Jeez, How lazy have I been lately? I have not written a post since the 15th of June.
This must either mean that I am a singularly boring person and I do not have a life (no comments from the peanut gallery thank you), or I have been so busy that I have not had time to post anything.
Well, the answer lies in between the two.
Port of Brisbane
Well, I finished at the Port of Brisbane in August. The project certainly challenged and streched my abilities, and I learnt a hell of a lot about ASP.NET 2.0, Visual Studio 2005, and managing a team of people who do not really know what they are doing. What should have been a 3 month task for 2 people, ended up being a 4.5 month task for 1.1 people. Having said that, it was a great experience, and I took away a lot of experience in managing the development process.
The Wall.
I also finished the retaining wall :). Some statistics:
- 6 cubic metres of soil shitfed by hand (a pick axe, shovel, a wheelbarrow, and 2 mini skips)
- 5 tonnes of bricks shifted and placed
- 30 square meters of paving laid
I am glad that it is now finished. It was a large effort, but it looks damn nice (photos will be posted shortly for those that are intereseted)
Perth
I have been in Perth Western Australia for about 4 weeks now. I originally came over here to helpp out on a project for the Department Of Justcie, where the company I work for is building a large integrated courts management system. This is another project that has certainly had some challenges, with a large staff turnover and some "interesting" management. Also, the attempt at using an agile methodology (where the team itself was not at all disciplined) has left the project floundering and in peril. Thankfully, I go home today, so am spared the task of helping to put this project back on track.
Perth is a veru interesting city. You never see a city at it's best when you stay in a hotel for an extended period. You tend to stay in the hotel a lot (I tend to eat far too much of I eat out), and vegetate. I know I should be studying, but I really could not be bothered. One saving grace has been that the hotel I stayed at has wireless broadband at an OK rate. I certainly wouldn't call it cheap, but it was not bad for what I got.
Having internet access saved my sanity. I had foolishly downloaded a trial of World of Warcraft a few weeks before, and had started playing it. That was probalby not a good idea, as I have been playing at every spare moment over in Perth. And I know I am going to get withdrawal symptoms when I go to the UK( but I am sure that will pass).
I did manage to get out on a wine cruise up the Swan River Valley. It is a very pretty river, very different to the Brisbane river. It is bluer for a start (Brisbane is a lovely shade of brown), and is a lot more picturesque. Then again, I have never been up the river, and am not even sure that you can. I must look into that when I get back. The one thing about the cruise I went on, they certainly encouraged you to drink. It was a bit hazy after 5 PM. I know I got back to the hotel and rang my partner, but I am blowed if I jnow what I said. Pretty embarissing really.
Another great thing about being in Perth, is that I have had time again to read books. I picked up Robin Hobb's new ones (Shaman's Crossing and Forest Mage) and after a bit of readjustment (I have not read a book for over a year now) I could not put it down. Damn fine read.
Holiday Planning
In amongst all of this, we (my partner and I) have been busilly planning our trip to the UK. I will have to admit that hearing about the terror plots in UK were a very sobering thought. It happend a week before my partner left to go to the UK, so there were some anxious moments for us.
For starters, we will spending a few days in London, We have booked a night trip on the London Eye (which should be spectacular), as well as a show at the Globe (Comedy of Errors). I am really looking foreward to that. Then we are off to Scotland for a few days. We will see the castles etc, then pick up a car to drive down slowly back to London. We are planning on seeing York, the Lake District, Blenheim, Warwick Castle, and Stratford. We have booked a show there (The Tempest with Patrick Stuart) which should be pretty awesome.
When we get to London, we are off to Paris for 5 days. We are going by train (Eurostar), and meeting some friends there. Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versailles - it should all be awesome, and maybe even a little bit romantic :)
Back to England, then we are off to Devon to visit some of my partners firends, and also to see some of Cornwall (Tintagel, the Eden Project, Goonhilly, Fowey to name a few). Alas, I think the time will be far far to short (and most likely filled with chips, as the English adore their chips - you get it with bloody everything over there).
Then we are off to Hong Kong for a day. We will do some sightseeing and shopping, before going off to Philippines to visit my partners family. If, by this time, I have not put on 5 KG, I think that I will here. I can jsut see her family saying "go on. Have another". And of course, you cannot be rude.
Then we come home, and the fasting will begin. I am sure that we will have put on a heap of weight and will need to get rid of it. Why is it, though, that it is so damn easy to put it on, but so damn hard to take off? Not fair really. :)
Anyhoo, I really should write some techincal posts soon