Just Beyond The Bridge

Project 100

Friday, May 27, 2005

Although Superhuman, sometimes even I buckle under the load. Today has been incredibly drawn out but also unbelievably pressured. I had an absolute nightmare with the electronics circuitry earlier, and it took near on eight hours to rectify. Understandably I am craving for sleep; in fact writing this blog entry is an effort. In order to illustate this point the photo included was taken by whoever was sitting behind me in the lecture today. As you can see that is not the face of a happy-go-lucky chirpy IDT student (like they exist anyway).

Design Practice 4 (The Ribeena Widget) seems pretty much wrapped up now, leaving me free tonight. Well, when I say free I actually mean doing the 30 page electronics report, surfacing CAD assignment and the MicroGraphics logo, but it's hardly worth mentioning that stuff. I don't think you quite comprehend how appealing my bed is right now, but unfortunately the incredibly talented and good looking can never stop. Maybe I shall sleep tomorrow?

I text Sister One who informed me her driving test didn't entirely go to plan. Although sparing with the minors, running a red light at a pedestrian crossing is considered a major. Sorry sis, maybe next time.

I will sum up this entry with a famous quote. I think it was Winston Churchill who once said "F**k electronics coursework for a laugh". Or something like that.

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3am

Thursday, May 26, 2005

This is the third night in a row that I'm going to be hitting the sack post-three o'clock. Not the most suitable time to go to bed, but unfortunately having a life on my course is workload permitting and at the moment my engines are going at full tilt, with afterburners burning brightly.

Achievement has been steady today. The boards have been printed, and masterfully done at that. I had no idea that Ed was going to be printing them on proper photo canvas, and I was therefore so pleased to see the final result. It looks awesome now all mounted up on the foamboard.

I spent most of the day in the electronics lab again (much like I will tomorrow). Jim and I are making progress, but there is a considerable gap to breach between here and project completion. This time I would like my circuit to work (unlike last submission).

Following an exciting day at the oscilloscope, the night was equally exciting. I have just got back from the Bridgeman where for the past 5 hours I have pursued the G1 curvature grail. Meaning nothing to the lay-man, G1 is the technical term for a perfect curved surface on a CAD model. I might have even completed the project if the whole damn system hadn't gone down at ten to midnight. Instead, I spent the next couple of hours sorting out my Micrographics lineart and the mini materials assignment in for tomorrow.

I'm not the only one working. Sean and Flash are both in the 'all night crew', and when I left the Bridgeman, it was still teeming with Industrial Designers.

Only one last thing remains to be said; Happy Birthday Sammi!

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For some reason with no prior warning everything has slowed down to a pace which can only be described as dead. For hours today I sat, nose pressed up against the CNC machine down in the labs watching the words Ribeena engrave onto our mould blocks. The final process.

This was all very well except I should have been doing better things like my electronics (which is shockingly behind schedule). To add to my frustration I woke an hour late (my alarm went off but I dozed to the radio - oblivious to the time passing), I therefore missed breakfast, and totally unrelated, managed to miss lunch too. I was gutted, not to mention hungry.

The thought of the StudentXtra Subway deal dawned on me. For a while there was a glimmer of hope; Buy one sub get one free! Oh the thought. But it didn't happen. By the time I was finally able to contemplate food it was 5pm, meaning that Towers canteen was opening in quarter of an hour and that all the people in town whom I needed to see were no longer about. Totally anti-climatic, rubbed in by the fact that the towers macaroni cheese, carrots and potatoes couldn't have repulsed me more.

On the brighter side, Devito kindly sorted my washing (although he did sabotage my messenger name, prompting questions from some of my contacts) but that mostly went well. Worryingly if it hadn't been done boxers would have started an 'inside-out' cycle the day after tomorrow.

Also today I managed to speak to Nick about business amongst other things. Looks like there could be more work coming through and from a notable client, but as nothing has been discussed, I'm not going to elaborate yet.

I'm currently trying to get the final renders together for the presentation boards. Its hard work. Alias ImageStudio is playing up, and I can only think it's to do with the complexity or size of the file. Just this second I have checked, and am quite pleased to find the render queue has chucked out a half-decent rendering (can't be bothered to fiddle around with the settings like I normally do; this has taken long enough). Looks like it's a Photoshop job. Incidentally I have posted a question about upgrading on Product Design Forums. I haven't decided if I'm going to spend the dollar yet, but The Webmaster's World Domination Machine needs a bit of a kick up the arse at the moment.

As a final note, mother phoned me earlier. Apparently Sister One is taking her driving test tomorrow. I hope she passes. I'm expecting a text at about 11am letting me know she is consigned to a life of chauffeuring me about, that is until manage to get my licence.

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On The List

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

I can't work out what was more profound today; the fact we properly injection moulded a fully working Ribena cap (and it was one hell of a journey), or Jon's birthday invitiation. Let me explain.

I have never received such and elaborate document purely for the purpose of telling me when to be somewhere. Admittedly it's a bit more than that, but Jon's 21st (and his brother's 18th) looks like it could be the event of the century judging by the contents of the bright green, foot-and-a-half long document tube that is the invitation.

The contents were bound with rough string, simply tagged 'Andy'. After removing the elaborate band, then the wrapped-up papers fell out. This included:

  • One A3 poster; advertising the event, the 'Out of Africa' dress code and reason for celebration
  • One document explaining the festivities and intricacies
  • One page detailing the accommodation/tented village situation
  • One 'Response' form
  • One SAE, First Class.

I am very impressed, and so has every other person I have shown it too. I am yet to decide on costume, but I'm definitely contemplating some colonial based theme. Looks good.

Despite this mood for party, I, unfortunately, am not afforded that luxury at the moment. I seem to be spending most of my time in my department worrying about work, and then more time out of my department worrying even more. It's not great; the clock really is ticking.

At least we injection moulded today. The fit is (finally) perfect and so this is one thing to be happy about . Only one job remains pertaining to the mould and that is the automated engraving process. The task is not a desirable one, and thankfully I have done enough of a share of the build work on this to allow the job to go to someone else.

More cheques have been drizzling in today. I still haven't got the full quota, but it's better than nothing. I hope to put the order in tomorrow night. I also seem to have made progress regarding the echosnightclub.co.uk wild goose chase. At least I now have acknowledgement by the people who registered it, so hopefully I will be able to resuscitate it soon. Just waiting on their email.

Another sunny day passes, another sunny day I miss. I can't wait for Finalist's Week.

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Not Fully Constrained

Monday, May 23, 2005

ProEngineer is rubbish in the strongest sense of the word. I have been sat in front of that friggin' computer all day and still the result is 'nil point'; that means it's even worse than Germany's 2005 entry in Eurovision.

To make things duller, the weather is nasty and that list of things I was moaning about yesterday is still being moaned at. Following a disastrous start this morning (my alarm clock failed to go off leaving me three hours behind schedule), I managed to miss Flash's trial run out on Beacon Hill and have yet to receive any more cheques which means I'm knocking on doors tonight (Yes, me. Do I look like a bailiff?).

But that's my rant over and done with. No more negativity in the blog tonight. I am going to convince myself that I am in a positive mood and can achieve anything - including the degree show bits and wading through six foot of post-it notes - fun. Ok, I tried and failed. You are just going to have to cope with cynicism of Malthusian proportions.

The strangest thing for me at the moment is that I'm caught in limbo between reality and something else. It doesn't feel like all these exams and things are around the corner, but I know they are. The worst thing is the 'something else', as I'm not entirely sure what it is. Have I forgot to do something? Is it just the disbelief that in a couple of weeks the Towers Era is going to be over? Maybe I'm just going mad slowly, provoked by all that CAD I'm failing at. Answers on a postcard please.

Right, back to the rockface.

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Cheques

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Today has been mixed. I've done Comedy Club, some CAD and sent out several emails. Really just tying up loose ends.

Despite this I still have a mountain of things to sort out, including chasing up cheques from the FC committee, buying a copy of New Design magazine (my degree show logo has been printed) and sifting through a list the length of my arm.

One other reason why today has been a bit unpleasant, is that my eye is red and swollen. Not sure why, but I reckon I've got some oil or swarf caught in it. The sooner it clears up the better; I hate stuff to do with eyes.

Just done a wide scale tidy-up as my room was a state. Despite the attempt, there are still considerable 'washing issues'. Clean socks are harder to find by the day; boxers are in short supply, but there are still provisions for a couple more days and everything... well everything else is on at least its second cycle. It either means a call to the parents (who I have alluded all day today despite my best attempts to be contactable) or I have to face The Machines myself. Only time will tell whether I'm still smelling of Fabreeze by my birthday.

Nick came over again today. This time I was the client. I picked out the shirts for French Cricket and Pedalo and although there maybe issues in membership numbers (which actually are increasing by the day) the stash will be superb (providing we can afford it).

Looks like I could be going off up Beacon Hill tomorrow to help Flash with his major project. It's looking fairly nice and tomorrow is D-Day for his open fire stove - we're BBQing. I hope we get some decent sausages.

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Diet Coke

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Today has been a good day. Good in every single way. The only pitfall is that I am writing this blog entry now, when I should be out and about in Lufbra on a Friday night.

The morning started with a lecture that never happened, and so Jon and I spent our time in the workshops continuing with the injection moulding project. We injected for the first time and it's looking good, although we are going to have to resolve some issues with the tooling - like bits of it won't come out of the moulding, but we're getting there.

I learnt how to create ProNC code for the CNC machines. We also had a group meeting where we posed for photos for the log book and made some headway with the boards, although there is still some way to go, hence me being in on a Friday (which coincidently, does not feel like a Friday).

Good things unrelated to work include Nick paying me the outstanding on the StudentXtra account and also supplied me with more free Diet Coke. Not a particularly huge fan most of the time, but when you get a free consignment of 24 cans, then you can't help but like the stuff.

I spoke to Tongy a few days back and he outlined what direction his website is going to take. I am well excited about it - I love getting my teeth into something with such a creative licence. I can't wait.

Besty spoke to me yesterday. I got an email informing me that my trip to the top of the tower has been sanctioned. I feel really privileged - as far as I know, no one has been up for years, not even Besty. I had to fill out a risk assessment but it looks set to happen sometime in the next few weeks. The only reason permission has been granted is so that I can take the official photos. I really hope we have some more sunny days coming...

I have noticed I have started having MSN conversations in (very poor) French. I don't know what has caused this continental urge, but I will try and restrain myself from now on as it is starting to worry people (especially the French).

Finally, and definitely the most epic-like event of today was OC 24. Some hysteria was building at lunch when rumours spread that Cardboard Tom might have seen it and by 8pm I was fully satisfied and had completed the whole of Season 2. Wow. What an ending. There are only four American programs worth anything in this world and they rank in this order:

  • The O.C. - Queen of teen drama, yummy girls and yummy mummies.
  • Judge Judy - This woman is a legend. The young should be forced to watch this until they have similar moral values to the new Iron Lady.
  • Malcolm In The Middle - Another FOX show, this show provides the perfect mix of comedy, family and anarchy. Reminds me of home (too much).
  • Futurama - Unfortunately prematurely curtailed, Futurama provided some of the best 3D cartoon work, satirical comedy and quotes of the era like:
    • "It's like that drug trip in that movie I saw when I was on that drug trip."
    • "Valentine's Day's coming? Aw crap! I forgot to get a girlfriend again!"
    • "Oh wait, you're serious. Let me laugh even harder."
    • "At the risk of sounding negative, no."

I should get out more.

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This is Just Beyond The Bridge

Something About Me

Called Andy, I am passionate about design, love to travel, and have a knack for all things digital. This is the full story…

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