Journal Entries
Welcome to the Real World
Posted Apr 23, 2007
After the heady days of running a bar and a night club, being at the apex of the Darmstadt social scene, and generally having a ball, I have to admit that going back into IT was a bit of a let down at first.
The job was with a small start up company involved in documentation for the Medical Equipment and Pharmaceutical industry. I began as a part-timer, translating from German into English and generally tidying-up existing documents. However, as the company grew my role expanded and I went from translator to writer, then to editor and, finally as we moved into the electronic media age, I became responsible for developing the companies production and communication systems and ended up as the Director of Advanced Media for the company.
From 1992 through 1999 I learned the basic skill set for modern information presentation. As a writer and editor I learned how to design and produce good documentation. With the development of hypertext, I learned how to develop online help systems, basic multimedia presentations and acrobat documents. And to top it all, I was in at the birth of the World Wide Web, building our companies first websites and even helping to organize the Third World Wide Web Conference in Darmstadt.
During these years I got to work with some cutting-edge hardware and software teams in the fields of industrial robotics, molecular science, information retrieval and presentation, and virtual reality. On reflection, this was probably the most interesting and educational period of my career to date.
The success of course, filtered through to my personal life. The increased salary meant I was able to see my children more often and, in fact enabled me to have my two youngest sons in Germany for the whole of their summer holidays. My woman was happy as well, it lifted a lot of the financial pressure from us and gave our relationship a second lease of life.
But, as all good things, it came to an end when the company was bought by a larger one and they wanted me to be just another cog in their great machine. So it was back freelancing for me.
...............continued
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Latest reply: Apr 23, 2007
Memoirs of an Infomad
Posted Dec 24, 2003
Dublin, Day 2
Got myself out of bed early the next morning. I had a map of where the job was but no idea of how to get there. It was pointless asking the reception staff, a bunch of South Africans and Kiwis who knew every watering-hole within a 20km radius but couldn’t give a toss about some office block.
Lucky for me there was a convent opposite and I literally bumped into the Irish version of Mother Theresa as I left the B&B. After quizzing me on my spiritual state and my ancestors for several minutes she finally decided that as a Scouser I wasn’t completely damned and directed me to the nearest stop for the bus to Drumcondra.
Sure enough, a 10 minute walk through a park, translucent in the sharp winter sunshine, a 5 minute wait and a 15 minute bus ride through a Georgian South Suburbia landed me in downtown Dundrum and I stepped into my first working day in Ireland.
It wasn’t bad as first days go. I was briefly introduced to the team I would be joining. As expected they were all as young enough to be my kids but a bright bunch and they positively exuded esprit de corps; a good sign. The job is always easier when you join a good team.
Unfortunately, the day took a turn for the worst when I was invited for a private chat with the boss, which of course consisted of the obligatory corporate philosophy, organization structure, accepted work practices etc. All the usual guff they feed the new recruits. Department heads are the same the world over. They get so excited at obtaining a new “departmental asset” they forget I’m a mercenary, only signed on for the duration. Thankfully I was rescued by the offer of lunch.
I was careful at the lunch, one glass of wine and a conversation limited to work and cities we both knew a bit about, so the hour and fifteen minutes passed pleasantly enough. Back at the ranch I spent the remainder of my first working day being processed by Human Resources. This was not as bad as it sounds since two of the processors were the kind of girls that make it worth being a male. At the end my boss comes in to tell me that as there was only half an hour left I might as well go home and he would see me in the morning.
It was a cold but clear twilight when I left the office so I decided to walk back towards town and jump a bus when I got tired. I’ve found walking the best way to learn any city. So, with the setting sun on my left shoulder I set off into Monday-evening Dublin.
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Latest reply: Dec 24, 2003
Party Time
Posted Jul 16, 2002
Was at a 70s party in Dublin last week. Had a great time - check out the wigs at http://www.smoothbrothers.com/pix/bren_bday02/frameset.htm
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Latest reply: Jul 16, 2002
KayCee
Researcher U196087
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