random update

[llywela]

I've decided that I hate Virgin Media. The last few weeks my internet connection has had a tendency to crap out intermittently for no good reason whatsoever. I never had this kind of trouble with ntl.

I think I must be something like 2/3 or 3/4 of the way through my IT course now. So far, I've had distinctions for every module. I'd say I must be doing something right, except that it's hardly rocket science. What it is doing, however, is reinforcing and enhancing the IT skills I already possessed, and ultimately it will give me a paper qualification to go with those largely self-taught skills. Today I was meant to be starting on a keyboard speed development module, except that when I took the preliminary test to see which stage I should start on, it turned out my typing speed is already faster than the course aims to achieve. *G* So the supervisor, rather flumoxed, just gave me the validation test right away so I could have the paperwork to prove my brilliant typing skills. ROFL

There was one hell of a racket outside earlier. A baby seagull, just learning to fly, had come down in the back garden next door and couldn't manage to get itself back off the ground again. So it was crying and crying, all frightened and distressed. And the parents - and just about every other seagull in the neighbourhood - were circling around overhead, calling to it and keeping watch over it. Much needed support, since there are plenty of predatory cats in the neighbourhood. I kept mine indoors, but had to keep going out to check on the baby seagull because I couldn't stand how distressed it sounded. Eventually, after several hours of noise, I threw it some bread, and that revived it enough that it finally managed to get into the air again. It didn't get far - just onto a shed roof in the next garden along - but at least it is off the ground, safe, and no longer making all that noise!

Yahoo email is still being a pain in the backside. It can't seem to tell the difference between 'next' and 'previous', and no amount of fiddling with the settings seems to help. It is supposed to scroll through the emails in descending order, oldest first, so I can click through them in order. But after reading an email, I never know whether to press 'next' or 'previous' to get to the next one, because stupid yahell randomly switches which way it is going to work! Madness!

Comments

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Seagulls get a bad rep. And they do tend to be on the aggressive side. But they are fiercely protective of their young, and I can't help liking them for that. The really crazy thing is that baby seagulls grow enormously, so that this one was the size of an adult. But still with the baby colouring, and still baby enough that it wasn't confident it could fly without a jump start off the roof! It got there in the end, thank goodness.

[littlealex.livejournal.com]

What I want is a part-time IT/Web Dev course for people who are smarter than the average dumbass and will give me the basics. I don't want a piece of paper, I just want to make myself actually learn this crap! And for some reason, a little bit of pressure (but not too much, of course) motivates me to do things.

Also, that is a harrowing seagull story. :/

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

The biggest problem I've had with the course is that so many of the modules are fixed, so alongside stuff I'd never touched before, I've had to start with the basics on programmes I already know extremely well. That is frustrating. I have managed to learn something from just about all the modules, though, if only at times a few short cuts or features I'd never explored before. And it does look good on my CV to say that I've been doing this since being made redundant - potential employers like self-improvement, and whatever. Plus, it's not like I'm paying for it! The government are picking up the tab. *G*

It would be nice if it was possible to do more advanced work, though, rather than re-grounding me in the basics. I liked the sound of the 'with web design' aspect of this course, but don't think it is going to teach me anything about web design I didn't already know! Which is a shame.

[littlealex.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about the technical side of the internet, but I have been using it since as long as it was available in my place of residence at the time (ie, 1996 which is a little slow but I was living in Adelaide, so there is some slack to be cut), and I can tell in the blink of an eye what's going to work and what isn't. I can't put it into words but I know it when I see it. And it's a curse that I can't get that explained, neither in words nor by example, because often I just want to shake people by the shoulders and say "THIS ISN'T WORKING WHY DON'T YOU GET IT" but I can't very well do that when I can't verbalize the problems myself, can I?

Working around web dev just makes me want to go back and take classes to teach myself these things. I want to be a CSS whiz, damnit, is that so much to ask?

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yep, I know what you mean! I am indebted to rosely, who built my website for me (as well as hosting it). Because although my html skills are not too shabby, I just don't know enough about php and css to construct a truly stylish-looking site. Nor am I a polished enough fanartist. But I would like to be, if only the training was available at the level I need!

Nothing in life is ever perfect, is it?

[kilynn16.livejournal.com]

It's no fun that you have to take a course and be "certified" for something you already know how to do! Seems so...unnecessary.

Aww what a cute story about the seagull! I love seagulls, my dad used to take us kids to the beach when I was growing up, and we'd stand out on the balcony of our hotel with little pieces of bread and crackers held up and the gulls would come snatch them right out of our hands. We thought it was just about the coolest thing ever!!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Well, I could have found a different course for my funding. I was just lazy and settled on this one as easy and good enough. And some of the modules I did very much want to do, as I was very aware of the holes in my knowledge. Just a shame the overall course isn't more flexible.

At least now I know what my typing speed actually is! Before if I was asked in interview, all I could say was 'fast'. *G*

This city has a massive population of seagulls, and they are mostly seen as a big nuisance. They can be very aggressive, especially during breeding season, when they have young to protect. But I can't help but love them that they are so fiercely protective of their young. I remember once I saw a seagull that had (stupidly) nested on the ground, tucked away in a corner, on my route to work. She had two eggs, and only one hatched, so she devoted herself to her one chick. But alas it died, and I will never forget the sight of that mother bird keening in anguish over the corpse of that baby. :(

So I'm glad this one survived to fly another day!

[bagpuss1966.livejournal.com]

I was 'awwing' at a really pretty gull (I think it was some sort of gull - it had a brown mottled pattern over white) last week in Bath - Peter thought I was mad but it was pretty!

What IT course are you doing? I want to do ECDL (must get me to an open day). I'm in the same boat, as I'm largely self-taught but can do most things - I just need a paper qualification to prove it!

How're things with you? We must sort out a meet up - perhaps a Saturday in Cardiff, if you're still up for it? I'd like to go back to that gallery we popped to, to use the toilets - if you think it's worth a visit, and I'd quite like to 'do' the castle, although that's probably something you've done before. Or, I'm open to suggestions, but I'd like to do something rather than just shopping.

[/bossy]

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely up for a meet - I would really love to see you again. It would be good if we could get Gaynor up, as well, but she's in China now. Maybe we should exchange possible dates in PM on nf.com? Hee, and I'm sure I can find plenty of places to show you that aren't just shopping this time...

That brown mottled pattern over white sounds like a baby seagull to me - they grow to adult size within a matter of weeks, but keep that baby colouring (and piping little voice) for a good year or two before finally getting their adult colouring. So this baby one that was in the garden yesterday was adult sized, but had the colouring you describe, and was only just learning to fly.

Heh. I am something of an expert at the seagull life cycle - in my old job, they used to nest on the roof opposite, and I'd sit at my desk watching the babies hatch and grow!

The course I am doing is a Business IT Diploma with Web Design, through the Pitman Training Centre. It is mostly pretty good - reinforcing what I've taught myself to do, and grounding me in a few new features and programmes. Frustrating at times when I am ahead of what they are teaching, and there is no option of a more advanced module, though. And employers do like proof of what you can do.

[bagpuss1966.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. :) Of course, we'll have to do lunch again too! :D

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm. Fooood. Any excuse for eating out. *G* Hopefully we'll find a date sooner rather than later!

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I hate Virgin too, I lost connection for about 18 hours today.

I hated NTL just as much.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

18 hours! Yikes! And I thought my in-and-out blips were bad.

I know a lot of people had issues with ntl, but I never had any trouble with them. Since Virgin took over, there seems to be nothing but problems.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I've had weeks without internet before. Yesterday wasn't too bad - at least most of that time I was asleep or working.

I think I have about the same amount of trouble with Virgin as I do NTL, but at least NTL didn't patronise with with leaflets telling me how wonderful they are.

[shaw012145.livejournal.com]

Seagulls = cricket. They are often at our grounds ... fielding in the outer. So glad the baby got airborn.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Heh. In these parts, it tends to be pigeons at the cricket. Seagulls everywhere else!

[shaw012145.livejournal.com]

Maybe we get the seagulls as the ovals are close to water or the smell of chips ... seagulls love chips. At least if one gets hit they will get it looked at.

[sunray45.livejournal.com]

I think this Course will give you more confidence in your abilities and Employers always want to see that 'bit of paper'. Any chance of you doing a more advanced course when this is finished?

Poor little seagull. I'm so glad you thought of something to do for it. I just have a Magpie family at my place, Mum, Dad and three babies, who are always asking for food. :) They are lovely though and not a bit afraid of my cat, who just sits and watches them.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

That's the theory - reinforce and enhance my existing skills, and get the qualification on my CV. I doubt I'll get the chance to do anything more advanced, though - I'm only doing this because I had funding from the ReAct scheme, which provides training for people who are made redundant.

[vltavska.livejournal.com]

Gmail, baby, gmail *grin*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

The thought of changing all my contacts everywhere is even more exhausting than dealing with yahell!