tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115440032011-04-21T23:12:08.877+01:00Why am I called the Fish Guy? Well.. it's a longish story.. Who am I? Just a guy, I guess. Nobody special. Why would you read about me? Well.. you are.Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1130108507512689702005-10-23T22:35:00.000+01:002005-10-24T00:01:47.546+01:00

So yeah.. stuff.Not been able to post for a while as my PC has been working as reliably as a chocolate cannon, just not quite so tasty, nautical or amusing. Now it's just about working.Seen some more annoying I.F.O's (see below) this week.. Wilkinson's had a hideously huge amount of Dancing Things Playing Irritating Tunes, and now lights have been put up in both Stockton and Middlesbrough, though

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1129067396849833302005-10-11T22:43:00.000+01:002005-10-11T22:49:56.856+01:00

If you find the shop you normally buy your condoms from just isn't quite festive enough this autumn, why not pop over to Boots in Middlesbrough. Boots are not content with containing the (two month early) Non Denominational Winter Festival cheer in the several aisles of christmas gifts (which are on the ground floor right by the "healthy" food, despite the fact that gifts are normally in the

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128966316005164872005-10-10T18:33:00.000+01:002005-10-10T18:45:16.016+01:00

It's that most wonderful time of the year... sleigh bells are ringing and plastic homer simpsons dressed as santa are rocking from side to side to the sound of off-key electronic music.Hallowe'en isn't even past us yet - plastic witches hats filled with sugar and e-numbers masquerading as sweets are filling up the stores - but it's already time to be preparing for Non Denominational Wintertide

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128877124294547442005-10-09T17:30:00.000+01:002005-10-09T17:58:44.303+01:00

It's Sunday afternoon about half past five, and the weekend is almost gone. I really feel like I could do with a few other days off work, but unfortunately I'm back at work tomorrow.Friday night was Persecution as normal - well, it's never normal really, but there you go.Headed over to Anna's Saturday afternoon and helped her sister Claire demolish the metal cabin beds in her room. Stayed over

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128689125855625222005-10-07T13:33:00.000+01:002005-10-07T13:45:25.863+01:00

Ah, work on a Friday..Sure, it's still work, but it's more relaxed feeling and we all dress down, which is nice.Today I am wearing a custom T-shirt I made with the phrase "Fix it yourself." written on it, which is certainly apt for working on tech support.I'm actually just training people still so it's less relevant, but people still wander over and ask for help so it is still appropriate.

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128635880443832282005-10-06T21:19:00.000+01:002005-10-06T22:58:00.463+01:00

The internet ate the post I wrote on Wednesday. Annoying really because I thought it was quite a good post. Eloquent even. Well, maybe. Worst thing about it is that I can't remember what I wrote at all..

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128278954749300062005-10-02T19:48:00.000+01:002005-10-02T19:49:14.760+01:00

I just made myself dinner, then dropped it on the floor.I'm hungry.

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128249398590653842005-10-02T08:38:00.000+01:002005-10-02T11:36:38.596+01:00

It's 8:35 and I am standing in a bus stop waiting for a bus that may not exist. (Sunday buses suck.) I'm in work today; I haven't worked sundays since before I was training people. It's odd having to get up early like this. It's quiet. Too quiet. At least I got to stay in bed longer than normal - shifts start at nine on weekends. No sign of a bus yet. Hope I don't wind up being late. I have a

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128200349081625642005-10-01T21:26:00.000+01:002005-10-01T21:59:39.630+01:00

Yesterday was dress down day at work, and also payday.I made use of both of these events by buying goth accessories from a place called kindamagik in the Dundas Arcade in Middlesbrough and freaking the people at work out by wearing them all afternoon. I like the looks that one gets doing things like that. Lots of daft questions were asked (no, I don't worship Satan..).Yesterday evening we went to

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1128013427899258642005-09-29T17:55:00.000+01:002005-09-29T18:03:48.540+01:00

At work at the moment doing some overtime.. it's odd being here after I normally go.. the people I normally talk to aren't here and it feels a fair bit different. The money is a reason I guess...oh, and read beaver and steve.

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1127973762630889132005-09-29T07:01:00.000+01:002005-09-29T07:02:42.636+01:00

I have to leave the house in about 20 minutes but I just feel so very exhausted right now.Just.. want.. to.. sleep...Coffeee is my saviour.

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1127952103578948972005-09-29T01:00:00.000+01:002005-09-29T01:01:43.586+01:00

There weren't as many people there as I'd expected, but it was great!I am tired and cold and hungry. Either I'll head to bed or get some hot coffee cake or something.

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1127898244009020662005-09-28T10:04:00.000+01:002005-09-28T10:10:35.596+01:00

I now have free sky digital television thanks to those nice people at sky having an agreement with my employer. I haven't actually had a TV reception at all for ages.. and now I have hundreds of channels. I feel a bit out of my depth when presented with such a huge list.. I can never find anything..In other news, my computer was playing up so I reformatted it.. and now I can't get my copy of XP

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1127831164332851462005-09-27T15:26:00.000+01:002005-09-27T21:28:48.916+01:00

This weekend just gone our friends Rebecca and John got married in Kent.. but that's just the short story.Anna was one of the bridesmaids, which obviously complicates the matter a lot (not in a bad way I hope you understand).. it meant that she had to travel down a couple of times over the last months for dress fitting and also the hen night. Anna left on Wednesday night to head down to Kent,

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1127818443411373402005-09-27T11:54:00.000+01:002005-09-28T10:11:28.803+01:00

Stuff's happened at work.. I'm not a trainer any more - now I'm part of a group offering "second level" technical support. In other words, helping the tech support agents with the trickier problems.It's okay, I guess.. I'm liking being in a group of allies rather than feeling alone and fighting a losing battle like I did when training people - espescially the team leaders.There's office politics

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1127816164107729562005-09-27T11:16:00.000+01:002005-09-28T10:12:12.916+01:00

First of all, about a week after the events of the "Massive Thumbs Down" entry, I returned home to find that my bathroom had been painted. An odd surprise, considering I hadn't been informed that anybody would be coming in.The following day when I got home I noticed my whole living room had been rearranged. Worse than that though, somebody had been downloading porn using my computer - video files

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1127814603109184622005-09-27T10:50:00.000+01:002005-09-27T10:50:03.146+01:00

I've discovered this handy "email to blog" feature in here that lets meupdate this blog by sending a mail. That means I can update it fromwork without it looking like I am doing.. *shifty glances*I know I've been a bit lax at the way I've been (not) keeping this up todate, so I guess I should update it with what's been going on since Ilast posted.I'll do it in seperate posts I think.More soon.

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1126205792076739172005-09-08T19:49:00.000+01:002005-09-08T19:56:32.083+01:00

I won a prize last month at work. It was awarded to the person who got the most praise from colleagues for being helpful, going the extra mile, and generally being a nice guy.My prize was £100 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers.. I did have a choice, and I picked that because it was pretty much the closest thing to cash really, allowing me to not worry about buying food for a month.Today, at

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1126162668414647192005-09-08T07:39:00.000+01:002005-09-08T07:57:48.423+01:00

One of the team leaders I'm training asked me a question yesterday that I get asked quite a bit at work. When people find out I have 2 degrees and so on, they tend to ask me what I'm doing there. I'll admit it's a good question.. and I think it's got something to do with my own personal fear of failing at doing something I actually want to do, coupled with the difficulty of finding a job in

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1126042057931353352005-09-06T21:56:00.000+01:002005-09-06T22:27:37.936+01:00

Anna's back now, though she's got a bit of a cold bug. That's what she gets for going down them for'n parts...Work: Monday, I was on the phones.Today, I was training again. The difference this time is that the people I'm training are actually team leaders - supervisors.. they get paid more than I do. They didn't treat me with disrespect, which was something I was worried about, but they

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1125857384816278602005-09-04T19:02:00.000+01:002005-09-04T19:09:44.823+01:00

This weekend I've been mostly on my own (well, in the company of gerbils anyway), because Anna has gone down to Kent for a friends' hen-night. At the moment, Anna is on her way back on a bus. I know how long bus journeys feel so I sympathise with her.She left on Friday morning, fairly early - we got up early and went down to the bus stop outside a hotel on the high street and I saw her off.. then

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1125499113898832252005-08-31T15:41:00.000+01:002005-08-31T15:38:33.903+01:00

It's a bit of a Wednesday day today, but more on that later in this post.. I'm going to talk about earlier in the week first.Monday was good. Well, work wasn't great (working on a bank holiday is never fun, plus I was back on the phones as there was nobody to train).. but the evening was amazing, because Monday was my and Anna's four year anniversary.Anna looked incredible in a beautiful velvet

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1125237536726555452005-08-28T14:44:00.000+01:002005-08-28T14:58:56.733+01:00

I'm at Anna's house, it's Sunday afternoon, and it's a sunny yet blustery day.This weekend we went to Persecution at the Falchion again, and while it was fun we left early because Anna had had a bad day and she ended up feeling unhappy-drunk. She did look amazing in a gorgeous black velvet dress with a lace-up front though.Yesterday was A Good Day: we went to Whitby around lunchtime after having

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1124743799729132592005-08-22T21:49:00.000+01:002005-08-22T21:55:16.983+01:00

…the start of another week. What fun.*sigh*First thing’s first.. I had an awesome weekend. It was really cool: we went out on Friday night to Persecution, as I said, and on Saturday we went to a brilliant party just round the corner from where I live. There was cake, and drink, and food, and drink, and cake… and lots and lots of really interesting and deep people. I really like deep people;

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1124556704391206212005-08-20T17:23:00.000+01:002005-08-20T17:56:30.583+01:00

I'm currently at my girlfriend's house typing this on her computer. It's in need of a tune-up from what I can tell.Last night we went to a pub in Stockton called The Falchion (named after a type of sword) where, on Fridays, there is a goth night named Persecution and that's why we were there.That was a very poorly constructed sentence, but oh well.Before we went out we met at my place (just

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1124311279427907972005-08-17T21:29:00.000+01:002005-08-17T21:41:19.433+01:00

Have you ever had one of those introspective moments? I'll explain:One thing we all do is categorise everything.. well, most of the time I try my hardest not to think in terms of categories or - to use the cliché - "pidgeonholes", but it's not easy: I think it's sort of how our brains work.At the end of the day I think it's naturally quite comforting to put things into different categories -

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1124310551909389972005-08-17T21:01:00.000+01:002005-08-17T21:29:11.916+01:00

I was back at work today, training people.. the trainer who had been training the group Monday and Tuesday was off today - gone to hospital (hope she's okay).. so I was kinda picking up what loose ends I could find. Through the course of the day we finished off all the windows packages and are ready to go headlong into troubleshooting & Macs tomorrow. I admit I'd kinda expected they'd have more

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1124190894564956822005-08-16T12:03:00.000+01:002005-08-16T12:16:02.703+01:00

I guess I'll start by describing my job. I work at a call centre *shudder*... I started out on the phones, but now I'm training people to be tech support agents.. not sure how long I'll be doing that for but it's what I'm doing at work right now. Unfortunately I don't get paid any more to do that than a regular tech support agent, despite having greater responsibility (though no greater power).

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1124129541017434102005-08-15T19:25:00.000+01:002005-08-15T19:33:32.713+01:00

Let's try that again...So, here I am updating my blog again. About time.. but what have I been doing in the meantime.. well.. it's all a little complicated but here goes..I got a job..I moved house ..I moved house again..I had to wait ages for broadband internet on no less than two occassions.I fell out with someone who was a good friend then sort of got him back as a friend albeit in a rather

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1124130627075539552005-08-15T19:24:00.000+01:002005-08-15T19:40:36.620+01:00

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1112721015991060582005-04-05T18:00:00.000+01:002005-04-05T18:10:15.993+01:00

So yeah.. continuing on..I need a job. I want to learn to drive. If I learn to drive and get a car, I wouldn't feel too bad about getting a job somewhere else in the country. The main thing that worries me about that is missing my girlfriend.. obviously having transport would make it a lot easier to meet up.So.. I have a provisional license form and passport photos.. when I get my license I'm

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1112720420608701462005-04-05T17:45:00.000+01:002005-04-05T18:00:20.610+01:00

So.. I know I haven't posted here for a while but I don't really have any intention of stopping filling this thing in.The thing is.. well, there's been stuff going on in my life and my mind that's been kinda hard to put down in writing.. but I'm going to try explaining what all that is.. and hell, it might be a bit of an entertaining read.. maybe.Anyway.. it all starts on Tuesday the 22nd of

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1111443580859486292005-03-21T21:59:00.000Z2005-03-21T22:19:40.870Z

Well.. long story short: they offered me the job.Long story long:To be honest.. I didn't think the interview went all that well.. I was flustered, I stammered, I didn't do too well on the test thing, and my mobile phone went off while they were talking to me (I'm sure it was switched off too).. but they offered me the job in the end.So to me that leaves at least two possibilities..First option is

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1111398210941014862005-03-21T09:31:00.000Z2005-03-21T09:43:30.943Z

It's 9:36, my interview's at 2pm; I have to get the train at 10:50 (to be on the safe side, rather than because it's the last train I could possibly get).I'm currently just trying to remain calm and collected. Now, if you know me you'll know how likely that isn't. Yeah.. If you don't know me, look to the left, where it says "I get nervous about all sorts of things."Bleh.I'm wearing some smart

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1111350611291355902005-03-20T20:12:00.000Z2005-03-20T20:30:11.296Z

Some pictures of the thing:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10And a videoToday is proving to be a wierd sort of day, caused mainly be the bizarre sleep pattern brought about by the bus trips yesterday. I woke up at about midday and don't really feel like my brain has turned on since then, which is a bit annoying.Worst thing is that my mouth/throat both feels rather dodgy.. it's like I'm parched and can't

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1111275995522441292005-03-19T23:23:00.000Z2005-03-20T20:11:36.353Z

The Thing:So yeah.. I headed out pretty much straight after writing that, and I've only just gotten back.. so I guess I'll fill in the middle bits.Don't travel National Express unless you can help it. The chairs are designed for someone with rather bizarre proportions, and there's at least 1 too many sets of chairs squeezed in there. If it's a night journey - which mine was - someone near you

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11544003.post-1111187018661135882005-03-18T22:13:00.000Z2005-03-18T23:03:38.663Z

I used to keep a diary. I never really wrote much in it though.. I kept it with me all the time and filled in important dates.. and for ages it helped an awful lot.Then, suddenly I just stopped using it.. midweek. It's strange..But I've never really done anything where I write stuff down about what I'm thinking or feeling.. and I do have thoughts and feelings that I think people would find

Sir Xaphodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04470092136256252882noreply@blogger.com0