Tomorrow!

2009/11/17 21:24

Due in at 14:00. Incredibly nervous. Suit's clean, shirt's pressed, shoes are polished. Twice. (Look, my shoes are always polished, I'm retentive - so I did it twice).

Empirically I know my odds should be pretty good. Same since school exams - I always worry the night before, but the moment I walk through the door on the day I relax. That said, if some ass spills coffee on me on the train beforehand I'll take his arm off, and the other one if I get blood on my tie in the process... Yeah, possibly a bit up-tight. At least it's late enough in the day to avoid commuter-crowded carriages.

The plan was to sit and relax and calm myself today, but instead spent my time working very carefully on knives. Carefully because I really don't need a late night in the ER, and frankly even a plaster would be best avoided, but I couldn't sit on my hands all day without going nuts!!

Ffffffff, sixteen-and-a-half hours to go.

Nyeeeep

2009/11/13 20:23
Tuesday went well. Very well. However, there's a second interview stage!! I'm assured this one is final. But how cruel is that? I didn't find out til I was in the first, thinking it was the be all & end all.

Still, I got positive feedback and pretty much told to carry on as I was. Next interview has practical/dexterity tests, which at least means I don't need to keep up the online research and constant in-my-head rehearsals so much. At least with dexterity I simply know I can do it, it's purely a matter of hoping I can do it better than other candidates.

It's on Wednesday at 14:00 in London. Four more days to calm down & steady my hands

Really, really hope I'll be posting good news by Thursday!

Whine whine whine

2009/11/09 15:41
Just sat on the train back to Ashford from West Malling, and noting that the mobile network coverage in this part of the country is fucking awful. I want to check the news, please, and my email. Nonetheless, every operator wants £25-30 per month for an eighteen month fucking contract! I'm about to get back on Pay As You Go, thankfully - no free handset offer is THAT good, and my current contract expires shortly. What happened to nice 12 month contracts? With technology advancing so rapidly, even that seemed a long time to be bound to a handset. 18? 24? No, thanks.

Absence.

2009/11/08 13:09
Let my updating slip for a bit, there! Had a rather trying few weeks, hectic as hell. Getting back to normal, though.

Had a late Hallowe'en party yesterday, good films, alcohol and small candles. Good to have folk over here, we don't make nearly enough use of the sofabed! Need more guests! Good to see Crockett, albeit felt slightly mean leaving him out in the downpour...!! I think I'm quite unusual for it, but I really like being out in the rain.

Have an interview on Tuesday, which I'm very out of practice at. New shirt, suit's at the cleaners, still can't find a bloody belt! Got told Friday, which leaves me Monday to sort references. I have fear.

Anyhow, as promised "tomorrow" almost a month ago, the ramrod - errm, Rectifier - follow-up photos There are a couple of design refinements I'd like to make on the next one - internally threading the aluminium at the grip, for instance, to use a bolt instead of a nut there - but all in all I'm pleased with the execution. Next time, next time...

Wish me luck with Tuesday, if it goes well I'll elaborate - and otherwise I'll deny it ever happened

Oh, my.

2009/10/14 21:45
You know what I don't get asked to make often enough?

These.

Done wincing? This was pitched to me as an "anal ramrod", which made me giggle. I quite like the look of the thing, and it was a very fun fabrication, but that name needs work!

ANYWAY, Delrin "business end" ranging from 26mm down to 19mm, 140mm long.
The grip is polished purpleheart.
The shaft is solid 12mm aluminium, tapped at either end, also with a custom retaining nut at the grip end - I forgot to take detail photos, I'll rectify (heh, 'rectify') that & update tomorrow!
That's what this should be called.
Meet "The Rectifier"