Melonie Made Me Do It

4 jobs I've had in my life:
Technical Support / Call Centre / ARC Staff
not had any other jobs - that's my 1st and only

4 movies I could watch over and over:
Lord of The Rings : all of them
The Last Samuri
51st State
Bulletproof Monk - very hard to choose I have a very large DVD selection

TV shows I love(d) to watch:
Startrek : Any of them
Stargate
Doctor Who
Hmm anything that isn't "Reality" TV that I find SO SO SO Boring

4 places where I have lived:
Not Lived anywhere but where I live just now sorry to disapoint,
See I am boring.

4 places I've been to on vacation:
London (a few times)
Relatives for summers many years ago.

4 places I would rather be:
West Virginia,
Indiana,
Hawaii,
Somewhere I could relax, actually relax and feel like doing something rather than just sitting staring at a pc screen.

4 of my favourite foods:
Hmm tricky but it would have to be something like:
a nice fillet of fresh trout,
brocolli,
roast potatoes,
melon (or somthing like that)

4 websites I visit daily:
Melonie
Sharon
Moogie
Laura

4 people worth tagging:
I can't think of anyone who's not already been tagged, Im like that person you send those e-mails that say I must get this back and you never get them back from me. I'm a safe bet never to pass on anything I don't is worthy of passing on.

Virus Alert!

Okay this one has been around for a while but the latest current varient is a bit of biatch, it deletes / overwrites 11 types of files, for more info read here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4661582.stm
No need to panic - all you need to do is make sure your Anti-virus software is up-to-date and has been ran recently (you do have anti-virus software don't you I do believe I recommend it a while back - don't say you wasn't warned!) and keep an eye out for "dobious" e-mails, get mailwasher / mailwasher pro (the pro is worth the cash as you can report it to spam cop :D and speaking of which I got my 1st reply back from a ISP about an IP / site - shut down in 24hrs or less :D Party On.
Oh I don't get to relax this week either - oh well.

What a week

Where do I begin!
I'll begin with last friday, no not 2 days ago, 9 days ago.
I was busy most of the day finishing off testing and packing camera equipment and other pieces of equipment that was going to installed on the monday / tuesday / wednesday.
All packed up and tested by 4pm :) ready to be packed.
Early starts all week which helped (kinda!)

Monday - customer #1 - 2 fixed dome style camera to look after the way in and out of the site, customer changed the spec on us, we can't see the barrier they've since installed as where we were putting the camera can't see it if a truck is being weighed on the weighbridge.
Loaded up the 4 cameras, digital video recorder (DVR), keypad, cat5e cable, power cable, co-ax cable, connectors for the cat5 & co-ax, tools, etc into the hire car so my boss and his son & camera tech, could drive 450 miles to customer #2 to do all the work needed.

Tuesday - they arrive at customer #2, meanwhile I'm let out the office (they do this now and then) to go to help my colleague finish most if not all the wiring to an alarm system that I'll need to help program at a later date for customer #3, as I was seriously the only one small enough to get into the attic spaces as well hmm the hatches to get to them are shall we say "small" I could just get in them.
I hear you asking why, 2 cables needed run from sensors back to the main panel as it would be easier to do that than run them to where we were running the other cables for that section of the building. It's a garden centre with a restruant attached and all the walls are erm 18" thick. We got there about 10:30am , we didn't leave until 6:20pm, the place closes at 6pm. Got back home late. During the day I was getting phone calls on this and that from the boss, like why no video here I said to check the cabling and then this or that.

Wednesday - Im back in the office, discovered after I had asked the question yesterday to my boss - are all the cameras and the cat5e to co-ax convertor hub (which needs power!) on the same phase, reassured by 1 guy onsite yes but we are on the limits for our supply! then discover they aren't, Great!
We had them re-wire them all to same phase of the supply, now I don't know if you've ever had to work with cat-5e and tried to put connectors on the end but it's not the easiest (cat-5e is that cable that has what looks like a big phone connector on it 8pins, sometimes called an RJ-45 connector on the end and is used to connected pc's to other pc's and switches, routers, cable modems etc) Those are Fiddly to up on if you don't have small fingers / cable fanned out in the right order and cut square as well cables don't always connect! We got it all resolved by 5pm (i finish at 4).

Thursday - Return to normallity, everyone is back in HQ, now all we need to do is get pictures back from customer #2 to base.. Easy - NO!!! Need to get into router to configure it so that it points at the dvr so our software can connect to it, Simple, you've guessed it dear reader - NO it wasn't!
Called the ISP who provides the adsl line to customer #2, 1st call was very helpful that let us get into the router with the username and password they provided us with - yeah they password protected the router (stops people changing stuff on it) now the thing is what do you when it says "Speedtouch 510" on the outside but when you get the page up for it, it says "Speedtouch Alactel" (didn't get around to till late on thursday as it was catch up day). We weren't (I wasn't!) getting anywhere and it was like 4pm so I went home and we stopped for day)
Friday - 3 calls to ISP (Demon Internet - named and shamed - 1 from the guy down there like we were told to do) couldn't resolve what we wanted to do which was where do we go to get to "Port Forwarding / NAT / Port Mapping" as said yesterday it was a Alactel (looking at isp's webpage says the supply a speedtouch 510 nothing about speedtouch alcatel!) - they all said can you call us back when your in front of a pc by the router which we had the guy down there do with us listening in via the guys mobile - I said I was offsite and it was a distance away - I gave up, called the maker of the router and in 2 minutes resolved the problem what it had taken 3 calls and 30 minutes of wasted time by all to get the ISP tech support to tell us. Got into the router got the guy to set up what we needed for each of the "ports" there were 3 needed to be done, set the ip address of the router to somewhere that wouldn't be used as well needed to fix that as well if the power went out and there was no pc attached it would get a different IP (possibly - didn't want that) so we were done with the router had the guy go the DVR and set that up to the ip address we'd given it, had him save the all the changes and exit, and then tried to connect. Success 1st time connect :) Thank ****ing god! this was done at 3:30pm Friday only taken 2 days - I'd have been down or the boss would have done it if he had, had time wednesday but took so long on simple things like connections, power etc not his fault..
Saturday - Installed broadband for my dear sister :D - now Aol broadband says it needs 98se and won't work below that my 98se cd wouldn't play ball with the cd-rom in her machine so when I ran the CD it went and told me it couldn't find bits to finish the install, had to re-do the install of 98. Once I got back into windows I then just had to install broadband usb drivers - AoL CD said it couldn't do that, I knew otherwise :D - i ran the driver installer manually and it worked sister has broadband and she happy with it..

MY Router - Continued!

Sorry If I made some people go eh!? or make their brain hurt a little trying to understand it, sorry it's my technogeekie side showing.
The basics of it are it a bit of kit I plug my adsl line into, plug my computers into , power up and it connects them all to the net flawlessly. I have something similar set up on one machine it uses software to do the same thing using a seperate modem instead of having one built in. That explain it better, well I got a e-mail reply today from the makers of it - I put in a support request on it and got the reply back today, I've to check / Change something (I won't go techie on ya) and double check my e-mail server settings with my ISP and hopefully all will be well. Im gonna do that at the weekend. I've had a fun few days and I will post about them soon, when I can find energy to do another post..

My Router - The Final Chapter....?

Okay well I got another router a really nice D-Link 504T which does all that i want it to do finally got it hooked up, and it all looked like it was working swimmingly until I noticed I wasn't getting any replies back from spamcop for all the spam I report and Mailwasher had been hanging kinda and i had to force it close.. I then let it finish 2 related errors it couldn't connect to my isp smtp service to send mail out..
Theory checked with a quick test mail which FAILED..
So as of now I'm back on the old system that has worked so faithfully
ADSL Modem Uptime 8hrs..

No I've not died

I am still alive, I have been leaving descreet notes of this around the blogsphere, a comment here and there to let some pople know Im still here.
What a week or so it's been at work. We've got a few contracts that are just now starting to kick off in a big way, need the equipment all checked and working so that's what I've been doing, that and talking nicely to our dome camera suppliers about the next fault I've found with one of their cameras - not been many just the order I think was a little rushed as well our customer was going hmmmmmmmm a lot on deciding what to go for etc.. Built the 1st lot up to discover hmm dodgy on/off switch in that it wouldn't switch at all, unfinished welding on a dome didn't look good and could have leaked and a camera failure which of course meant I was delayed in getting the 2nd customers cameras checked over which I've just done or at least enough to be going on with, as well what I've checked goes live as of monday, customer #1 is getting it all done over the tuesday / wednesday and on one of those days I will be out the office at an other customers helping my colleague finish off the cabling of their new alarm system which i've then gotta adjust the programming on, name the zones, types of zones, users and user codes, redo the engineer code.
So what time I've had has been taken up either sleeping or chilling out I've not forgotten any of you guys out there honest.
I will try and get out this weekend and takes some pictures I need the exercise I think..

Hugs to all

Blogger World Trailer Park - Buttons

Okay folks post yer ideas, comments, comments to the ideas, comments to the comments and replies to the above below...
Constructive Ideas about overall size, shape, possible colors and wording that will be in all the buttons (or color sets so say BWTP - in 16 different colors with different background colors etc) allowing space for Individualisation of the button - Might be able to even do 2 seperate buttons and combine them with a bit of code I could probably make up.

Gopher's Random
Blog World
Trailer Park
Ramblings

Like That but the background image and the BWTP text would be as one, then all you need to do is a create the overlay - don't worry about getting it to work - that's what others are here for ;) and management :D

m***********g bl***y routers!

In case dear reader you hadn't guess I'm well to put it mildly ROYALLY PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!! Now I got a router on saturday, lets just say it wasn't upto the spec I wanted returned it and got it changed for one that claimed it would do the job with Port Forwarding and the like, look at manual - impressive should do the job. Did it, did it HELL as like. I set it up and after logging in with the default admin & password supplied guess what I got..... A Page very, very similar but with fancy graphics to the 1st router i.e all I could do was set up my username and password to connect to my ISP, no menu system, no **** all.. Me ROYALLY PEEVED! only set it up today as well was busy yesterday, so tomorrow is gonna be a very good day, unless your anywhere near the either end of the phone when I call the shop...........
Do Not By Origo ADSL Routers - what they say on the box isn't what ya get inside!!
Yours

ROYALLY PEEVED & PISSED OFF!

In Reply to "A Quiz of Questions"

Okay thank you for the response I'll try and be as open and honest as I can and if I can't I'll say I can't.
What a varied and mixed bag of questions well I did ask for that.
Here goes.

DB - Hmm here are yours.

1. Where's the nearest Pub... and why aren't you there partyin more often?
   
   Hmm nearest Public House (if you can even call it that more of a Dive) is called the Cleickim Inn simply because one of the roads near it is called Cleickimin Cresent, it's well lets see down the bottom of my street, near my Favourite Pizza place, about 25 yrds away. Why aren't I partying there more often it's not the place to party, got a few places to party but hmm they are far enough away to be good places to go but full of people, Im not really a party person, Im the quiet type didn't ya know.



2. When are you planning to visit Hawai`i?
   
   Hmm tricky one as well I don't actually own a passport, only once been outside mainland UK, well not really now as there is a road joining the Isle of Skye to the mainland but been to the Isle of Skye & Thruso to the North of Me and London for my friends wedding and a few other times - furthest south I've been. So erm not for a while.



3. How long have you been in IT?
   
   Strictly speaking Im not in IT, although my job does entail the use of computers and doing technical support for the companies 2 engineers + all our customers who have problems with their alarm systems. I'm also the guy that gets the new kit to figure out how it all goes together. If your taking involvement with PC's / computers then since i was about 10, on ye olde BBC B Microcomputer at school, typing in programs to see what they did. Got my first computer (so to speak) when i was 12, ZX Spectrum 48K elite computer, I've just picked up stuff from there like how to build, install new parts and resolve hardware / software conflicts - although somethings still puzzle me. Hope that answers your questions.


Junebugg

4. How the hell did you get the name Gopher?
   
   Hmm well that's an interesting story actually. I did go to university right after I finished school (bad idea probably!). I did get to meet a lot of people, I made some good friends most of which I keep in touch with today. Univeristy was a high point and a very low point as well, all i can say is I've stared into the Abyss but didn't leap (Don't ask for any more info!). I have a love of computers and well I was good at finding things plus there was around that time a puppet on kids TV over here called "Gordon The Gopher" now my first name is Gordon so you can see how it came about, don't know who started it, it just happened and I didn't get mad at them. It would be Gordon go find this on the net, evetually it became Gopher Go find this as well I was good at it, Still am at ferreting out Information, glitches in blog templates etc. Yup Answered that :D


Jackie

5. Can you describe your best childhood memory?
   
   Hmm this is a tricky one Jackie, I have a few. The one I gonna go is a christmas one, I was 12, mother had put ribbon all over the living room for me to follow, I found bits and pieces, a TV, my computer and such it was fun, set it up and well played it till it died (which was quick - it had to a fault :( ) never mind got fixed.
   Another is summer time I'd always be out till like 9pm at a local Country Park, I knew most of the staff by name, I have this infectious humour and ability to make friends temporarly so was never bored. Reminds me need to go find a few of the people I know from back then.
6. 
   
   Moogie
   
7. If you could pick one thing in your life to do over or change, what would it be?
   
   Hmm I honestly can't think of anything I'd chance as well if I change something in they myriad of possiblities I may not have gotten to know you all if my choices had been different. It's actually a miricle Im here at all, let's just say there is a the gap between my age and my parents is greater than my age. Maybe the one thing I'd have changed is getting my spine fixed when I could have gotten it fixed easier or rather trying not to have it needing to be done in first place.


Wahwer

8. Seaside vacation or mountain getaway?
   
   Hmm now that depends on who's going with me. I don't dislike large crowds but sorry I can't take the heat so it would have to be some where cool, somewhere I could actually relax, if i can even remember what that is. Most likely it would be mountain getaway as the Seaside places tend to be crowded with idiots thinking they are cool..
   


Roxi

9. Who are you?
   
   Tricky, and yet not tricky. Many meanings to this question. Who am I..
   Well my name is Gordon, I'm 31, from a village in Western part of the Kingdom of Fife in Scotland. I don't have a girlfriend at the momement, my previous girlfriend was my 1st girlfriend, lets just being dump hurt. Im F.I.N.E (go watch the Italian Job - the remake for what that means or google it). I'd say FINE sums me up actually quiet well. I like a multitude of musical styles and stuff from Queen to Athlete, Ash to The Chemical Brothers and many more I can say I listen to. Im the youngest of 4 children (although I will only acknowledge having 2 sisters - I've hinted why in previous posts) I read many books from Harry Potter to the Kinsey Milhone series so I have wide musical and reading tastes. I can cook, have written poetry - see my website for that - link on sidebar. Think that does that.


Vicky Waters

10. I've never been to Scotland, so if I go what food unique to Scotland should I try?
    
    Hmm well there is the thing Scotland is famous for Haggis, my some fresh caught local brown or rainbow trout is nice if you like fish. We are the crossroads for such a diverse range of people that you can get any style of food depending on where you are. I'd say Haggis or maybe black pudding (bit dry for my liking), or find a fish and chip shop and have fish n chips - we do it real nice up here :) - Hope that helps

Wow long post took me a while to write hope that answers all your question.
Addition:

Melonie:

11. What is your favorite "guilty pleasure" on television? Is it some reality show? A soap opera? A sitcom?
    
    Hmm i don't really have 1 as such, it's certainly not "reality" TV sorry I hate that whole senario. Probably be something like Dr. Who or something like that..



12. What is your favorite literature (I use this term loosely) genre? Mystery? Sci Fi? Fiction?
    
    Hmm Well I like a bit of Sci-Fi, I've read all of Douglas Adams books, Some of the Discworld Series by Terry Pratchet. I also Read Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series so mystery, crime, sci-fi oh and I've been known to pick up the occational book by Jill Mansell



13. Do you fish?
    
    In a word, NO i like fresh caught fish but I don't have the patience to sit and wait for a bite, the few times I've tried I've gotten nothing.



14. What was your favorite cartoon as a child?
    
    I had several like Hong Kong Fooey, Captain Caveman and the like well early 80's toons, ya dig

Come On, Come On

Hmm 5 Questions posted so far.. Come on people I know there are few of you out there that haven't commented but well I know want to ask me something.. I will think on those 5 that have all ready been posted, after all what's the point of doing this if you I don't answer them correctly or do a polotian on ya and give half an answer. Post more Questions in Post Below. Thank you.

A Quiz of Questions

Okay I know I may regret saying this but well I think Moogie has done this kinda thing and I think a few others too, so here goes. Pose me a question, I'll answer anything within reason. Junebugg the question that you asked my in my last post will be answered. Now Post your Questions in Comments Thank You.
Sanity Restored (Well Maybe - We're debating it right now all of us.)

Why do I even bother?

I sometimes wonder why I even bother to have a blog you know. Why I bother to leave comments on other peoples blog, that I read on a semiently daily / weekly / biweekly basis at random points. I often even wonder why I get up at all sometimes, why I put up with all the shit I put up with, taking flak from all around and stuff. I often can't be bother posting even I have something to say, often can't be bother posting comments on other blogs. I even think of deleting the whole thing and disappering offline forever sometimes. Unstable is how best to describe me right now, can be happy doing something completly boring or really intrigacate and be bored with it the next sec or if it's World of Warcraft get pissed off when Im clearly doing something and the enemy comes along (1,2,3 or more) and kills me when Im busy doing something then laugh like it some motherfucking joke to them.. Times like that I just think why do I even bother.
Post could go on and on but you get the point.. Comments are On (For now!)