Greeny - From The Inside Looking Out

The Spoke V2

Greeny — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 03:21:00 GMT

wow, alot of effort has clearly gone into making this work. I wonder how many people in total worked on this.

I must say that I like it all, I just had to give a quick post to see how it all worked, nice so far.
Well, the real fun is over on www.DTGreenwood.com now. I've written my own blog system and tacked a couple of RSS things on. It also, and this is the bit i'm really chuffed with, supports mediacasting (also known podcasting, i think mediacasting is better suited, it can be audio or video) which is great. Well, I enjoy playing with it! Cheerio for now!
Technorati Profile

Work, Debt & Free Time

Greeny — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 02:06:00 GMT

Hello all, just thought that I'd drop a quick line to say hey to anyone who might be reading this.

Has been a busy week for me and next week is going to be more of the same. I have now finished work at The Three Hares and Perk-Up and have been at Dishes since monday. It's all going very well. I get envening off which is really nice although doesn't mean i get any more sleep than before though!

I have recently been working quite a bit on my website DTGreenwood.com. I've written a blog system for it which allows people to comment on articles posted and have included and RSS feed too (Here). I find RSS to be extreamly usefull and more people and sites should make use of it. It make checking your regularly visitied sites accessable from one easy place. Wicked! Next job is too create an admin panel so i can update it from anywhere. I may even adapt the whole thing and release it onto the net for download and use by other people as a whole website and blog system, which would be nice.

We (me and my housemates) are officially entitled to our house keys on the 13th August, so me and Sam might take a trip down and drop a couple of bits and peices off and have a look, i can't wait. The only thing is that the housing cheque comes out that day too, so i have alot of money to be earning, so off to bed it is for me, work in the morning. Next day off will hopefully be wednesday. w00t!

Bye!

Work, Jobs and Websites

Greeny — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 16:17:00 GMT

Today I've got a day off where I don't have anything to do or anyone to see until the early evening, so I took the opportunity to stay in bed till 12:00, bliss. So later tonight I am helping with a summer party at G-Force. G-Force is a childerens play group for children aged between 6 and 10, and is run by a group of ladies from the church over the road from me. My mum being one of them, I get roped into helping now and again, which isn't so bad.

So I Thought I'd take the time to write in my blog on The Spoke, seeing as it's always nice to look back on what you've done in the past. I know some of the people who read this use RSS aggregators, which rules, what programs do you use to read them with? Just curious really. Let me know.

So the last couple of weeks have been hectic to say the least, working two jobs has taken its toll on my and I'm now always tired. I kind of feel the need to push myself this hard sometimes, lets me know what I'm capable of sometimes. So, I've found another job in Ripon at a cafe called Dishes (no link), which is really nice. I've worked with the chef there before so we get on really well. He's got some nice lunch type food on the menu as well as stuff like sandwiches, jacket potatoes, takeaway salads and burgers. We've also got a few vegetarian dishes on and vegan dishes, which is going down really well so far. The hours are to suit at the moment, with no evening work until they open a bistro for the night. But for the moment I'm happy with 6 out of 7 days of just day work. The hours I'm guessing will average out at 8am-4pm, which is a nice 48 hours a week. The timing on this job couldn't be better as I have 2 possible website jobs to finalize, one for The Three Hares and one for the restaurant manager at the three hares, who is a chocolatier and wants to run a chocolate and confectionary training service. I am very eager to finish these both before the new uni semester starts and build my portfolio and my cash up.

I will miss everyone at The Three Hares, especially the head chef Nick who i have become very good friends with over the past 2 years i've know him. I have learnt alot from him and am gratefull for his patience in teaching me. I do think that working in a kitchen at the level I have has really taught me a valuable lesson about who i am and what i can do, i know it all sounds very philosophical but it's true. A kitchen is a very hard place to work and anyone who doesn't appreciate the effort that goes into a meal they eat when they dine in a restaurant cleary has no knowladge of what it takes. Chefs work long and unsocialable hours, a common week for a chef is 5/6 days out of 7, working 14 hours a day. I don't know about anyone else but I couldn't do that for the rest of my career!

So, on Monday it's mine and Claire's 4th year together. Anniversary sounds too official to say we've been going out for 4 years. My god, going out what a 12 year old thing to say. What's a better phrase? Seeing each other? I don't know! Anyway, I have a surprise for her and haven't given anything away, so that should be great. I'll let y'all know how it went. Anyway, must tidy my room and wash my white for work 2moro. Catch y'all later!

Peace and Carrots!

Work, Debt & Uni

Greeny — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:08:00 GMT

Right, i havn't updated for a while, am not even sure anyone cares anymore but blogs are more about the writer than the readers (certainly in this case anyway) more often than not.

So, i've been home for about 3 weeks now and have been working at The Three Hares. The Three Hares for those who don't know (and can't be bothered to look back) is a small country pub. We do some fantastic food and the whole place has a brilliantly relaxed atmosphere and a really nice 'terrace' or beer garden if you like. So while i've been working there over the last 3 weeks i havn't been getting the amount of hours that i'd hoped for and so have started working at Perk Up a small but very nice little coffee shop. I worked there for a month last summer as some of you might remember as it was my most active blog period (Having something to write about is great huh!). So Tues and Sat I work at Perk Up and the other days depending on the requirments of the Head Chef, I work at The Three Hares. This i'm finding is working out really well. When working at The Three Hares i concentrate on the desserts and prep side of things (some fantastic desserts on the menu at the moment) and when at Perk Up, The Chef and I are trying to move away from sandwiches and push out some nice hot food. We have some fantastic yet simple dishes such as poached eggs on grilled ciabatta, poached eggs and asparagus, breakfast ciabattas, and the most popular Steak on grilled ciabatta with caramelised onions and bernaise sauce. I can't express how fantastic the steak dish is.The thing about perk up is the trade and what people eat are really variable and depend on the weather.If it's cool, people will have the steak, soup of the day and other hot food. If it's hot people want more sandwiches.

I've just had a thought, i've actually blogged more about food than i have any other subject, which on having a blog on The Spoke should i suppose be technology and my involvement with computers. Is there a general rule that says i'm not allowed? I'm thinking as a practise for some more Php and MySQL that i might write my own blog for my website and i can then write about whatever i want (within reason ofcourse, we all know blogs can get you into trouble if you're not carefull ).

I got my results for my second year of my Computer Science with Business Information Engineering (I just like saying it really) course. Not what i'd hoped for but still i passed. I will admit that i've never been top of the class for anything academic, and struggle alot to remember information in exams but am pleased that this year my coursework skills have come on alot. I have been getting mostly A's this year with i'm really proud of. If i can really improve my revision and exam technique i could pick up a 2:1 in my third year, which would be, well, nice!

I watched Ladder 49 with Claire (My girlfriend of 4 years on 25th July, Yikes!) on sat night. I thought the film was fantastic and thought Joaquin Phoenix' performance (of Gladiator, Signs and The Village fame) was amazing. John Travolta although he didn't play a huge role was still very good indeed. Claire... fell asleep though, oh well. I can still recommend she watches it again though.

It was fathers day on sunday and me and brother James went to see our dad who lives in Harrogate. We took him his present which was a very nice set of silver chopsticks. He was very impressed indeed which is nice. So after that we went over to his local pub and took part in the Sunday night quiz. It's fair to say that apart from the odd question i am far too young to play. I only go to add comedy value by giving stupid answers i'm sure. But a good night was had by all.

Right i'm out of things to write about I Think, so i'm going to get something to eat and get ready to go to The Three Hares for an emergancy shift. Ho hum, more money i suppose :D

Catch y'all later, I hope eveyone enjoying the lovely weather while i sweat in a hot kitchen.

Wow, Website and Revision

Greeny — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 22:20:00 GMT

Hello my faithful (????) readers.

Back again with another update. Kind of feel the need to, am getting a bit stressed. As you may know from some of my University colleagues blogs it is exam time again. This time I’m quite nervous as we have a lot of material to cover and revise for tomorrows exam. It's on the dreaded (and often mention by The Programming P.I.M.P) Systems Analysis, Design and Process exam. Now this wouldn't be so bad if I had an interest in the subject material. Now I understand the advantage and importance of having skills and knowledge in how to organize a project, especially when it comes to software but I just find the material very drab. I get on better if I can apply it to a task or case study. Applying a whole year’s material to one case study as we went along to me seems much more interesting. In this way you would learn about company practice as this will often have a large bearing in what kind of methods they will employ for managing projects. You would also because you’re using the same company and project for each different method be able to see the viable advantages and disadvantages of each method and be able to compare them. But hey-ho!

Have been playing World of Warcraft again recently although not as much as when I first got it, to the relief of my work ;) I find it very relaxing to engage in another almost fantasy life, places to go people to see, that kind of thing. Have been playing to try and relief my stress and boredom lately but am not sure it quite hits the spot at the moment

I have also updated my website, the link should be on the right under the portfolio tab I think! Nothing major just a time filling exercise for a spare half hour. Am thinking of totally remaking it keeping with the current 'light and airy' theme and creating my own blog on it. I have been working with Php & Mysql some recently and think I have the skills to create a web updateable blog. Was thinking of a few other little extras too. Maybe a things I’ve been... section, could show books I’ve read, places I’ve been, sites, movies and music I’ve liked. You get the idea.
Might be one to do between exams (can't revise the whole 2 weeks ;) ).

Tonight I’m dinner in the block with my block mates. We've decided to buy some food in and cook it ourselves as the results will (hopefully) be better than the lawns centers. And the best part is I’m not cooking, although might pop in and gives some advice... only a little!!!!

WoW, Wow and WOW!

Greeny — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 23:32:00 GMT

well as you can tell fromt the title i'm playing world of warcraft (if you didn't where have you been?!?). It's the biggest MMORPG (mass mulitplayer online role playing game, pft!) ever in my opinion!

it is quite simply amazing, have spent 19+ hours on it the last four days.
can't stop, have errands to run with the guys!

</shameless plug>

Php, MySql and Jobs

Greeny — Fri, 25 Feb 2005 19:18:00 GMT

Over the last few days i have been undertaking the task of coding a website in Php and MySql. Now for most people this would have been a matter of sitting down and bashing out some code but for me it was the final push that made me start learning. I've had a book (Php and MySql web development) since the summer and have only read minor points in it whilst attepting to learn. The problem was that without a tangable task to perform on the road to learning, progress up until this week has been slow to say the least.

So now that i've finally started learning it i must say in all honesty php might be the best language i've come accross so far! Ok so i've only come accross java, c++, Php and Sql but still i think it's far more versitile and useful than the others. The language just gives you so many in-built and useful functions. One example of this is a removing \n and replacing them with <br /> so you can display the input of a text box in html.
The line is: str_replace("\n", "<br />",input);
There are many more examples and more to find i'm sure.

With this new knowladge i'm becoming increasingly more 'secure' in my own coding abilities. Which i think seeing as i'm in my second year can't be a bad thing. I'm in no way an amazing coder but for some people the learning curve is just slower than others.

Well, i think that's all i have to say for today, am off to university for a group project meeting. The group i have for group project this year is really quite a good one in my opinion, everyone seems to be open to input and communicate effectivly. Superb!

Bye for now!

Sleep, Cars and Coursework

Greeny — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 17:17:00 GMT

Isn’t it worrying when you think no-one reads your aimless ramblings on the internet? More specifically this blog. Ho hum.

Anyway, things are hotting up again ladies and gents. Have got up this morning an hour early to go to my lectures... dam nit! So though I’d pass the time by blogging some stuff that's going on at the moment.

I've finished my client server project in java coursework which is a relief to say the least, now I have a report on Windows NT memory management (11th march) to do and some labs and coursework for my database techniques coursework. Database techniques is a module I’m particularly interested in because I want to start using mysql databases in conjunction with php on my website. I also have a couple of 'extra-curricular' jobs to get under way too, one involving php and mysql, so that can't be a bad thing. The other is for the restaurant that I work at when I’m not at university.

Well, tonight Claire is coming over, haven’t seen her for around a week but it feels like longer. She's coming over and were going to watch some DVD’s and chill out, I need it. I haven’t been going to bed whilst on average 4am and have been sleeping badly. I think I’ve got to the point where between university work and lack of money I’m actually getting stressed. It' slightly weird for stress to affect me in this way, usually it makes me slightly edgy and hyperactive; instead the effects are making me even more tired.

Have undertaken a nightly ritual of playing table tennis with some of my future-house mates on a night after 'dinner at the lawns(tm)’ isn't the most rigorous of activities but it is a bit of fun I must admit. I think I might force myself to go to the gym next week a couple of times, might loosen me up and help me to sleep.

And moving onto the newt problem... my car. The blighter is broken again! I got it fixed it was working wonderfully and then BANG! I broke down on the way from York (to Cottingham). The best part being that I broke down on the A164 (?) outside Beverley, which is literally two roads and ten minutes from my destination. Still didn't stop me waiting for over an hour to get some assistance though.

Anyway other than those minor blemishes on my sanity things at uni are still good. So I’m going to get ready and go to some lectures. Catch you later.

Update

Greeny — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 01:21:00 GMT

Ok, I haven't updated for a while, shame on me.

Another semester at uni and things are starting to pile up in the to-do box again.
Have some client/server sockets coursework to do an essay on Windows NT memory management and also have to write a proposal for my third year project.

After all that is said and done, am still loving the uni life.
All signed and sealed on a contract for a house next year, can't wait to move in next august, should be a riot!
Only one thing I’m slightly worried about. am moving in with 7 other people, 4 of which are computer science students and two more who are computer addicts, leaving one person that doesn't fit into those two categories; Naomi! Being the only girl this housing arrangement might also be fairly amusing for her, lol.

Am interested in buying a laptop to aid the process of my final year project. Have seen a few I like but have taken a very keen interest in a couple of Acer tablet pcs that can be used as laptops. Have noticed a couple of people on my course have the model I’m interested in. Seeing it in the flesh kind of makes me want it more, lol.

My final year project idea is to create a small business stock management system based on scanning barcodes. A simple concept I think, but with sufficient hurdles to warrant it being a final year project.
I want to make it multi-user using one database and cross-platform. I’m very excited about this as it's my own idea. That isn't to say that there won’t be some good ideas to choose from when the lists of final year projects are published.

Am working this weekend at the 3 hares, and it will be a very welcomed cash top up. Am finding the fiscal side of things tight to say the least. Have had a couple of problems with accommodation which makes things a little more complicated. Am trying to be pro-active with my money instead of having to revert to bread and water when the money puddle dries up.

Well, as I always say I’ll try and update when I remember, but I do hope no-ones been holding their breath!

Christmas Dinner, C++ and work!

Greeny — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 17:21:00 GMT

Ok, so it's time for my what seems like a quarterly check in. Well i could say nothing's been going on and that everything is fine, but i don't like to lie (too much).

So university first, things were hotting up last time i blogged. cooled down a little now but have exams coming up. the last peice of coursework i handed in ( systems analysis design and process) kept me up for near enough two days straight. still got it down and i'm now recovered fully. So the next peice of ACW (assessed course work) is some C++ to do with data structures. Yikes!! that's due in on thursday morning and i've still got alot of work to do!

So after that theres exams to worry about. i have two before christmas, on the 10th and the 16th.

so after i've gone home on the 17th i'm gonna start work for christmas at the 3 hares. can't wait. get to a bit of everything because the kitchen is staffed. So along with working in the kitchen doing mains and desserts, i'll get to do some waitering (waiting on in the industry). i'm looking forward to it as i'm always looking to broaden my experience and widen my skill base. also get to do some pot washing and might get to do some bar work too, hears hoping. So while people are out christmas shopping and spending money i'll be slaving every hour i can get in a restaraunt doing every job i can fit in to regain money to tip into my ever increasing pit of student debt. Yey! I do on the other hand love working as people who read my blog and my friends will know. i never shut up about it.

That links in nicely to my next topic.. christmas dinner. This year i get to cook two!
one for me and my future house mates and my girlfiend in my halls of residence and anouther at home ( introduction time, my girlfriend is called Claire, it's been pointed out to me that i should use her name instead of 'my girlfriend'). Yes my mum is trusting to me and my brother (both being budding chefs in our none educational applications) to cook christmas dinner. Am currently in the process of drawing up a dinner for my house mates but will just do as i'm told when i get home!

Anyway, if i don't update before, i wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Hope you all have a great time, socialising, spending, drinking... bah humbug!

Money, Christmas, House Hunting and Exams

Greeny — Fri, 05 Nov 2004 20:19:00 GMT

Well, my futile efforts in keeping an up-to-date blog are failing miserably! Being at university there are far to many distractions, i blame the student accommodation and alcohol (hey! at least I’m honest!).

So at the end of week 8 at university things are starting to tense up in both educational and fiscal aspects, money is tight and the work load is piling up. That said I’m still having an amazing time with both. Current coursework includes making a space invaders game for the Computer Graphics & UID module and a website on emerging technologies for my E-Commerce and E-Business module. Great stuff! Talking of websites, I’ve updated mine with a few small alterations, just in case anyone is interested. Need some inspiration on how to spruce it up, any suggests are very welcome. Address on the site!

We've recently been given our exam timetable via port.hell and mine are on the 10th and the 16th. Nicely spaced i think. Enough time to recover from the first and revise for the second. also means i have the chance to go home anytime from the 16th. Might stick around though as me and some people in the block are going to have ourselves a Christmas dinner in the block and guess who's cooking! I'm actually rather looking forward to cooking some, haven’t done a lot since been at uni again. The only problem with my love of cooking is that i only get to do it seriously when I’m not at uni as time doesn't allow me to work anything but Mickey Mouse hours on weekends (12-18 hours). Have got my job at The 3 Hares ready and waiting for Christmas though, so am looking forward to doing lots of hours and staying in practise. Oh and the cash would be nice too!

So Christmas!! That social event that gets everybody in a tizzy over what to buy and how much to spend on certain relatives! Come on you all know you do it!! lol. Well I on the other hand have got it sorted. A prior agreement with brother #1 and #2 in the none exchange of gifts should cut out about £30-£40. And seeing as how they would buy token gifts and nothing of actual use, I can let them go! So, that just leaves my Dad and his partner, my Mum, my little Sister (no agreements there!!) and my Girlfriend. So now that I’ve reduced it down to 5 people. I still have to decide what to get them. I'm sure Amazon can help ;).

House hunting!?! Well, the mentioned people from my halls and I are looking into a house in hull for next year. There's ten of us so there's quite a lot of organisation involved in this one! We've seen a few houses and asked about viewings but because of last years huge rush for houses, the university scheme registered housing providers aren’t letting anyone view until January. I've never had to house hunt before but i have a good idea of what i don't want to live in and i think the other 9 share the same sorts of standards.

So that’s me for the moment, will probably drop by when I can be bothered! Laters!

University, registration and relaxation

Greeny — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:30:00 GMT

Ok so this is the first week back at uni and I’m having a great time already. Staying the university halls again this year so will get to meet lots of new people.

Registered with the uni on Monday so my loan has come in at last (still skint though). Having a relaxing week of no lectures because they start next Monday.

Am working this Friday too, so am a very busy boy at the moment.

Haven’t really got that much to write about at the moment, with not being at work all the time, kind of run out of subject matter. Oh well, come next week I’m sure I’ll have lots to moan about again. So cya then!

Jobs, Cars and Holidays

Greeny — Fri, 10 Sep 2004 22:05:00 GMT

well, so much for updating once a week, it lasted a very short time... just like alot of things in my life. Enough of that, it's been almost a month, damn!

have been really busy in that time but i'll give you the foundations of whats been happening and build from there.

have left perk up and have moved to a restaraunt called The 3 Hares in Billborough.
Have just been on holiday with Claire to Newquay for four days.
just got my car back from the garage, what a saga!

i would type lots more but am off to someones housewarming party and then i'm moving back into halls 2moro. so theres a quick update. will (might?) update again soon.

caio for now folks!

A Round Up

Greeny — Wed, 11 Aug 2004 01:21:00 GMT

Well, it's been nearly a week since I updated so I though I’d pop my head through the door to offer an update. First off my Great granddad died on Thursday the 28th at 11:15 from organ failure. I'm not too upset because I know he was a very good man, had a great innings and a fantastic family. He was cremated last wed (4th) near Inverness. So I’m waiting to hear when the funeral service is.

Been busy at perk up, as usual. Is getting very tiring now. I’ve been none stop with uni and work in various jobs without a holiday since last august (Welcome to the real world eh!?). So I’m looking forward to getting back to uni for some fun. However finances for next year are going to be very tight indeed.

Travelling to hull tomorrow to do a bit of work with a mate from uni. Its access stuff, so 'Shouldn't' be too bad really. Although access can get mighty confusing at times. The thing I can't get my head around is using sql queries with access; it's all highly trivial to me!!

Got a job for when I’m back at uni too, in a restaurant near York called the three hares. I’ll be working their Friday, Saturday nights 3 weekends a month, should help keep my finances up to par. They've offered me a position as early as next week to start. The thing is I don't want to leave perk up in the sh*t, everyone there is nice as pie, but I figured if I worked there for three weeks then I would get to know the place, the people and most importantly the menu. On the very bright side it means that I will get to work with a very good friend and good chef Mr Nick Robinson again. He used to work at the Deanery but has now left. I learnt most of what I know from nick and it would be fantastic to work with him again. The three hares are also quite close to where my girlfriend lives too, so can pop past and say hi now and again, which is nice!

In other news, I had a bit of a mis-hap on Thursday (2nd day of driving) in which I managed to damage my front bumper, nothing serious or involving other people. I was reversing out of our narrow driveway when my bumper (damaged slightly before I got it) caught on some bushes and ripped of on the driver side, D'OH!! So a trip to the scrap yard and £20 later and I had a new bumper (as new as is possible for a Renault 5).

I bought a CD player and some speakers for my car too. Got the CD player fitted because the car had no connectors and the CD player doesn't work, I can listen to the tuner no problems but the CDs just won’t go into the player. I called into see an audio specialist and he said this is very uncommon as Kenwood are a very reliable make. He suggested I contact Kenwood and ask for a repair or replace. So I did, I called at 17:05 only to be greated by the very receptionist that told me "they've all gone home, its 5 o'clock", dam it!!!

Anyhow, went for a game of pool with my good friend Andy Quin tonight which was nice got some pizza on the way home and here I am. Must clean my car tomorrow though, is getting messy already!

The Good, The Bad and The Nerve Racking

Greeny — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 03:09:00 GMT

well today was a great day for me as i passed my driving practical test with only 5 minors! woohoo!

so now that i'm mobile i've been out and about (about 170 miles today).

anyway, got work in the morning at perk up. long day ahead! Do'h!

will blog again 2moro maybe and make it a little less breif!

night!