Throwing in the designer's towel
So it was this time last week I had a long discussion with Brad on MSN (cos the Internet Brad more responsive than the Real Life Brad*) about what his plans are for his life etc. He'd been showing a total lack of interest over the last few months, which had culminated in more recent days with pretty poor punctuality (still hasn't been to work on time one day in the past 3 weeks - usually 10 to 15 mins late, once 45mins late).
Brad was apparently losing interest in being a graphic designer, despite developing some good skills and showing promising signs of being good designer. I guess this is a young person thing, and he'll possibly regret it when he matures.
For now though, Brad reckons he'll go back to TAFE next year and finish year 10, then study Computer Sciences (what the heck for I have no idea! Computers suck). But it's more than a little strange that he'd sacrifice his current career at this stage of the year and hang around doing jack all for 6 months until TAFE starts. A sensible person would plan it so they could finish up just before their studies began. But... oh well. I don't think this decision was based on his aspirations for the future and desire to study, but rather a decision he made cos he was sick of work and wanted to sleep in more.
Brad quickly decided to move back to the Gold Coast with his mate Luke.
So, after a year of training Brad, coaching him on life issues, encouraging him to mature and become truly independent, I'm left feeling rather disappointed. It's up to him now. I hope he proves me wrong, but I'm not sure he's going to make much of a go of things like he claims he will. Time will tell.
Enter Jaclyn
The day Brad called a meeting with Tim and I to announce his decision to resign, a lady named Jaclyn walked in the door to introduce herself to Tim and express her interest in any design work we might have going.
So... after a couple of meetings, Tim is impressed enough to be considering offering her a position.
She has a lot of industry experience, talent and so forth. I feel I could learn a heck of a lot off her, which will be nice.
Assuming she's interested in the position, I consider and like the idea of her and I specialising in our own areas and focusing on those. For example, she seems very clever with high-end design work, and I'm very keen to do more website stuff if I can find the time for it.
I'll keep an update on things in my blog...
MY NOTES
*Is it just me, or is there a whole new generation of youth whose identity exists only on the internet. You try to talk to these kids in real life and they're withdrawn and their vocubulary ceases to function when discussing anything serious. But get their fingers on a keyboard and they come time life. Kinda sad.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Great day at the Salvation Army
Today was a lovely day - one I'm sure will remain in the memory of many young kids attending the Salvation Army in Dubbo.
It was "renewal day" for the seven Junior Soldiers in our Corps - a time when each Junior Soldier renews their original promises made when they first became Junior Soldiers. We also had a new Junior Soldier enrolled - Nicola Ferguson. All the kids that attended tdoay (15 or so) participated in a couple of dance and timbrel items. It was very cool.
There are visible signs that growth in the Dubbo Corps is strong. The ministry for the young'ns has been very effective, thanks to good leaders (like Sarah Radburn and my own lovely Janene). There are a more kids involved in the church now than I can ever remember, and participation and extra-curricular activities are increasing. The change in each of this kids makes evident that God is at work here.
Today marked another milestone for the Brass Band. Janene and I felt our confidence was at a level where we could play a duet during the meeting. We played Prayer Gently Lifts Me along to Peter McBride's piano accompaniment CD.
I'll spend this afternoon (Sunday) writing two or three more duets, since we plan to play at least once during every meeting from here on in.
Caleb is also doing great on his trumpet. I've written a simple harmony for Jesus Loves Me for him to play along with me. He is playing so well for an 8 year old, I will be very surprised if he doesn't end up being a top-notch musician, cos I sense he has raw talent!
When I think that he probably wouldn't have ever discovered music without my encouragement, I realise that I am in the right ministry. I'm really enjoying doing what I'm doing, even if it IS taking it's sweet time.
It was "renewal day" for the seven Junior Soldiers in our Corps - a time when each Junior Soldier renews their original promises made when they first became Junior Soldiers. We also had a new Junior Soldier enrolled - Nicola Ferguson. All the kids that attended tdoay (15 or so) participated in a couple of dance and timbrel items. It was very cool.
There are visible signs that growth in the Dubbo Corps is strong. The ministry for the young'ns has been very effective, thanks to good leaders (like Sarah Radburn and my own lovely Janene). There are a more kids involved in the church now than I can ever remember, and participation and extra-curricular activities are increasing. The change in each of this kids makes evident that God is at work here.
Today marked another milestone for the Brass Band. Janene and I felt our confidence was at a level where we could play a duet during the meeting. We played Prayer Gently Lifts Me along to Peter McBride's piano accompaniment CD.
I'll spend this afternoon (Sunday) writing two or three more duets, since we plan to play at least once during every meeting from here on in.
Caleb is also doing great on his trumpet. I've written a simple harmony for Jesus Loves Me for him to play along with me. He is playing so well for an 8 year old, I will be very surprised if he doesn't end up being a top-notch musician, cos I sense he has raw talent!
When I think that he probably wouldn't have ever discovered music without my encouragement, I realise that I am in the right ministry. I'm really enjoying doing what I'm doing, even if it IS taking it's sweet time.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Updates for July/August
Indoor Cricket - SALVOS ARE PREMIERS!
It's been a couple of years coming now... we haven't won a premiership for a while, and we were only one ball from missing out again! Yeah... we won by just 3 runs!
We played against Eagle Boys, who had beaten us twice before. The first two times we played, we got progressively closer to a win. The first time we lost by about 40 runs, the second time losing by only 2 runs... This time (and with only 7 players - Alex was away) Dave Newby was on strike for Jackpot ball and needing 3 runs for a tie or 4 runs to win. We held our breath and jumped up yelling for victory when he managed to tap the ball into back half of the side net to secure a sweet win.
Although we fielded really well and kept them to a low total of 110, Nath and I batted rather terribly (although in the semi final we shone with 58 partnership) managing a dismal minus 8! (Nath -17, Brett 3). However Timbo & Dan, Pete & Dave and the final partnership of Luke & Dave (they chose Dave to bat again since we were 1 player short) saw us home! Final score 110 to 113.
The new comp of 10 weeks starts tonight and I'm looking forward to figuring out what's been going wrong with my batting.
Holidays and stuff
Eli had three weeks of school holidays previously. Janene and I took it in shifts to take time off work and be home. While at home I got a lotta stuff done here and there, and also spent a lot of time with Eli. We played cards together (snap, fish... and that other game with 7 piles of cards and you try and get rid of all your cards etc).
Tell more later...
I've decided that if I don't post this now, by the time I finally remember everything that's happened, this post will be another month or two old! Best idea is that I just keep posting as things happen.
It's been a couple of years coming now... we haven't won a premiership for a while, and we were only one ball from missing out again! Yeah... we won by just 3 runs!
We played against Eagle Boys, who had beaten us twice before. The first two times we played, we got progressively closer to a win. The first time we lost by about 40 runs, the second time losing by only 2 runs... This time (and with only 7 players - Alex was away) Dave Newby was on strike for Jackpot ball and needing 3 runs for a tie or 4 runs to win. We held our breath and jumped up yelling for victory when he managed to tap the ball into back half of the side net to secure a sweet win.
Although we fielded really well and kept them to a low total of 110, Nath and I batted rather terribly (although in the semi final we shone with 58 partnership) managing a dismal minus 8! (Nath -17, Brett 3). However Timbo & Dan, Pete & Dave and the final partnership of Luke & Dave (they chose Dave to bat again since we were 1 player short) saw us home! Final score 110 to 113.
The new comp of 10 weeks starts tonight and I'm looking forward to figuring out what's been going wrong with my batting.
Holidays and stuff
Eli had three weeks of school holidays previously. Janene and I took it in shifts to take time off work and be home. While at home I got a lotta stuff done here and there, and also spent a lot of time with Eli. We played cards together (snap, fish... and that other game with 7 piles of cards and you try and get rid of all your cards etc).
Tell more later...
I've decided that if I don't post this now, by the time I finally remember everything that's happened, this post will be another month or two old! Best idea is that I just keep posting as things happen.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Plans for the future
It's always good to have goals. Long term... medium term and short term!
I am aspiring towards many goals, and right now I need to pause to write them down. What better place than my blog? Anyone else reading this can remind me of these goals and query me to where I'm at with achieving them.
Here are some of them:
SHORT TERM:
MEDIUM TERM
LONG TERM
Those lists are looking a bit heavy. I better stop there! More than likely the Short Term goals will work their way onto the Long Term goals list... but at least I have jotted down my aspirations for the future.
Now, only to achieve them!
I am aspiring towards many goals, and right now I need to pause to write them down. What better place than my blog? Anyone else reading this can remind me of these goals and query me to where I'm at with achieving them.
Here are some of them:
SHORT TERM:
- Finish all computer-related jobs - namely the Job Seekers database and Dubbo Sports World website.
- Finish the joins on the outside of the house, ready for painting.
- Cement the borders for the new gardens and create the cement/rock area under the clothesline.
- Think deeply and seriously about joining the Dubbo Brass Band.
- Have the new worship band playing in the church service regularly.
MEDIUM TERM
- Start accumulating tools, and practice skills needed for Instrument Repair.
- Debut with my cornet in church, with Janene on flugel.
- Find another band member to learn tuba or euphonium.
- Find a pianist for the worship band.
- Put a roof on the kids' cubby house.
LONG TERM
- Re-assess my career. Decide what I want to do for the next 10 years or more.
- Complete the renovations and start looking for rural acreage.
- Have a bus for church and be doing the run ever Sunday morning to collect kids for Sunday School.
Those lists are looking a bit heavy. I better stop there! More than likely the Short Term goals will work their way onto the Long Term goals list... but at least I have jotted down my aspirations for the future.
Now, only to achieve them!
Tact
In Thursday morning's meeting, Bob told how he'd taken photos of his new grand daughter in Sydney only to discover that there was no card in his camera. He wasn't blaming anyone or conveying any annoyance... he was just simply telling the story. Yet, somehow the blame got back to the Production department (i.e. Brad and I) since we were last to download photos off Bob's card to the server. Sound fair? Maybe... maybe not.
The thing that really annoyed me was the manner in which the blame was made and magnified. "Seriously, did you get an apology for that? I'd be pretty p***ed off if that happened to me", said Tim to Bob, but indirectly to us "juniors".
I did respond rather quickly and showed I was offended/annoyed by that careless remark. It was something like "Settle down. That's just overacting! Getting 'p***ed off'... that's just silly".
Bob came and whispered to me later that he thought it was a silly remark, and that he couldn't care less. He wasn't intending to make anyone feel guilty.
I chose to try and forget about it, but it had been eating me up and I was still annoyed about it after work and even after a fun game of cricket (where we beat Cleary Boys in the first round of the new comp). So I wrote this tactful email, addressed to all staff.
Hello everyone,
I'd like to think of it as only a minor issue, but to clarify what I think is the correct proceedure for the use of cameras and cards, let me explain what I believe that proceedure should be.
If I am wrong about this, then perhaps we need some formal proceedure or another memo reminding us of what's required. But drawing from commonsense, I would expect the following:
Cameras and Cards
-----------------
Whoever uses a camera should be soley responsible for returning it to where it came from (as was previously stressed by Tim) - this would include batteries and memory cards.
If somebody takes photos then leaves the camera in the Production department for us to save the photos, I believe it is STILL the camera operator's responsibility to collect the camera AND the card and return it to where it belongs.
Perhaps the simplest solution is that everyone is given their own card reader.
Also, I realise Brad and I are young, energetic, and somewhat hansome young men, but I hope we can still be treated the same as the adult staff. :-) Please keep that in the back of your mind next time we're in trouble for something.
Thanks guys,
Brett
I hope the message finally gets through. Panscott is a good place to work - probably the best place I've worked to date. However, this "hey junior" attitude has been present for a long time and it wears through my thick skin at times. Poor old Dave Daly copped it the most of all of us when he was there.
The thing that really annoyed me was the manner in which the blame was made and magnified. "Seriously, did you get an apology for that? I'd be pretty p***ed off if that happened to me", said Tim to Bob, but indirectly to us "juniors".
I did respond rather quickly and showed I was offended/annoyed by that careless remark. It was something like "Settle down. That's just overacting! Getting 'p***ed off'... that's just silly".
Bob came and whispered to me later that he thought it was a silly remark, and that he couldn't care less. He wasn't intending to make anyone feel guilty.
I chose to try and forget about it, but it had been eating me up and I was still annoyed about it after work and even after a fun game of cricket (where we beat Cleary Boys in the first round of the new comp). So I wrote this tactful email, addressed to all staff.
Hello everyone,
I'd like to think of it as only a minor issue, but to clarify what I think is the correct proceedure for the use of cameras and cards, let me explain what I believe that proceedure should be.
If I am wrong about this, then perhaps we need some formal proceedure or another memo reminding us of what's required. But drawing from commonsense, I would expect the following:
Cameras and Cards
-----------------
Whoever uses a camera should be soley responsible for returning it to where it came from (as was previously stressed by Tim) - this would include batteries and memory cards.
If somebody takes photos then leaves the camera in the Production department for us to save the photos, I believe it is STILL the camera operator's responsibility to collect the camera AND the card and return it to where it belongs.
Perhaps the simplest solution is that everyone is given their own card reader.
Also, I realise Brad and I are young, energetic, and somewhat hansome young men, but I hope we can still be treated the same as the adult staff. :-) Please keep that in the back of your mind next time we're in trouble for something.
Thanks guys,
Brett
I hope the message finally gets through. Panscott is a good place to work - probably the best place I've worked to date. However, this "hey junior" attitude has been present for a long time and it wears through my thick skin at times. Poor old Dave Daly copped it the most of all of us when he was there.
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