Billy Young's Blog, page 2
December 26, 2015
26th December 2015
Hope yesterday was a good one for you all. I had a great day. Though my son was working yesterday Luckily he got home early as it was rather quiet. Wonder why that would have been. But before he left for work we or rather Magz made him his Chrimbo dinner. Well he couldn't go to work without could he?
Magz loved her gifts which was a relief as I hadn't spent a great deal. I think she loved the chocolates the most. Don't worry she has still got plenty left for tonight, hehehe. Only kidding. she'll make them last longer than that.
Tammy ate the last of the sprouts. Usually we make them into bubble an' squeak the following day. That never happen this year though. It did allow me to give Tammy a ribbing for stealing Xmas. For her part she told me they were delicious, hehehe.
Let us all hope that a good ending to this year will herald a better one next.
Magz loved her gifts which was a relief as I hadn't spent a great deal. I think she loved the chocolates the most. Don't worry she has still got plenty left for tonight, hehehe. Only kidding. she'll make them last longer than that.
Tammy ate the last of the sprouts. Usually we make them into bubble an' squeak the following day. That never happen this year though. It did allow me to give Tammy a ribbing for stealing Xmas. For her part she told me they were delicious, hehehe.
Let us all hope that a good ending to this year will herald a better one next.
December 19, 2015
19th December 2015
The interview went well on Monday. At least I thought it did though I won't really know that unless I am offered a position. That at this time of year may take till after the festive season I would imagine. Of course that also depends on how desperate the employer is to fill a post. I'm keeping my fingers crossed anyways. In the mean time I will keep on looking and applying for what ever comes up that suites.
As I thought I did turn up to sign on dressed to the nines. My advisor didn't recognise me at first. I don't think I have turned up so smartly dressed to sign before. Still it does show her that I clean up well as well as the fact that I took the interview seriously. Often the unemployed are accused in the media these days as lazy, and not trying to improve thing by finding a job. Well that maybe true for a slim minority but for most we know work offers a feeling of pride that joblessness strips from you. It also gives us that little bit more financial leeway to get a few gifts.
I went Chrimbo shopping yesterday with my daughter. It was so I could get Magz's presents in. I know I'm late this year but with money being tight. Even though I still manage to over-spend just slightly. Well it is the season for it and Magz does deserve it having to put up with me, hehehe.
So what did I get her? Well she needs a new handbag so that was an easy one. But she also needs slippers and we can't forget the chocolates. I know it isn't much though it is something better than nothing. And I know she will be pleased with the chocolates.
As I thought I did turn up to sign on dressed to the nines. My advisor didn't recognise me at first. I don't think I have turned up so smartly dressed to sign before. Still it does show her that I clean up well as well as the fact that I took the interview seriously. Often the unemployed are accused in the media these days as lazy, and not trying to improve thing by finding a job. Well that maybe true for a slim minority but for most we know work offers a feeling of pride that joblessness strips from you. It also gives us that little bit more financial leeway to get a few gifts.
I went Chrimbo shopping yesterday with my daughter. It was so I could get Magz's presents in. I know I'm late this year but with money being tight. Even though I still manage to over-spend just slightly. Well it is the season for it and Magz does deserve it having to put up with me, hehehe.
So what did I get her? Well she needs a new handbag so that was an easy one. But she also needs slippers and we can't forget the chocolates. I know it isn't much though it is something better than nothing. And I know she will be pleased with the chocolates.
December 12, 2015
12th December 2015
I had an interview for a job on Thursday and another this Monday. Monday is going to be a busy morning as I also sign on then. The interview is in Glasgow in the morning so I should make it back in time to sign on. It will probably mean turning up to sign straight after getting back into Killie from Glasgow so I'll be dressed up as if I were on my way to a business meeting rather than claiming benefits. I don't believe I have ever been to sign on in a suit before so it will be a change I suppose.
I was taken aback to get called into job interviews with Christmas being only a couple of weeks away. I would have thought that most of the seasonal work was taken. Then again you can never tell these days. With security being on everyone's minds with all the terror attacks and threats of it happening businesses are looking for more protection. Not that adding more security operatives will really prevent such things. No, it is more to give the general public more peace of mind. Regardless though I need to get a full time job. Sadly the one this week past was only part time and as needed. Which could mean anything really. Not ideal when you have a family, even if they are grown. Still beggars as they say.
I was taken aback to get called into job interviews with Christmas being only a couple of weeks away. I would have thought that most of the seasonal work was taken. Then again you can never tell these days. With security being on everyone's minds with all the terror attacks and threats of it happening businesses are looking for more protection. Not that adding more security operatives will really prevent such things. No, it is more to give the general public more peace of mind. Regardless though I need to get a full time job. Sadly the one this week past was only part time and as needed. Which could mean anything really. Not ideal when you have a family, even if they are grown. Still beggars as they say.
December 5, 2015
5th December 2015
Each day seems just like the day before. I get up, have breakfast then search countless websites for a job. Once that is done I play Settlers Online. That is how things are unfolding in my life at the moment. When there is something of interest on TV I watch that but as Christmas speeds towards us there is less on TV.
Yes the telly schedules are wrapping up ready for the festive season. That is when we will have a glut of specials most of which we won't watch as we never gazed upon those shows anyways. We will have one or two that we all look forwards to. Things like Doctor Who or a favourite comedy show. Plus there is always one gem we find while channel surfing. That movie we haven't seen since last year, at least according to the wife. Though we are always sure it has been longer since it was last aired, right.
One good thing is we don't really need to go shopping for all those presents. Well not out into those wet cold days as we used to. Now we do most of it from the comfort of our living-room as the wind howls past the window. It almost sounds like it was demanding that we remember those blue handed shopping trips as kids. Being dragged from one stall to another. How grateful we were when we finally found ourselves being marched into the warmth of Woolworth's. Even if it was only to take a shortcut through the store back into the dark winters day. Those few minutes in the heat I'm sure saved us from turning into icicles.
Now though it is the poor delivery drivers we should feel for. Jumping in and out of their heated vans must make them prone to getting the flu a lot. Maybe not. But I for one am glad that I don't have to do more than answer the door to get the gifts for loved ones in.
Yes the telly schedules are wrapping up ready for the festive season. That is when we will have a glut of specials most of which we won't watch as we never gazed upon those shows anyways. We will have one or two that we all look forwards to. Things like Doctor Who or a favourite comedy show. Plus there is always one gem we find while channel surfing. That movie we haven't seen since last year, at least according to the wife. Though we are always sure it has been longer since it was last aired, right.
One good thing is we don't really need to go shopping for all those presents. Well not out into those wet cold days as we used to. Now we do most of it from the comfort of our living-room as the wind howls past the window. It almost sounds like it was demanding that we remember those blue handed shopping trips as kids. Being dragged from one stall to another. How grateful we were when we finally found ourselves being marched into the warmth of Woolworth's. Even if it was only to take a shortcut through the store back into the dark winters day. Those few minutes in the heat I'm sure saved us from turning into icicles.
Now though it is the poor delivery drivers we should feel for. Jumping in and out of their heated vans must make them prone to getting the flu a lot. Maybe not. But I for one am glad that I don't have to do more than answer the door to get the gifts for loved ones in.
November 28, 2015
28th November 2015
I ended up downloading the original settlers then found I had a copy of it on my computer. I got a little upset with the online version after seeing some bugs. Yes I did the old forum rant and got the usual response to such things. The fan boys jumped to the defence of their game suggesting that I didn't know how to do the simplest of things. I did answer at first but when I saw that those slamming me weren't reading me as clearly as I thought I had explained the bug I gave up. That led me to play the original game a re-learn those nasty dos commands. In the end though I ended up playing for a few days then turning to the modern online version as it was easier. I have just slowly learned to work around some of the things I see as flawed. One is when a work yard complete making something but can't find the materials to make more the game doesn't register the new product going into the storehouse. For instance I watched my iron smith making swords but when he deliver the goods to the store I still had the same number as before he did so as there was no iron for him to restock his workshop. I spent fifteen minutes watching as I had noticed that my manufacturing was slower than it should. The easy work around is to build up resources by switching on and off the work yards and never let them run out of their base materials. In some ways it is easier to use the dos commands to play the old original game but the online version does have its merits or should I just say it has an addictive qualities. This problem is made worse by the fact that the game continues to run even when you aren't logged into it. Each day I play I have to go through all my yards, mines, farms and wells to rebuild fields that run out as well as wells. Mines collapse if they run out and so you have to send out a geologist to find new deposits. Still it is these things that annoy yet keep us wanting beat it. If we can.
November 21, 2015
21st Novemeber 2015
My son dug out one of his old graphics cards for me. It worked as soon as I had it all wired in which means the old one is fried. Even so I don't just want to bin it just yet. After all it was an expensive piece of kit even if I paid for it with Bitcoins. Of course there was the tax and then the original blew which meant sending it to the manufacturer to have it replaced. In the end I would have been better just saving the Bitcoins and using cash. Well we live and learn or keep banging our heads.
With my computer back up I can play my games again though I haven't. I have been gaming though just online the descendant of one of my all time favourites, The Settlers Serf City. Yes the very first one was the best and still is. It was just so simple an idea which made it so easy to play. I lost years playing it I believe. At least Magz would tell you so though I can' t really deny it. I like the online version but it doesn't have the same cuteness to it or easy to learn. Not that it is hard to learn just a little more thinking is needed in the resource management of the game. Some of what is in the modern game would have improved the original but then it wouldn't be the same game. I could download the first one and use DosBox or something similar but then I'm too lazy to go typing in the commands to get the game up and running, much preferring to click to play.
With my computer back up I can play my games again though I haven't. I have been gaming though just online the descendant of one of my all time favourites, The Settlers Serf City. Yes the very first one was the best and still is. It was just so simple an idea which made it so easy to play. I lost years playing it I believe. At least Magz would tell you so though I can' t really deny it. I like the online version but it doesn't have the same cuteness to it or easy to learn. Not that it is hard to learn just a little more thinking is needed in the resource management of the game. Some of what is in the modern game would have improved the original but then it wouldn't be the same game. I could download the first one and use DosBox or something similar but then I'm too lazy to go typing in the commands to get the game up and running, much preferring to click to play.
November 14, 2015
14th November 2014
I have been plagued with computer problems this week. I thought it was down to the memory but it turned out to be a little more than that. My PSU died. It was delivering some power to the main board but not enough to power the system. Of course I thought it must be a graphics problem when the fans in the case began to spin up yet there was no signal to the monitor. In my frustration I may have made things worse and damaged either the graphics port or my card. I found this out a few days later when my daughter bought me a new power unit. Looking on the brighter side of things I have now got my system up and running. Sadly though I am working with a very basic I7's built in graphics which real rules out gaming. I tried to play solitaire on it last night but even that seemed stuttery to me so I gave up. I can still use the computer for job searches and other internet related things as that doesn't really require a great deal of power.
I suppose though my problems are minor compared to what is happened in Paris. Though they don't feel so minor to me. Rather the weather outside seems to reflect my feelings well, dark stormy and wet. I don't enjoy relying on my kids buying stuff for me just because I haven't got the cash. I suppose that is due to the fact that it is my job to provide for them not the other way around.
Old fashioned, yes it maybe but that is just me.
I suppose though my problems are minor compared to what is happened in Paris. Though they don't feel so minor to me. Rather the weather outside seems to reflect my feelings well, dark stormy and wet. I don't enjoy relying on my kids buying stuff for me just because I haven't got the cash. I suppose that is due to the fact that it is my job to provide for them not the other way around.
Old fashioned, yes it maybe but that is just me.
November 7, 2015
7th November 2015
Another week of fruitless job search. Though no problems with websites slowing me down. Still each week going by without any sign of work does weigh me down as it would most of us. The home decorating of the living-room is complete and we are slowly getting things back into their rightful place. Now that Magz has one room done she is already in planning for the hall. The colour she has in mind is Coco Mint. Yeah it is a nice colour but can't we wait till after Xmass. Yeah as I have said before I hate decorating. Unfortunately for me I can't afford to have someone else do it for me and Magz isn't up to the fumes. Mind it rarely stops her. She doesn't listen to us when we tell her off either. What can you do?
In ED I am almost to the human bubble. Jumping and honking has seen me racing towards home. I was surprised by how quickly I have crossed the stars. If all goes well I should be back by early next week. After that I have a Skyrim game to finish. An easy way to forget for a bit about my jobless situation. I still have Witcher 3 to restart at some point as well though I'm not really in a rush for that one after my first encounter playing it. I know that was more down to me not being in the right frame for it at that time. So I will need to play it again but when I am in the proper mood for it and I will need to take my time with it. Of course though I have to get my ship in ED to safe anchorage first.
In ED I am almost to the human bubble. Jumping and honking has seen me racing towards home. I was surprised by how quickly I have crossed the stars. If all goes well I should be back by early next week. After that I have a Skyrim game to finish. An easy way to forget for a bit about my jobless situation. I still have Witcher 3 to restart at some point as well though I'm not really in a rush for that one after my first encounter playing it. I know that was more down to me not being in the right frame for it at that time. So I will need to play it again but when I am in the proper mood for it and I will need to take my time with it. Of course though I have to get my ship in ED to safe anchorage first.
October 31, 2015
31st October 2015
Australia made it to the world cup rugby final. I don't think they will win as New Zealand have appeared the stronger side over all in the contest so far. Of course the Aussies are likely to go all out for the win which might work in their favour. Then again it might mean it causes them to make more errors allowing the All Blacks to break through. Well we will all know soon and it should be a good final.
I went back to playing Elite Dangerous this week. The reason being I want to get back to the bubble and park up. After spending the week travelling at the fastest speed I cloud I realised how far out I was. I'm under a third of the way home so I was a long way out. Further than I had thought and so could take another couple of weeks travelling to get back. That is as long as I stick to the plan. It is very tempting to just check out that cloud (nebula) I'm close to as I race past and see it get larger. I managed to resist and now see it slowly shrinking as I see another growing. It is a busy part of the galaxy I am passing through at the moment. I just need to stay the course. Easier said than done.
My job search continues with little sign of an end. I did have a problem with one of the sites I am using to find work. CVLibrary was refusing to let me login and apply for a hot looking position. It took me two days to get it sorted and get the application off to the employer. I hope the delay doesn't cost me the chance. Anyways whatever was causing the trouble was sorted after one of the tech team allowed me to reset my password. Yeah I had tried to get them to send me it when I was refused logging on. Sadly I never got an email back at that stage. That is why it took two days to fix. I had to go through the "contact us" page to get to support. Not the easiest way to find support. A direct link would have been much easier.
I went back to playing Elite Dangerous this week. The reason being I want to get back to the bubble and park up. After spending the week travelling at the fastest speed I cloud I realised how far out I was. I'm under a third of the way home so I was a long way out. Further than I had thought and so could take another couple of weeks travelling to get back. That is as long as I stick to the plan. It is very tempting to just check out that cloud (nebula) I'm close to as I race past and see it get larger. I managed to resist and now see it slowly shrinking as I see another growing. It is a busy part of the galaxy I am passing through at the moment. I just need to stay the course. Easier said than done.
My job search continues with little sign of an end. I did have a problem with one of the sites I am using to find work. CVLibrary was refusing to let me login and apply for a hot looking position. It took me two days to get it sorted and get the application off to the employer. I hope the delay doesn't cost me the chance. Anyways whatever was causing the trouble was sorted after one of the tech team allowed me to reset my password. Yeah I had tried to get them to send me it when I was refused logging on. Sadly I never got an email back at that stage. That is why it took two days to fix. I had to go through the "contact us" page to get to support. Not the easiest way to find support. A direct link would have been much easier.
October 24, 2015
24th October 2015
We came very close to beating Australia last week. Unfortunately the ref let us down in the dying moments of the game and gave our opponents a penalty and the win. Top lose by one point ands in such a way was hard though I still wish the Aussies all the best when they play Argentina tomorrow. It was a great game though. Scotland did play their heart out which made me a very happy bunny.
We're still in the midst of decorating the living-room. The wallpapering is done though there is still a lot of painting to do. Three walls to be exact. Two have already got there first coat. Tammy and myself liked the look of the brushed thin coating. Magz didn't so wants it done again. She prefers the even look. The reason its taken so long is due to the fact we only do a little bit each day. It spreads the work load out and gives me something to do while I continue the job search.
Not that that seems to have an end in sight. I know that could change with one email or letter. It just that after the course I was on cost me the possibility of a job. Well you can tell I'm, how would you say, antsy. And with the seasons heading for the festive time of year, the lack of money makes things worse.
Then there is my computer acting weird. I have tracked it down to misbehaving memory modules. Or at least one of them though I haven't checked to see which one it is. It has been causing unexplained crashes, where it just switches off, to the blue screen of death. Memory dump bla, bla is reported in BSOD incidents. I did take the memory out and reseated it in a futile hope it would fix it. No luck. Just one more reason I need to find a job soon.
We're still in the midst of decorating the living-room. The wallpapering is done though there is still a lot of painting to do. Three walls to be exact. Two have already got there first coat. Tammy and myself liked the look of the brushed thin coating. Magz didn't so wants it done again. She prefers the even look. The reason its taken so long is due to the fact we only do a little bit each day. It spreads the work load out and gives me something to do while I continue the job search.
Not that that seems to have an end in sight. I know that could change with one email or letter. It just that after the course I was on cost me the possibility of a job. Well you can tell I'm, how would you say, antsy. And with the seasons heading for the festive time of year, the lack of money makes things worse.
Then there is my computer acting weird. I have tracked it down to misbehaving memory modules. Or at least one of them though I haven't checked to see which one it is. It has been causing unexplained crashes, where it just switches off, to the blue screen of death. Memory dump bla, bla is reported in BSOD incidents. I did take the memory out and reseated it in a futile hope it would fix it. No luck. Just one more reason I need to find a job soon.
