Archive for the 'work (or lack of)' Category

A Fresh Beginning…

Fyse November 7th, 2007

This new start manifests itself in several ways…

  1. New city
  2. New job (sort of)
  3. New look website!
  4. Renewed enthusiasm for blogging (hopefully)

So, to the first of these. I have relocated to the exotic climes of Bristol. My initial month-long investigations reveal that my new home varies in two primary ways from my old stomping ground. First it is considerably bigger, and second it is STEEP. Bristol appears to consist of one giant hill that somehow you are always climbing without ever reaching the top. Cycling is hard work, especially mounted on an antique bone-shaker more suited to the pancake-flat fenlands of Cambridgeshire.

I’ve moved to Bristol in order to start a PhD, which is very exciting and almost makes it seem as though I have long-term plans and career prospects (providing I still want to continue in research after four years of this). I don’t suppose there’s much risk of getting dooced while still a student, but even though I’m (reasonably) anonymous I probably wont blog about work very often. At least, not in a specific or wildly derogatory way. Not that I have anything bad to say, of course. I’m going to stop digging now.

D’you like the new look Floating Face? It’s a customised version of the FallSeason theme, and my modifcations basically consist of making it look less awesome and more rubbish. I’ll sort things out properly one of these fine months, but in the meantime posting photos is neater (which I plan to do much more of) and I’ve removed the sidebar (which was just a waste of space for me). There is also now an RSS feed, which will hopefully prove useful for some of you.

As for the increased enthusiasm for blogging, I really hope to get back into updating this site regularly. I’m not ready to give it up, despite being a bit of a lazy sod of late. Well, for quite a while actually. Perhaps the key to this might be in expanding my readership, so I’m toying with the idea of advertising it widely to all my real-life friends, rather than just the very few who currently visit. First I need to get some new content for these supposed new readers to peruse. I’m taking a LOT of photos these days, so at the very least you can expect to see more of those, and hopefully some contributions from the Floating Face himself.

The take-home message from this post is that I am still here, and to watch this space.

Day after tomorrow…

Fyse March 19th, 2007

OK, this weather is officially mental. Half an hour ago it was snowing. Five minutes ago the sky was a blinding blue, sufficient for myself and a colleague to pause by a window and remark upon its hue. Then within thirty seconds of our conversation the sky was again completely white with snow. Now? The sun is shining and the sky completely clear.

On my way home form work I will be on the look out for fist-sized hailstones, rogue wolves on ships and that pretty one who ended up with Gyllenhaal.

Sort of a Snow Day…

Fyse January 25th, 2007

I guess there are two necessary constituents of a bone fide Snow Day. One is obviously some snow, and we had a bit of that. Staring out of the window this morning it took me a while to twig that everything looked a whole lot whiter than normal. The other vital ingredient is a lack of work, and this was achieved by a day long power cut. I initially I assumed it was something to do with the snow (in England even half an inch grinds things to a halt), but it turns out workers on an adjacent construction site drilled through a major power cable. Correlation without causation, then, so probably doesn’t really qualify as a ‘Snow Day’.

My initial ‘wow, the whole buildings dark’ reaction soon turned into ‘dammit I have work to do and it’s all on my computer’. Oh, for the days when that would have been a good thing. I picked up a few papers to read at home, but there wasn’t really a lot I could usefully do. Thus an afternoon catching up on downloaded TV. Bit of ‘Numb3rs’, lot of ‘Desperate Housewives’. A half-arsed attempt to start writing a presentation I’m meant to be giving soon (tricky without any of the relevant data or graphs), followed by a touch of ‘Prison Break’. I defy anyone to say that wasn’t a constructive day…

Excuses, excuses…

The Floating Face August 27th, 2006

Fyse has just put on another jumper and is still cold. The air conditioning in the computer room is completely mental, and he wonders whether this is what the whole of the US is like. If all New York buildings are kept at this sort of temperature then no wonder they have power issues. Only here because his computer is in its death throws, he is rudely startled from his reverie when the CD drive pops open. Fyse removes the freshly burned copy of ‘ABBA Gold’, replacing it with a blank disc labelled ‘The Ultimate Michael Jackson Collection - Disc One’. Next on his list are ‘Queen’, ‘The Beach Boys’ and something ominously called ’80s Disco Megamix’. Fyse is seriously concerned about the long-term effects of such a concentrated dose of uber-cheese.

The music is to take with him to Cornwall, where he is company manager for a student show at the Minack Theatre. A good few CDs of upbeat sing-along music will prove invaluable when coercing people to wash-up dinner for 50 people. Fyse is also scouring shops for assorted items of frivolous nature, with which to fill the enigmatically named ‘Box of Joy’. Infantile items please students immensely, and he plans a raid tomorrow on the local ‘Early Learning Centre‘. There is much else still to do, but preparations for Cornwall are only one of the many things occupying Fyse’s mind at the moment.

His summer working at the British Antarctic Survey is coming to an end, and typically it is only in the last few days that the interesting results have become apparent. He has a presentation to give on Tuesday (his last day at the lab) as well as a report, neither of which have been written. On Wednesday he moves house, posing the tricky problem of transporting all his worldly possesions across Cambridge, single-handed and without a car. Then on Thursday morning he leaves early for the eleven hour drive to Cornwall, having collected various tools for the set builders, posters for the producer and props for the stage manager. Between now and then he must also sort out new web hosting, buy new contact lenses, wash all his clothes and meet with the relevant professor to finalise his job for October. He is then away until the 25th of September with minimal internet access.

Well, it’s hardly like you’ve heard much from him lately anyway…

Major rehearsal high…

Fyse January 20th, 2006

The exams I’ve just sat were for lecture courses followed last term, including ‘Geophysics’ and ‘Astrophysics and Cosmology’. With the latter course, the more I revised (and consequently understood) the more interesting I found it. With Geophysics however, I became progressively more sick of the whole subject. Thus it was that I left my last exam on Wednesday morning with that unique feeling of euphoria that comes with knowing you never have to analyse another seismogram.

Hours later I was in my first ‘Singing in the Rain’ rehearsal, and had a second earlier this evening. For the past ten days rehearsals have progressed without me, and every evening I’d receive group emails organising social outings to bowling or for a meal. The relief of finishing exams and the elation of finally joining the rest of the cast resulted in almost manic euphoria, to the extent that a college friend assumed I was drunk (which I wasn’t). I’m immensely excited about the show and it promises to be great, so anybody within striking distance should definitely come and see it! (From the people reading this blog, that would probably be about three.)

I’m sure there’s loads more to say, but I’m too shattered to write any more. I’m still suffering the sleep deprivation born of crazy last minute cramming, but now I’ve broken the ice again you can expect a return to regular blogging. I keep thinking of posts I ought to write, but can’t find the time. Bullfrog calls, guerilla recruiting, The Penguin Challenge. You’ve got so much to look forward to…

Vital precursors to actual work…

Fyse December 8th, 2005

I’ve spent the last couple of days engaged in preparation for revision. The capacious draw that was home to an entire term of physics notes has been emptied, and two large lever-arch files have been filled with sheaves of neatly punched paper. Five horrifically overdue library books have been returned, many of which had remained entirely unopened during their lengthy sojourn on my shelves. The lone book that inexplicably did not appear on the angry note from the librarian remained where it was. Nine new volumes were grabbed, whose titles suggested vague relevance, and a solemn vow was taken to make actual bone fide use of these books. I will also read my nicely ordered lecture notes at some point.

While my methodical filing was time consuming, I feel it will reap benefits in the long term, and I did stop short of completely blatant displacement activity. A medic friend of mine unpicked the staples of all his notes, placing each individual page in a separate plastic pocket, before organising them in colour coded files with matching dividers. A work of art it may have been, but fruitful use of time? I think not.

Tomorrow morning will be spent packing my stuff before my Dad collects me in the afternoon, then it’s off to visit grandparents for the weekend. It’s looking worryingly as though a new week will arrive before I start work properly. I have five and a half weeks till my exams, and a petrifying volume of work to cover. Long time readers may remember my letter after last year’s exams. Time for a re-read, and a reminder that it’s not too late IF I START NOW.

Pause in writing as fire alarm sounds and entire block convene for brief bitching session outside in rain and freezing cold.

I felt an irresistible compunction to write something before heading to bed tonight, and thus I’m still tapping away at nearly 2 am. The evening was spent happily diverted by a local pub quiz, in which we finished 2nd and won a large pitcher of beer. My friends discussed plans to meet tomorrow evening for home-made mince pies, gathered round an open fire in one of their living rooms. If only I were leaving on Friday instead…

Breaking the silence…

Fyse July 2nd, 2005

There as been an appalling interregnum. I have no excuses, except perhaps congenital laziness, but there now seems a quite overwhelming amount to catch up on. I wont bother trying to fill you in on everything, but I’ll endeavour to cover the salient points.

Much fun was had in Cambridge post exam results. It was when recounting my last week or so in college to my sister that I realised quite how much I had done, and consequently spent. A black-tie ball, a champagne and jazz garden party, punting on the river watching fireworks, more garden parties, a space themed fancy dress party (I was a planet by virtue of green face-paint and a frisbee on my head) and a BBQ or two. I’m sure there was more, but my recollection is overlaid with the haze of an almost perpetual alcoholic stupor.

I have now accepted the role in the Edinburgh production, and it is in fact one of the lead tenor roles. I don’t know all that much about the show as yet, and am rather concerned at the lack of communication from the production team. I keep hoping to receive an email detailing plans for the rehearsal period, but reliable information has been hard to come by. I’m getting worried (probably entirely irrationally) that the whole thing has fallen through due to financial or casting issues. I’ll keep you posted on that.

As for the production in Cornwall in September, I am looking forward to it massively but think that perhaps I ought not to do it all. There is extremely lucrative employment available to me at the beginning of September, and should I not work properly at all this summer I would be left in dire financial straights for the whole of next year. I’m sure dropping out would be the most sensible decision (I’m one of six tenors in the chorus, so that wouldn’t be at all disastrous for them) but as my sister said this morning, I’m only young once. Again, I shall let you know the conclusion to my pondering.

Exciting other news is that I may be living out of college next year, sharing a house with friends. I’m not a big fan of living on corridors, and far preferred my second year living in a flat. My ideal would have been to live in one of the college owned houses with some post-grad friends, but since I am still an undergraduate I wasn’t eligible for that accommodation. It may or may not be wise to live out, but it’s hardly as if dormitory style accommodation has proved conducive to hard work in the past. Perhaps a change of scene will be beneficial to my work ethic? My prospective house-mates have already offered to bully me into greater effort, and one of them is about the most studious and hardworking person you could ever meet. Maybe she will prove to be a good influence. However, all these plans rely on finding a suitable four bedroom house. Once more, I shall have to let you know how that one pans out.

I’m now back in St Albans and looking for a job, but with only a couple of weeks before I (hopefully) head back to Cambridge for rehearsals, employment is proving hard to come by. I’m definitely gonna have to try and find work in Edinburgh, otherwise starvation will be my fate. That or getting stranded in Scotland, unable to afford a ticket anywhere. (Speaking of which, if I do both productions this summer I’m going to have to travel direct from Edinburgh to Cornwall. That’s a pretty long way, by British standards. Fortunately there are other people in both casts, so I wont be making the journey alone.)

I’ll leave you with the good news that I’ve set up posting via email, so thanks to my trusty mobile phone you wont miss a scrap of news this summer. Just think of the fascinating posts from Edinburgh, with pithy insights into the largest arts festival in the world. You’re salivating, aren’t you? I know I am…

Open on October 1st, 2005

Fyse June 17th, 2005

Dear Fyse,

You’ve kept disturbing internal dialogues to a minimum of late, so we haven’t spoken in a while. I trust everything is well with you. Did you have a good summer? Hopefully all the theatrical exploits went to plan, and perhaps your earnings exceeded your expenditure. With any luck you’ve had an enjoyable and rejuvenating break, returning to Cambridge full of vim and vigour for a new year of study.

I wont ask how the summer reading went, and how much of your planned catch-up work was completed. I can guess the answer all to easily, and suspect I wouldn’t like it. I will say this however. Think back four months, and remember that exam term. Remember the stress, and the self-recrimination. Remember the fear and the sense of failure. Recall those coursework deadlines you scrambled to meet, and those exams for which you crammed desperately. Look back further to those wasted days, those weeks of idle lethargy. Remember most of all the realisation that you actually enjoy your subject when you finally put the effort in.

You got away with it last year. Again. Make this year different. A 2:2 may be enough to avoid awkward interviews with tutors, but now is your final chance to find out what you’re capable of. Do you want to look back on your university life and see underachievement? So do something about it. Cut out the idleness. Axe the sloth. Become one of those scarily dynamic people who spend every waking hour in fruitful activity. (What? It could happen!).

Yours in ever worshipful adoration,

Fyse

PS If this open letter now seems ill-advised, make a mental note not to repeat such a gross self-indulgence.

PPS If this open letter spurs you on to academic success and eventual worldwide fame, be not selfish. Share this fantastic idea with others, forcibly if necessary.

PPPS Buy stamps.

My Kingdom for a job…

Fyse July 23rd, 2004

I did a tour of job agencies today in the sweltering (by English standards) heat, only to get not a single positive or encouraging response. I’ve discovered that there are few things in life that irritate me more than an employment consultant thinly veiling their deeply felt hostility with a studiedly sympathetic look. Their expression conveys ‘Ah, how pathetic. I feel almost sorry for you. Do you really think we’d employ someone who’s only just got round to going to agencies? You must have been home for at least a month now, and you wait this long to find a job? What does that say about your work ethic and motivation levels, eh? You’re a slob. A lazy, good for nothing layabout. We wouldn’t employ you if you were the last empoverished student on earth. You are a blight on our beautiful, industrious society. Get out of my sight, before I release the hounds.’ It may seem a complicated message for a single glance, but trust me, it’s there. What’s more, they may have a point.

I’m not quite sure what avenues to explore next really. I would have had a great (for ‘great’ read ‘lucrative’) job lined up for September at a factory, but I’m busy that month. While I’m on the subject, I’m away doing a production at the Minack theatre in Cornwall. (Minack Theatre). It’s a G&S operetta called ‘Utopia (un)Limited’ and I’m playing the part of ‘Sir Bailey Barr QC’. We don’t start rehearsing till September, and I don’t know much about my character as yet, but I think I’m going to be an insufferable stereotype. Should be fun.

In pretty typical style, I’m being creative with my displacement activities, and am now starting to learn Java. The logic goes that it’s constructive, and that it’s a useful skill that may help me toward gainful employment at a later date. Unlikely, admittedly, but at least it’s keeping my brain reasonably active during the holidays. Now, if only I could get the software working I could actually start learning something…