Today I successfully failed my bike theory test.
Reason: I was not allowed to sit the exam.
Explaination: I have misplaced my photo ID card for my licence, which I thought was no big deal since the appointment card clearly stated that a passport would be sufficient identification. Armed with my licence documents, passport and appointment letter I was confident that taking the exam would not be an issue. However, that was not the case and I was told I could not sit the exam and had to forfeit the examination fee.

The reason I did not re-apply for another photo card was that I am currently in the process of changing my licence so any changes made would involve having to be issued a new photocard. Secondly, it costs the same amount as the exam for a re-issue.

The thing that really really gets to me is that, my passport was my identification to create the licence and based soley on that I was able to get the photo ID, but however not having the photo ID and using the passport instead is not good enough for the DVLA… even if it is just to sit a poxy exam to change my licence status.

Bullet point news:

• I have to send the boots back… they sent me the wrong size 🙁
• I had a wild weekend
1. Saturday: AAC2 with Matt Chapman
2. Sunday: Wallace and Gromit film followed by a Mongolian Barbeque with Rob and Jayne
• Bullet points are the way forward

Well there has been heaps going on; so much that I can’t even begin to document it all down, as I’ll forget what I’m talking about half way through.

So this is what this week holds ahead:

• Motorcycle theory test on Thursday
• arranging a bike practical test (after I pass the theory)
• uni every other day around work (of course…)
• hopefully meeting my good friend Galit on the weekend for the first time

Btw, Matt Chapman rocks, and he isn’t paying me to say it. Go and meet him, you know you want to!

Since I am getting a motorcycle soon and obviously with that I’ll be getting my licence… I decided to endulge in a pair of motorcycle boots. After some research online on several biker e-shops I decided to try some nameless auction website and got myself a pair of the sexiest enduro boots ever!! and saved myself £80.

Check them out:

Into my second week of uni this year and I’m finding I hate it already. Our modules (for civil engineering) consist of, accountancy matters, how to fill out application forms for jobs and how to write a CV and some subject that seems to cram everything we need to know into a watered down into bullet point facts. Apparently, we’re taking 4 modules this semester; however, I can only think of 3 varieties of boring frustration.

It occurred to me that; we’re being taught “how to get a job”; this is because from previous experience, students are walking out from university into industry and not being employed. So the initiative of teaching students how to get those jobs they’re leaving university for is achieved. However; if you stop to consider the quality of graduate coming out of these degrees are forever becoming denser and denser which for employers is nothing new. Arming these dense individuals with the ability to get employed and yet not having a single bit of knowledge that would qualify them to do the job they’ve been appointed to do seems more catastrophic than ever… and just think forward for a second, what will employers then think about university graduates?

It seems somewhat suicidal that universities abandon teaching relevant subjects to students and replace that with the ability to get a job, or how to fill out a job application form or worse still… subjects that aren’t what the student choose to study… if I wanted to learn how to become a Quantity Surveyor I would of taken the relevant steps to do so. Alas, I am there to learn the principles of being and knowing how to be an engineer and I know that I am not even quarter the way there and I have 9 months to complete the degree.

It really is very frustrating how doomed this nation is.

Found another piece of easy footage to put out to you guys.

I call it:
Rob tells a few jokes…

4.32MB (click the link)

(You may require the latest version of Windows Media Player view this clip)

This is the second time I’ve found myself in Maplin looking for that awkwardly hard to find thing I went in for and found myself distracted by a song I liked, that I didn’t really know before hand.

Today’s song was: The Jam – Going Underground. If you don’t know it, go and find someone who has it and listen to it. The lyrics are great.

Sadly, I know the cover better than I knew the original… that sad soppy song by that half-hap comedian who re-worded it and titled it: “London Underground”, but in fairness (to my credibility) I was aware of The Jam’s version having heard it once or twice here and there.

The result of my shopping stint at Maplin was that I walked out the shop empty-handed humming to the song in my head. Life is great!

First clip of them all… I found this bit of clip whilst going through the footage and thought I could try some stuff out.

I call it:
Sleeping Squirrel

731KB (click the link).

(You may require the latest version of Windows Media Player view this clip)

Hello, I’ve recently returned from my surveying course in the university of Sussex campus. The course was great fun but highly uneducational. It was great catching up with the lads and catching up on the past 9 months.

While I was away I did film quite a bit on the old camcorder and should be knocking out a clip for you guys to check out soon.

On the job front; things are looking good although I had some disapointing news about my wages… I’m sure that will sort itself out soon.

So today ended pretty bland. A null send off, with a handshake here and there and that was it. Which was fine, I had no high hopes for bells and whistles with exorbitant amounts of alcohol, so I was pleased with it being mellow. I was told to leave early since there was no need for me to be there and I did so quite happily.

Upon arrival home, I decided to ring the contracts manager from the engineering firm that did the concrete frame on the building site I had been working on to see what odds of me getting a Saturday job. He was delighted to hear from me and asked me to ring up my friend the engineer “Mo” and negotiate what I’ll be doing tomorrow with him.

So tomorrow morning, I’ll be starting on a new site in Hither Green doing as-built surveying… I don’t really know all the details but I’m overjoyed!

I can’t believe how informal it was… I love it!

It only feels like last night I was writing that article about there being 2 weeks left of work. Today is my last day; funnily enough, I don’t have any special feeling about it, the same old: can’t be bothered to get ready mood I have in the mornings.

Next week, I’ll be off to go on a surveying course down by Brighton. Hopefully, I’ll take lots of photos and film a little (not of the surveying God forbid). It should be a hoot to be back with the lads from university and stuff, lots of catching up to do etc.

I’ll keep you all posted!