timpardoe.co.uk - tim's internet home| Start |
|
» Home |
| Quick Links |
|
BBC News Online |
| Other Content |
| Site Reading |
|
Digital Spy |
| Podcasts |
|
CNET's Buzz Out Loud |
| Banners |
|
|
| Occasional ramblings... |
|
Occasional ramblings of a personal nature Who Do I Think I Am?Posted by Tim on 21 September 2006Usual profuse apologies for the complete lack of updates to my ramblings, and the timpardoe.co.uk website as a whole. The days and weeks are just passing all too quickly. One moment it was Easter, the next Summer and now we are fast approaching yet another festive season... seriously scary. Three things in particular have diverted my attention away and prevented any real updates to the website. Firstly, the move to a new web hosting company earlier in the year meant a lot of time spent checking links and re-coding database scripts. Secondly, I've resurrected my quest to research and investigate my family history - a task of mammoth proportions when you're as particular about these things as I am. I've been working my way gradually back through the generations and still have so many people to interview, documents and photos to scan, and online databases to search. I can really see this being a lifelong hobby, but when you consider the knowledge that is lost with each passing generation, time becomes really important in order to preserve the memories before they are lost altogether! I have the outlines of ancestry back to the 9th generation on my father's side, and back to the 7th on my mother's. My task now is to flesh out the details and learn more about my relatives than just the key dates. I'm also in the process of setting up a new website to publish my findings and photos on, and I will post the address here when it comes online. Oh, and there was a third reason, wasn't there? Yessss... As ever, my downfall is information overload. And no site is more well-equipped for this task than the mighty Wikipedia. Not content with just wallowing in the number of articles it contains, I've now become an volunteer editor. Much of my time on Wikipedia is spent cleaning up articles for SPAG, layout and readability, but I've also been contributing new sections on others, and researching new articles for future publication. So all of the above, combined with the usual efforts put in at BT for the Royal Mail, have managed to keep me a busy boy. I am planning to spruce up the website at some point and make my "rambling" blog easier to post. I'll also spend some time improving the Kids TV section, which manages to get a fair few visits. Thanks to all of you who have submitted new information - I will get around to updating it I promise, and am currently in the process of responding to the backlog of your emails. That's it for now, will probably get around to posting the next (very) occasional ramble... umm, around sometime next year?? Stop the worldPosted by Tim on 02 November 2005The above note on my graduation says pretty much everything I need to at the moment. Work at BT Global Services is continuing to keep me busy, currently leading a Migration Helpdesk for Royal Mail, among the usual delights of education, council and NHS customers. Despite the return of stats-driven management, I still work with a fantastic team (you all know who you are!) who, by and large, work damn hard to keep local government customers happy, in the face of obstacles senior management try to put in our way. However, its a job that still gives me pleasure in helping people, and while those I work with remain there, a job I'll certainly stick with for the moment. Princess, my Zimbabwean housemate-from-hell finally moved out in June, so the house has been blissfully quiet ever since, with other housemate Mick and I enjoying coming home to stress-free house at the end of the day. Despite all good intentions of cultural harmony, its not an experience I'm eager to repeat! More bits and pieces of news to be added as I think of them, but although I should be fancy-free now my university work is done, I still find little time to just sit and think. Does that say something about my life I wonder... ;o) Made It! (Newsflash)Posted by Tim on 02 November 2005This is the picture that many people, including myself, thought they would never see. On Thursday 27 October 2005, I finally collected my BA English degree from the University of Winchester. All given, it's been an extremely hard struggle to the top, but one that was ultimately worth the effort and experience. In particular I want to thank Kate, Richard, Helen, Jane and David for believing in me, supporting me through the difficult times, and investing so much of their own time to see me through to the end. But there have been so many people I've met over the last eight years that have played a part that, however small at the time, has meant an a tremendous amount to me. So in (relatively) chronological order, I also want to thank... Mum & Dad, Gladys & Phillip, May & Jim... Alex, Catherine, Carole, Justin, Michelle, Richard... Abi, Amy, Becky, Dan, Fiona, Glenn, Harjap, Kate, Lara, Liam, Naomi, Neil, Richard, Theresa, Victor... Terrie & Phil, Hannah & Adam, Lucy & Nathan, Jess & Tom, John & Lorna, Pam & Alan... Andrew, Carol, John, Katie, Michelle, Nick... Chris, Gary, Geoff, Jill, Nick, Phil... Anne, Carole, Heather, Jerry, Kaz, Liz, Mick, Phil, Rob, Rosemary... Alison H, Alison T, Dave, Jeanette, Laura, Lyn, Steve... Beulah & Colin, Colin M, Denise, Di, Gwyn, Izzy, Jan, Janette, Matt, Peter, Sue, Val D, Val F... Mick... Craig, Deborah, Lauren, Matt, Rich, Roger, Ryan, Simon, Tim... I will cherish the memories made together x March madnessPosted by Tim on 22 April 2005Apologies for the profound lack of updates recently. There's just been too much going on to keep up with, and not enough time to stop, think and write. Maybe I'll get a better chance over the coming months, but while I remember, here are some of March and April's highlights... Red Nose Day, which was a fantastic evening and a lot of fun to help with. If you remember, I was due to take telephone calls during the live BBC1 show, and our Southampton centre took over £100,000 in pledges from the public. You can find more on the Red Nose event here. More life at BT, where our team stands now at just 7 people, down from 18. Averaging between 40-80 calls a day each, it's not looking any quieter either, but at least our issues are beginning to be resolved by management. Dad has continued with construction of his N-guage model railway, which having run onto a second board, is beginning to look pretty professional. I've got some photo shots from around the track, and will post them here once uploaded. Princess Masango, my Zimbabwean housemate from hell is still with us, although it's now only a matter of time. After further inconsideration over the last 6 months, the landlord has finally consented to house majority and given her formal notice to quit. Whether this will be obeyed remains to be seen, but given the noise and disruption so far this week, it can't come soon enough. I'll be posting a Princess page later this month, so you can judge for yourself whether we're being fair, although sadly (but fortunately for you), there are no photos of the used sanitary product left in the middle of the bathroom floor. I don't need to say much more, do I?? On an entirely more savoury note, it's going to be cultural month ahead, as Kate and I visit Starlight Express in May and The Woman in White in June, with Rich and I feasting on the genius that is Ben Folds on 10 June - tickets obtained with only 7 seats to spare! And finally... (in the tradition of ITV's News at Ten), my agency friends at BT and I have been today (22 April) awarded our well-earned pay increase, taking my final annual salary over and above what I was earning at Haden, and for a lot less stress too. The gloomy mood that has prevailed over the past weeks has lifted, and suddenly there's much lighter atmosphere among us. A good end to my recent news I think! The number you have dialled...Posted by Tim on 07 February 2005Life continues at the BT fault management coal-face, in equal parts rewarding and frustrating. As the number of agency staff continues to gradually fall, the amount of tasks management are finding to drop on their temp workforce continues to rise. It's a sad fact that BT, like most other major companies right now, has such a fragmented structure that one department has little interest in or connection to what the other is doing. And with each new management brainwave to win customers and maximise profits, the company moves yet further away from providing true service to it's existing customers. C'est la vie. In our cynical society I really should know better, but the warnings of our capitalist culture are certainly being hit home this week! There is very little that temporary staff at our level within BT can do about the situation, but it beggars belief that management appear so blind to the core principles of service, loyalty and commitment. So focused on seeing the "bigger picture", they forget that behind each and every promise, target and statistic are real people, with real issues, needing real attention. You can tell I've been having a good week so far :o) But in better news, I'm down on the list to take telephone pledge calls for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day 2005 on 11th March. And my long delayed college FYP (final year project - more on this as the year progresses) is finally moving in a positive direction, thanks to the help and advice of good friend Jane. Brainstorming over choc-chip cheesecake and drinks in a Wetherspoon's pub has worked wonders for my mental processes! StuffedPosted by Tim on 30 December 2004All that build up and then its over so quickly! What seemed like months of preperation, card-writing and present buying, wrapped up in equal measures of panic and faffing, all done for another year. Incidentally, a Merry Christmas to those I was unable, for whatever reason, to contact personally. I hope everyone had a restful and happy time, full of good company, even better food and wonderful memories. Though the traditional family Christmas can be one of the most stressful events of the year (for all those involved), sometimes its necessary to remind ourselves that we still have our lives, our homes, and both family and friends around us. Others have not been so fortunate this year, and the disaster in Asia has been on my mind many times during the last week. Although it's difficult to make a physical contribution, by pledging a donation to the DEC Appeal you are helping others make a real difference to the lives of those in need. Your support, I'm sure, is appreciated by them all. Wishing everyone all the very best for a safe and happy 2005. Asian Tsunami Disaster - Make a DifferencePosted by Tim on 27 December 2004The scale of the Asian tsunami has shocked us all. From sketchy reports early on Boxing Day, the situation has mushroomed into a wide-ranging world tragedy. The areas affected desperately need your help, with entire communities and generations lost. You can join the millions of people that have already donated over £60m to the appeal raised by the Disasters Emergency Committee. Formed from twelve key charities, including Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam and World Vision, you can donate money by calling 0890 60 60 900 or via the DEC website at www.dec.org.uk. Further ways to help can be found on the BBC News website. Please, please join those who have already acted, rather than sitting and wishing that you could do more. It's good to talk (I think)Posted by Tim on 29 November 2004After two weeks 'time out' and one week of sheer panic, I'm finally back in work temping for British Telecom. While not exactly lying, I have to say that Kelly Services' job description of 'data entry with some telephone work' was fairly liberal with the truth. Along with my But it's work, and given the current job climate at this time of year, I'm glad I've got something to tide me through until a more fulfulling job comes along. Besides, it's all good experience, keeps me out of trouble, and I'm working among a great crowd of people nearer my (chronological) age. But only after Christmas, when our team are finally let loose on the phones unsupervised, will we really find out whether it is good to talk. I'll keep you posted! And so goodbye to Haden...Posted by Tim on 30 October 2004After four interesting but curiously long years at my employer, Haden, I've entered my last set of data, responded to my last e-mail, and logged out of the system for the final time. Its been a rollercoaster of emotions, especially over the past two years, but my immediate feeling is one of immense relief, followed by deep sadness for those I am leaving behind. I've had the opportunity to work with some truly wonderful people during my time there, and it is only with reflection that you realise how little you appreciated this at the time. My last week has been similar to a car hitting a wall in slow motion - you can see the end coming, but are powerless to stop it. All the things I planned to do never quite worked out, and there were many people that I never got the chance to say goodbye to in person. My colleagues (and especially Gwyn) gave me a wonderful send-off, and had worked extremely hard to make me feel appreciated, despite the shadow of my redundancy. I shall miss them all terribly as, on the whole, we had an enormous amount of fun working together. Despite all this though, is a growing realisation that it's time to move on, pick myself up and face what lies around the corner... |