so happy to wait the extra day.
*Why do they always measure IMAX screens in terms of double-decker buses?
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Post by legios on Jun 17, 2009 21:00:24 GMT
*Why do they always measure IMAX screens in terms of double-decker buses? It appears to be a standard unit of area. A bit like the Standard Elephant, which has become a standard unit of weight for very heavy things. So I guess that makes Devastator many, many Elephants heavy...... Karl |
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Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
Posts: 7,500
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Post by Hero on Jun 18, 2009 10:07:03 GMT
Grrr. CUTA has truck again. £12.39 ransom charge.
I better pay up if I want to see my ROTF bounty. Off to the depot I go.
===KEN
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2009 16:30:41 GMT
I caught up with my gaffer today to ask him if I could have the Friday and Monday off either side of AA2009 and he said no. At last I managed to get an answer out of him (even though it wasn't the one I was looking for) and so I can finally sort out my travel arrangements to the convention in August.
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 18, 2009 18:57:44 GMT
It's been made clear to me there's no chance of being taken on for a permanent job (if one becomes available) unless I have a driving licence and vehicle. Cue several dark and terrible hours. I have no urge to drive and I would rather choose not to have a car for environmental and cost reasons but I need to bite the bullet and do it to increase my chances of not being tossed back on to the dole. Not at all happy (I could be spending several hundred pounds I desperately need for no end result), but I see no choice whatsoever, sadly.
Can anyone recommend any good places for learning to drive?
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 18, 2009 19:21:20 GMT
Gah, my commiserations.  Driving lessons (like cars) are a black hole as far as money's concerned. And a waste of money in my case. If I could transfer any driving skills I still possess (it's been about seven years since I sat behind a wheel now) and my licence to you, you could have them for nothing. If there's any way you can keep the number of lessons down to a minimum by getting in lots of practice with a friend or family member, that's definitely the way to go. But the whole thing stinks really. There's no good reason why you should need a licence and a vehicle unless the job actually involves getting yourself from one place to another while on the company's time. Or maybe that is the case for the jobs you're looking at, I dunno. Martin |
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 18, 2009 19:42:32 GMT
The job is fully doable on public transport, but hey ho. Need to drive. That's it.
Just very frustrating. Everytime I think I'm getting back on my feet another obstacle presents itself.
-Ralph
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2009 20:53:15 GMT
I've been turned down for a few jobs before in the past because I can't drive even though the job doesn't require any driving skills whatsoever. I don't know who came up with this idea but it does indeed stink. I came to the conclusion a while ago that it all boils down to company image. It makes the company look good if their workers drive to work instead of travel to work via bus or bicycle.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 18, 2009 21:04:42 GMT
Er... doesn't help the company's green credentials. And it surely doesn't happen in London.
I work for an organisation (not in London) all of whose employees have "Use of public transport whenever possible" in their performance objectives. This week was bike week, with talks every lunchtime promoting the advantages of cycling. And there are notices encouraging people to car share in the corridors.
That's the way all forward-looking companies should be going.
Martin
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2009 21:13:57 GMT
I agree. Unfortunately, some companies couldn't care less about the environment - all they're interested in is money - and lots of it.
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 18, 2009 21:47:51 GMT
Can't speak for the place I'm with, but through extensive job searches in the last 12 months I have found many places/jobs insist you drive. It's just one of those things.
Way I look at it, I chose to learn to drive or go back to the dole for who knows how long. It's not a hard choice to make. Any driving will be between work hours only though.
But family have offered some assistance, so that helps. And there's a silly robot film out tomorrow.
-Ralph
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kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
Posts: 5,527
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Post by kayevcee on Jun 19, 2009 0:10:12 GMT
My driving is coming along nicely. Another four or five lessons and I'll just have to hone what I've learned to be test-worthy. God willing I'll pass and be ready to go shopping for an old workhorse with 3 billion miles on the clock and a boot you could lose three goats in for transporting everything and everyone involved to AA. That's my deadline.
-Nick
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 19, 2009 6:31:18 GMT
The more I think about it, and the more you become resigned to it, Ralph, the more it inflames my indignation.  I think discriminating against someone for a lifestyle choice not to be part of road users' collective contribution to road deaths and global warming, when the job itself doesn't require it, is as bad as discriminating on grounds of religion or marital status. It may well be that you have no choice now but to get your licence if you want a job, but I bet we see a culture shift over the next decade or so (driven by both practicality and a continuation of current environmental trends) that eradicates those prejudices. It'll probably pass completely as one generation succeeds another. Back to the week's main news story, I was wavering last night about whether or not to wander into town to see the midnight showing at Cineworld, but very sensibly resisted as I will be much more awake to appreciate its merits and otherwise this morning. Less than three hours to go... One thing in its favour in my eyes is its run-time - 150 minutes apparently. Surely there must be room in that long a film for _some_ plot development? Martin |
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Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
Posts: 7,500
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Post by Hero on Jun 19, 2009 7:08:42 GMT
I agree that getting practice with a friend is better than spending a lot on driving lessons (they were £15 each last I remember). I recentley had the great experience of driving around an empty Peterborough East of England Showground in free-roaming fashion with the missus teaching me. My breaking needs a lot of work...
Practice is a good start and gives you good feel for the handling of the car. The real driving will be on the road with other drivers and that for me is scary. My patience and temper would be put to the test ultimatley since Bristol seems to have a festering problem with chavmobiles and boy racers who treat the roads like a game of Mario Kart.
I never thought the no-driving thing would be a problem in the workplace. Surely owning and using driving-licence does'nt determine how you do the job aside from the prospect of good time keeping.
I've held back learning and getting my license by lifestyle choice and its never really bothered me until recentley, since I'm probably going to be a family man around this time next year.
Off to see Fallen Dave today. A've a good un, as we say in the West Country.
===KEN
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Post by andrewbcalculating on Jun 19, 2009 14:09:01 GMT
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Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
Posts: 7,500
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Post by Hero on Jun 19, 2009 15:55:39 GMT
I did not get to see ROTF after all. I chose to put it off to help a student buddy out instead with moving out of his flat.
I probably won't go see ROTFD until Monday now.
===KEN
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2009 16:47:50 GMT
I went to see the second gig of a band that I went to see a few weeks ago. They did the same songs as last time but it was still a joy to listen to them. Their hard rock take on well known pop songs are excellent and it was a good night out.
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 20, 2009 21:56:44 GMT
Glad to hear Piglet had a nice day. When will she be old enough to be Pig? NEVER! She will always be my Piglet! My leaver-action Winchester shotgun proves it is so! PIIIIGLETTTTTTT!!!!!! It is a world of drivers, I fear, a world of roads and cars. It's the way it is. I'm not a lover of driving at all (driving 'on red' can be fun though!!), which is a bit strange as my job involves mucho driving, and I live 30 mins plus from where I work. I find driving very boring indeed, and I don't understand these people twho drive for pleasure. How I wish that I could walk to work. Driving and having a car is flexible though, and almost essential for family life alot of the time (as a family we make do with one car). Role on enviro friendly cars. Electric and the like. Piglet's birthday party tmw! 18 of her little friends, a Mr Strong cake (cleverly made by the wonderful Mrs Shockprowl), sugary food stuffs, a bouncy castle, first-aid equipment- it's gunna be FAB!!!!!! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2009 22:39:18 GMT
I bet you've brought the bouncy castle just for yourself.
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 21, 2009 9:49:52 GMT
I had one of those dreams last night where I thought I was awake and found a range of Transformers juice drinks hidden at the back of a bottom shelf in ASDA. The labels were most awesome.
Then I woke up and it was all a fiction. Booooo.
-Ralph
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2009 10:41:34 GMT
It might not have been all a dream. It might be a vision from the future! Maybe if you go down ASDA in a few days time you get a surprise when looking through all of the fruit drinks!
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 21, 2009 16:51:38 GMT
Been very tense and agitated all weekend. Not relaxed at all. Usual tactics of walks and reading to calm me have failed to work. I may have cocked up any future chances at work through a moment of madness the other day and it plays on my mind heavily. That and the prospect of having to drive. I hope for a better week coming up, before my shoulders completely seize up. -Ralph |
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 21, 2009 18:16:51 GMT
I bet you've brought the bouncy castle just for yourself. I couldn't get on the damn thing! Too many small children launching themselves about on it! Swines! Bouncy-Castle Hogs! Party went really well. Utter chaos, running around, screaming, over excitement, and just the ocassional collision- but darn good fun had by all, esp the birthday girl! Mrs Shockprowl did such a great job making it special with all the various bits and pieces of the Mr Men themed party. Glad it's over though now! Phew! |
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Post by legios on Jun 21, 2009 19:24:50 GMT
I've only got a drivers license because I was pushed into it by one of my employers. It was not something I particularly wanted but I was advised it would "help my future career prospects". So I have the ability, and the legal piece of paper, to allow me to drive a car but I do so about once every three months. (i.e when I cannot avoid it). It does confuse people when they ask me "Can you drive?, I say yes and then they ask "What sort of car do you have?". It seems folk can't parse the idea of someone who is able to drive not owning a car.
I do feel for you being forced by circumstances into driving lessons Ralph. It ain't nice having to do things under duress. But if family are prepared and able to help out then that will at least help in terms of the cost and time involved.
I've had a public transporty weeked myself - went down to my mothers ( by train) for the weekend. Spent Friday in the garden pruning a tree - very much a two man job as my kung-fu is not strong enough to run up trees and then back flip back down with a handful of branches - and at a new RSPB reserve watching Terns, an Egret and a Grey Heron.
Then Friday it was a bus journey to Richmond (in Yorkshire) to have a wander around the town, visit the regimental museum of the Green Howards (where I acquired new headgear for my collection - a museum cap in a camoflage scheme that isn't far from European 1. I must remember not to put Acid Storm in front of or on the cap - he will probably blend right in) and have a very nice pub lunch. I am very impressed with how joined up the Public Transport is down in the Northeast of England. I travelled on six buses, with the longest wait between them being four minutes, of two different bus companies, for the cost of a single eight pound ticket - which would have allowed me to go pretty much anywhere in that vicinity that day if I'd wanted to keep riding the buses. I wish the transport system up here was anywhere near as joined up.
Karl
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Post by blueshift on Jun 21, 2009 21:37:49 GMT
There are so many jobs that 'require' you to have a drivers license yet you will never need to drive, it is ridiculous.
It is a bridge I expect I will need o cross at some point.
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Driving lessons (like cars) are a black hole as far as money's concerned. And a waste of money in my case. If I could transfer any driving skills I still possess (it's been about seven years since I sat behind a wheel now) and my licence to you, you could have them for nothing.
I think discriminating against someone for a lifestyle choice not to be part of road users' collective contribution to road deaths and global warming, when the job itself doesn't require it, is as bad as discriminating on grounds of religion or marital status.
