24 posts tagged “work”

Conan: "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women."
Cha0tic: "WRONG! To sit in your own chair at home and take your boots off after wearing them for 16 hours"
Barbarian Hoard: (As one man) "HAAAIIIII!"

A 360º Panorama this time. 24 pictures stitched together. I actually liked the way that my 'puter had to 'think' about the stitching, it took about 3 minutes to perform each of the optimisations and the stitching. It reminded me of using my Amiga to render things in the olden days.

Gg360stitch

I've been stitching together some of the pictures I took on site at 'Global Gathering' using Hugin Panoramic Photo Stitching software. The pictures were all taken on the camera of my Nokia E71 probably not the best photographic device in the world, but OK and I've always got it with me. My 'proper' camera is a few years old now, so is a bit outdated, big and eats batteries. So I'm on the look out for a new half decent compact type thing that will be easy to carry about with me all the time.

A couple of the pictures I had to dick around with in Photoshop, as the original pictures suffered from heavy vignetting and Hugin had trouble compensating. Over all I'm quite pleased with the results, but I'll have to try harder.

The View from our Bunkabins one evening.

GloGa09a

Night lit by towerlights. Our Bunkabins are on the right of the picture. Global tent is the peaks in the distance.

GGNight1a

The Flying Club, Long Marston Airfield, despite the derelict look it appears to be still in use.

FlightClub1a

2 comments

After the show. If I'd taken the picture a few days earlier it would've had a big tent in the middle of it.

Gghuginshop

This one required the most malarky. I ran the images through Hugin twice with different exposure compenstaion settings, neither of which were brilliant. I loaded both into Photshop and overlaid each one, then adjusted the transparency of the images to combine them. I don't know if this is a recognised technique, but it worked to a certain extent and made the sky less stripey than it was.

I've added this to the 9-5 group because they were taken at work.

Last Tuesday evening, the 7th, saw a colleague and myself heading down to our nations capital to get comfy in a hotel so that we we're ready to start work at 08:00 Wednesday morning in Hyde Park. The show had finished Sunday night, we were just there for the 'out'. So no glamour & no glory. They were paying us though, so what's the problem?

We arrived in time to have a couple of tasty beverages in The Sussex Arms. An OK-ish proper pub, but with a Juke Box that could do with turning down several notches.

Wednesday, saw us loading trucks all day and being asked if we could do Friday as well, because they'd had to stop work when the torrential rain had fallen Tuesday, so were a bit behind. Fine for me, but colleague had to get back for another gig on Friday. As the Sussex was so noisy we decided to try The Victoria which was in the other direction from the Hotel. You've got to give a pub called The Vic' a try if you're in Lahndahn haven't you. Kind of posh, with expensive food, but a good pub. The Fullers Discovery was lush though, and that's what kept us there.

Thursday was loading more trucks. At the end of the day colleague headed back up North, whilst I went back to the Hotel and a different room that was probably the smallest Hotel room in the whole of London. I only needed it to sleep and shower in though, and it was fine for that. This also left me on my tod for the evening. Not a problem I can amuse myself. I wasn't going to eat at the Vic' again. So after a shower and change of clothes, I went for a bit of a bimble towards Paddington Station. There were plenty of places that looked fine to eat in, but nothing that really grabbed me. The Burger King has closed in Wolves town centre and I do like a Burger King Burger every once in a while. So Burger King it was. I picked up a couple of Postcards and headed back to the Vic' for the Discovery and to write the cards WHilst a bunch of Yuppy style twats made a show of hemselves in the street outside the pub. Back to the Hotel and bed.

Replacement workmate was heading down from Wolves disgustingly early to meet me at the Hotel 07:30 Friday Morning and we were going to the Park from there. Off to the Park to Load yet more trucks, but YIPPEE! Finished by around 12:30 and still paid for the whole day. That meant I'd stop in London and meet up with Em' for a Birthday drink. If we'd been working all day I would've been knackered, smelly and not very good company, so would've headed back to Wolves.

I couldn't face walking across the vast expanse of Hyde Park to get to a Tube station. Hyde Park is Massive, even more so when you've spent the last couple of days on foot in it. So I hopped in the Car with my pal and headed out of town with him to get dropped off by a Tube station. I'd got my Oyster card and the whole afternoon free for a bit of Flânerie. That's a posh way of saying, bimbling about aimlessly, enjoying the sites and soaking up the atmosphere in a leisurely way, because you can, because you've got the free time and inclination.

I'd been dropped on The Edgeware Road by a pub called The Green man. I sat inside for a while, using my phone to access Facebook, to say Yes I was going to Em's Event and checking the location on Google maps. The internet - It's Ace. The Mobile Internet - WOW! How useful is it? I'm still kind of blown away by the whole living in the Future type thing that being able to get the internet on my phone does to me. OK I've not got a Hover Car and silver suit, but mobile Internet kind of makes up for that.

Once I'd sorted the evening out I took another pint and sat outside for a smoke. Edgware road has some interesting people wandering up and down it and the pub was opposite Paddington Green Police Station. I'd heard the name on the News, so it was interesting to be sitting opposite it. It's that sort of thing I love about wandering around London.

Eventually it was time to hit the Tube to Euston to check on train times. I'd looked on the Mobi' web, but wasn't convinced I knew what was going on. The Mobi' web does have it's limitations. So as I like the Tube (it's a novelty to me) I didn't mind travelling on it in nearly the Rush hour.

At Euston I grabbed a Pasty and some information. I couldn't use my Oyster Card to get to Streatham, so I got a day tripper, or whatever they call the card and followed the instructions to get to Streatham. I was now travelling in the rush hour, but I kept my big bag out of the way, stuck to the right on the escalators and generally didn't get in the way of the busy busy Londonites. On the Tube I think I might've freaked a couple of lasses out by staring. Sorry. One had such an outrageously perfect complexion it looked like she'd been dipped in Nivea every night and fed on nothing but Evian. The other by contrast, was kind of Orange, but had the longest eyelashes I'd ever seen. The thing that made me stare was that they had some sort of lardy gunk on them. Not mascara, it looked almost like dried Araldite. Weird and fascinating enough to keep me staring rudely.

London Bridge Station and I was on the Overground (Is that the correct term?) to Streatham. Looking out the window and being amazed how much terrain there is in London. I'd love to have seen the landscape before all the buildings were built. At Streatham station I checked Google maps on my phone again. I'm not going to be wandering around a strange town with an expensive phone in my hand. So get bearings, look at street names on the map. REMEMBER street names and directions, then start walking as it's not far.

To my eye outlying bits of London have their similarities. Streatham high road and the Edgware road have things in common, the Ethnic grocery shops, the internet cafes and News agents, but there is a slightly different vibe. Kind of like seeing Cousins or Uncles. You can see that they're from the same family, but there is a difference.

I got to the The Pub in plenty of time and then the nerves began. If you've met anyone off the internet before, you'll probably have half an idea what I mean. Will you recognise them? Will they recognise you? Are you intruding on their 'real life' by being some weirdy that turns up from their 'virtual life'? What will their RL friends think about a netpal? Will they think it's strange that you're there? OK. You'll have read each others blogs over the course of years, that makes things easier. You do 'know' each other, but you won't know a thing about any of the none net people there.

Then a face you recognise, who's probably just as nervous as you, is smiling and walking up to you and saying.
"Hi. You got here all right then. Sorry I'm a bit late. My friends have got a table out the back, come and join us."
You get introduced to everyone and find that everybody there has met through the internet in some way, and they don't think it's strange you're here, and you have a cracking night out with some lovely people at a great pub, and too soon you've got to leave because of public transport. If you've never met up with someone you know off the net before, do it. You meet some of the best people.

The Locals tell me the best thing to do is get a bus to Brixton, then the tube to Euston, where I arrive to find I've missed the last train home. This wasn't a problem as I was half expecting it to happen.

That adventure is a tale for another time though. I've typed enough, and you're probably bored reading this by now.

...I'm back at home and I feel battered. Worked 'til 22:30 on Thursday night. Then back in at 07:30 Friday morning to be run ragged by the Artists liaison team making sure everything was looking good for the backstage area. Grabbed some dinner about 13:30, but had to eat and run. Messed around some more and finally had chance to stop properly for a break around 16:30 when we went on standby. Broke at 18:00, but catering didn't open for tea until 18:30.

As we weren't working the weekend at Download, my work colleague & bunkabin mate headed home as soon as possible to his Girlfriend and 'The Babby'*. This left me to mooch about, having a shower, putting some half decent clothes on, rather than work clothes and returning the buggy to production.

I then walked out to check the festival. Bumped into another pal who was working the Festival, just as 'Faith No More' came on stage. As I was watching from an oblique angle off Stage Right**. I could hear fine, but couldn't really see the stage properly, but I could see the video screens. As it looked like they'd got some good lights I said I was going to watch properly from the front. All I'd meant was moving round so I was more front on to the stage, but my pal said we could watch from the FOH*** position if I had the right pass. I had a better pass than her**** Mwahahaha.

The show looked and sounded great, but I find it difficult to watch a whole set and I wanted to have a look at 'Motley Crue' (I don't know how to add the superfluous Umlauts). They were terrible. So I headed over to the Jagermeister VIP viewing platform. As I'd bumped into an old mate earlier in the day and found out that he was working there. So I got to watch the end of 'Faith No More' drinking free Jagermeister and standing on a platform above the Hoi Palloi. I felt like some sort of Roman Emperor.

The main stage finished and I was thinking about heading to the VIP guest area, knowing it would be more disappointing than it sounds. As I'd been working 'site' I knew the best way to get there (because of the crowds at the entrance from the Arena) would be to go through the 'Tuborg Stage', which just happened to be the stage that the rest of our Company were working on and our friendly neighbourhood PA company were doing the sound on. They'd just finished, so I bimbled back to the ranch with them. For a few tasty beverages on their bus.

A bit later, the guys from our company finished on their stage and texted to say they were up for a drink, so it was over to their Van for a couple more.

I didn't have anything to do early, so I was up for another drink, but was aware they had to go to work, so left not long afterwards. Back to Bunkabin world and kip.

It was great not having to set an alarm.

I woke about 12:00 and felt really really bad. Worse than I should've felt from the amount I had to drink. I think the 12 hour days had caught up with me. By the time I'd dropped off the key for the bunkabin to the lads who were going to use it whilst I was away for the night it was 16:30.

I thought I was going to read some of my book on the shuttle bus to Derby***** and then the train back to Wolves. I couldn't summon up the mental energy to concentrate though. So just enjoyed the view. It was a great day and the journey from Derby to Birmingham goes through some superb looking countryside, until it gets near Birmingham.

Arrived back in Wolves and headed to work to dump my bags and make sure the club night was fired up. Then off to MuckDonalds as it's nearer than my favourite filthy kebab shop. Swift libation in a Pub, then into the clubnight until 03:00 in the morning.

I'm heading back to site tomorrow, well later today now. I'll hook up with a pal who's attending the festival, but they'll be no Rock and Roll excess. I've got to be firing on all cylinders at 08:00 Monday morning to start taking the nonsense out. We should be off site for Wednesday.

*A Wolverhampton term for small child.
**That's the Left of the Stage as you look at it. Stage directions are always given from the point of view of the person on the stage looking out at the audience.
***FOH = Front Of House. The mixing and lighting desk position.
****Remind me to explain why one pass can be better than another one some time.
*****The chippy opposite the Train Station in Derby is great. The greasy spoon next door to it is also good, though it was shut, but I've used it before.

...just like "Spinal Tap" is true and it amused the fuck out of me.

There are a couple of things irritating me today so it's time to make a Stabby list, this is a list of people who in an ideal world would get stabbed, slashed or cut by me.

• 'The Fratellis':
      You know their tune that goes Duh, Duh-duh-duh, duh, duh, duh, duh,derderderah! and is sung along to by drunken twats everywhere. They're using it for the darts to signal a commercial break. 2000 drunken twats then sing along to it and you can hear it everywhere in the building. Commercial breaks happen every  thirty minutes or so. After a week it is starting to get on my tits a bit lot.
      So give me ten minutes with them in a locked room. I would be armed with a WWI bayonet. They tend to be about 2 feet long, sort of like a small sword.
  "I'll give you Duh, Duh-duh-duh, duh, duh, duh, duh,derderderah!"
  I'd yell as I started to lay into them in a stabby frenzy. They're all pretty skinny, so a 2 foot bayonet has a good chance of passing all the way through. Cool.
  
• The development team that made Pdfs, some people from Epson and A Mac devloper:
      I spent an hour and a half the other night trying to get some Pdfs to print properly. I've never had much luck with getting Pdfs to print properly. Especially on the Mac/Epson combination I use at home. I wasted 20 sheets of photo paper and I don't know how much ink.
      So. They would be gaffer taped to tables in a 'Dexter' like manner. I would have a Stanley Knife and a big bag of that gritty salt they use on the roads. They would take it in turns to have strips of skin peeled off and gritty salt rubbed in.
  This seems fair for the mental torture they put me through the other night.
  

Who's on your Stabby list today?

Below are some links to the Real Mr Stabby.

• Mr Stabby Ep1
  
• Mr Stabby Ep2
  
• Mr Stabby Ep3
  
• Mr Stabby Ep4

We have The Darts in at the moment. No not the 80s "Boy from New York City" Darts. The fat blokes throwing small arrows, darts. Their in 'til next weekend, so I'm in work around 17:00 everyday on standby tech cover, though it's 15:00 today for some reason.

But.

I had some old Poly'* friends visiting over the weekend, so I had the Saturday night off.

But.

When the playing session finished at around midnight on Friday I went for
"a quick drink after work" (Ho Ho)
as it was too late to meet up with my old college pals that evening. This meant I left the Club Night when it shut at 03:00. Three hours drinking isn't a long time, but enough.

12 hours later I'm in the pub meeting my pals and it's like 20 odd years had never been, well besides the grey hair, baldness and the fact that it took about 2 months to arrange a date that we could all make, due to work, families and stuff like that. Rather than just saying
"Fancy a pint? Let's go"

An afternoon drinking, catching up, remembering:
"You shagged her? So did I! No not THAT Jane, the Jane I used to... No that was the Jane that..."
(There seemed to be a lot of Janes in the Rock Soc.)
Curry, Wine, Champagne, (Toast: "The Rock Society") another two pubs, joined by another pal from the olden days and his missus.

Then it starts getting a bit hazy. We hadn't planned on going clubbing, but we ended up at the Club Night.

Sunday was a day of suffering and thinking that death might be a mercy. Monday was a day of not feeling 100% and today I'm still not quite right.

I just can't do it like I used to all those years ago. It was great to catch up again though.

*Yes, we had things called Polytechnics in my day.

...it has turned to shit.

Phonecall 1:
"Can you just pop into work to.."
"Can somebody else do it?"
"I'll see if I can get someone else"

Phonecall 2"
"I can't get anyone else"
" *Sigh* OK. I'll be up in a bit"