hintofsarcasm
am i still ill?
Archive for Personal
March 11, 2010 at 14:14 · Filed under Personal
When I first found out that Misia and I were going to have a baby I was apprehensive. In a 24-hour period I went through every single emotion there is.
First I was scared and after that I became slightly angry, some items may have been thrown around the living-room. Then I was doubtful, could I do a good job? Sleepiness came next and then finally I was excited, though the last one took about 72-hours to come about, if I’m totally honest.
We announced it this morning to the world after taking a few days to let family and close friends know. They have all been very supportive and have bestowed wisdom upon me that only family and people who are already parents can. It’s going to be a roller-coaster few months, and years, this is for sure, but I’m sure it will make me into a better, stronger and more mature person.
We only have 6 months left to plan because Misia is 3 months along already. Everything and everyone is healthy thus far and I’ll be posting scan pictures and the like in due course.
For everyone who has been around since I started blogging back in 2000, and I know there are a few of you, I thank you for being here, you really are seeing my life pan out in real-time, aren’t you? I first posted as a spotty 15-year old in high-school (these posts were lost in the great database crash of 2003, unfortunately), almost completely unaware of what he wanted to do and now we’re 10 years on…
I will do an anniversary post in June, 10 years to the month that I started blogging. Oh, and I promise to be here more, and this is one promise I will keep this time. I have to stop being a flake.
Popularity: unranked [?]
March 18, 2009 at 21:50 · Filed under Personal
I quit my job today.
No, it’s not quite as bad as it sounds. I have given 6 weeks notice, intend to part on good terms and I have a long term plan. I just thought that I would start out this post with a rather sensationalist line. A hook, if you will.
I’ve worked at Lloyds TSB Asset Finance in Cardiff for 5 years. I’m only 24 years old. I always known that I wanted to work in IT. I joined LTSB for that reason, and I accomplished it. In that time I’ve managed to do some exciting things. Some boring things. But above all get real experience in the field. I had previously worked for NTL, providing technical support for their internet customers, this is where I first dipped my toes, professionally. Of course, I have been designing websites since 1997 and I started to learn my first programming language at the tender age of 6 (BASIC on the Commodore 64).
I leave my position on the 1st of May with no job to go to. Not at another company, at least.
In the past 9 months I have been dabbling with freelance work. After doing some unpaid work to bulk up my portfolio and some favours for friends of friends and with other contracts now in the pipeline and ready to go, I decided that I want this to be my new career goal. To become a self-employed, or freelance, web application programmer.
In the next 6 weeks I will be launching at least two separate ventures.
The first, which will be my primary business, is web design and programming under the moniker ‘Pixelfreedom‘.
I created Pixelfreedom almost 8 years ago as a base for my photography portfolio. I still think this is a good name for a creative organisation.
Under this banner I will provide services to clients to provide a solution to the technicalities of their desired websites.
In layman’s terms, this means the clever stuff that goes on the in the background. Making a website ‘interactive’, being able to sign up, log in, upload your photo, add products to your basket, checkout and pay. All of the kind of stuff that you probably take for granted when using social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. This kind of thing takes many man hours and a lot of code in the background to achieve.
Along with this, as you would probably expect, is the part where the site is made pretty and functional at the front-end, for the user. This will also be something that I will be offering as a product of my labour.
The second venture will be provided under my own name, Nathan Collins, which will run from one of my other websites, ‘nate.me.uk‘. For this I will use my considerable knowledge, expertise and experience in the field of online marketing, advertising and social networking to consult companies on their brands use of these tools.
This means advising clients on the best use of Google Adwords, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other means of conducting ‘viral’ advertising, and running the campaigns, which can be so very effective if used in the correct way.
The next few months will be a roller-coaster ride for me. I have been in full-time employment continuously since leaving college aged 18. I have learned many skills along the way and continue to learn new things every single day of my life, which is something that I relish continuing to do, as no doubt I will, especially considering the line of work that I am in where knowledge is most definitely infinite.
Now that the biggest step has been taken I will be carrying on at this momentum. Next week I am having my business cards printed up and will be filing forms to register myself as self-employed.
I hope you all wish me luck, continue to read hintofsarcasm while I go through this big transitional period and of course recommend my services to anyone that you come across that may require them :)
Popularity: 28% [?]
October 26, 2008 at 17:47 · Filed under Personal
With everything about the economy being as dire as it is now it is infrequent that good news comes out where money is involved, so when it does I feel compelled to document it.
The pound is currently very weak against the dollar. This must be bad, you would think from the phrasing. Weak is generally perceived to mean not good, but it can be beneficial. If you are selling goods or services in USD then you will receive more GBP for your dollar.
In June of this year you would get £1 for every $2. Today you will get £1 for every $1.50. So, if I was to receive $200 from a client and convert it to pounds, in June I would have received £100 but now I will get £133.
This is particularly important for me as I do freelance programming and a lot of my work comes from across the pond in the United States. Paypal does the converting from dollars to pounds and with it being as it is right now, I am earning approximately 1/3 more than I was 6 months ago.
Of course, it’s the total reverse if you’re converting your money from pounds to dollars. You will be spending 1/3 more than you would have 6 months ago. $200 spending money for a trip to the USA will now cost you £133 whereas 6 months ago it would have only been £100 and of course buying goods in dollars will also be more costly, this will affect businesses who buy stock from the United States.
Popularity: 14% [?]
February 1, 2008 at 11:21 · Filed under Personal
A few of you have messaged me asking where the shots of the Northern Lights are, after-all, this was the entire purpose of my trek to Iceland.
Unfortunately, during my visit the country was experiencing its worst snow in eight years* which created sufficient cloud cover for the trip to be called off.
So, I arrive back wonderless. Am I disappointed? Mildly. But, it was made up for by a great night out in Reykjavik on Saturday night, where I found out first hand that it really is as trendy as I heard it was, think Greenwich Village but smaller and of course colder.
This of course gives steam to my plan to visit Canada, where aurora borealis is of course widely visible in the Northern territories like Yukon and Manitoba.
*According to a local taxi driver, the capital Reykjavik usually has some snow but it rarely sticks, not often do they have this much.
Popularity: 32% [?]
January 28, 2008 at 13:40 · Filed under Personal
Stuck in Limbo for 24 hours, I’m finally on the last leg of my journey home.
Airports are devilish places, being in a world where the proprietors of business are deluded to the point that a cheese sandwich is worth £5, but worse still, normally sensible people, myself included, become convinced that this is fair and reach for the cash. The surroundings, by design, break you down to the point that you’re completely at their mercy.
After a two hour delay at Reykjavik, due to adverse weather conditions (it was blowing a 100mph gale, literally), subsequently missing my connecting train to Cardiff, I found myself at the Paddington Hilton, trying to catch some ZzZ’s, but finding the bed rather too large to get comfortable in. Eventually though, gladly, it happened.
Iceland is a beautiful country, when covered in snow. Draped in rain clouds however, as it was on the morning of departure, it became all too familiarly drab. But perhaps I’m being too pessimistic? After all, is anywhere picturesque when lit through grey storm clouds? Not my favourite backdrop, I will admit.
A most perfect Saturday morning was achieved at the Blue Lagoon spa, undoubtedly the most relaxing experience that I believe I have ever had, and this is a high honour coming from someone who has been to some of the most peaceful and beautiful corners of the world.
The water being geothermal, seawater heated naturally underground to 39c and being high in mineral content, the experience was delectable. The salt content also being so high that it was almost possible to float completely unaided only adds to the sense of pure relaxation. I could be forgiven for assuming that it in some way contributes to the fact that Iceland has extraordinarily low crime rates. If only this kind of therapy could be attained here in the UK, road rage and street violence would be unheard of.
My favourite SLR-bridge camera stopped working just a week before the trip, I was rewarded for investing in a new one, however. Some of the shots that I managed to get are spectacular. They are currently up on Facebook, and after being cropped, re-touched and made into ‘final’ shots they will appear on my FlickR photostream. Oh, and there’s a mildly amusing video too which will be YouTube’d as soon as I get home.
Ps.
Commiserations to all those supposed to be enjoying Morrissey at the London Roundhouse on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, only to have him cancel and send on Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross and David Walliams to explain the situation. Being ill is fine by us Mozzer, but for heaven’s sake, don’t send out those cucumbers to settle a crowd of mostly 30-40 year old male’s!
Popularity: 34% [?]
January 25, 2008 at 04:25 · Filed under Personal
How many times have I wanted to ditch Wales in favour of a warmer climate, a new life, away from everything? A smidgen more than most, I would be willing to bet.
Today I took it one step further than a dream, packed my bags and headed off to the airport, destination; Reykjavik, Iceland.
The snow laden runway was the first sign that I had arrived somewhere new, somewhere away from the mundane surroundings that form the life that I lead.
I work, I eat, I sleep, I go out, I have the occasional manic episode, and the cycle starts again. But, I’m making it sound worse than it is, I do enjoy the times that I have, but perhaps it’s time to find something new. Let’s rephrase that, somewhere new. Or is that just running away?
The snow is really coming down now and it’s -4c, it really makes me revere being a smoker, seeing as they have a smoking ban here too, so I’m banished outside.
After a total of 14 hours of travelling, I’m winding down now with a beer, or three, in the hotel bar, at almost 430am. It’s pleasurable, if I block out the amazingly drunk Icelanders who are hanging around, undoubtedly because it’s one of the only bars around that is still open.
Somehow I managed to pack 25kg in my luggage, not including hand luggage. This includes pretty much all of my camera equipment, as tomorrow I shall be taking a trip to see Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. Tripod, new camera, lenses, all will help me to capture it in all of it’s glory for you, and who knows, I might have some kind of an epiphany?
Popularity: 26% [?]
January 24, 2008 at 18:30 · Filed under Personal
I write this from International departures, Terminal 1, Heathrow Airport, London. Late passengers are being called, but I’m just relaxing with a hot Latte from Starbucks, I have over two hours until my flight boards.
The train was delayed, which would have jeopardised my plans had I not given myself 6 hours between leaving Cardiff and take-off time.
Maneouvering my huge luggage case through Paddington station to the Heathrow Express platform was a trip in itself, weaving in and out of the London commuters, trying not to scoop any of them up in the process.
Security at “the world’s busiest airport” was surprising easily passed through, although I’m still not a fan of the ‘remove your shoes’ policy, at least I was allowed to take two bags through and into the cabin with me, and my laptop was allowed to stay in my bag, it’s such a palava taking it out and putting in those trays.
My destination? I’m keeping it a secret for now.
I’m using it as time to get away from life and shall be traveling alone. Perhaps I’ll let you know when I arrive there, later this evening.
Popularity: 23% [?]
October 15, 2007 at 09:12 · Filed under Personal
As can be seen, an update has been a long time coming.
A lot of things have been different for me in the past few months and hence I haven’t been able to put my thoughts into words as coherantly as I once could, so I have abstained.
Sterility has been playing on my mind since things started to change and I’m adamant that I don’t want to remain inproductive, at least not for any prolonged period of time.
This hiatus may be over in a shorter time than it has taken for me to announce it, but I do want to keep my options open for the time being, and also leaving this place dormant without so much as an explaination does play on my mind, I don’t want to forever lose a significant slice of the readership that I have established over such a long time.
Stick with me on this.
Popularity: 25% [?]
March 4, 2007 at 11:09 · Filed under Personal
March 1st is St Davids Day, the Princes Trust also use this day to raise money under the moniker “Go Red for Wales”.
The company that I work for put a lot of effort into this day and this year there was a lot going on throughout the building all day, from throwing wet sponges at managers to leg waxing.
For the Wii Sports tournament that I organised, Cardiff Blues & Welsh international players Rhys Williams & Robin Sowden-Taylor came along to help raise the profile of the tournament and raise even more cash for the Princes Trust.
The final total is yet to be released, as there are still auctions running, but the amount is currently at over £3,000.
Popularity: 39% [?]
February 20, 2007 at 22:41 · Filed under Personal
Just something for your perusal during this dry spell…enjoy!
Popularity: 39% [?]
Next entries »
