You hear that, Mr Andersen?

Promises to keep

Does anyone else remember when they broadcast computer programs over the radio? Basically, you were meant to tune in at the appropriate time, record the transmission onto tape, and then play it back to the computer - it was a set of demo programs to accompany some sort of talk about computers and programming. This would have been back when I was in primary school, so I'd be unsurprised if it's not ringing any bells for anyone else. :)

***

Today has been a somewhat frustrating day. I made sure to arrive to work an hour and a half earlier than I usually do, to do some work on FileMaker before the coordinators and Editorial started - only to find that the Systems team were busy bouncing the core network switches. I still had enough time to do my main task, to remove the LotR and Van Helsing related records... only to find that one of the coordinators is working on LotR stuff, and will be for a couple of weeks. So, back into the databases to try and support that...

Also, I have been trying to return my cable modem and Saturn decoder to Telstra-Clear. I had directions, and (as it turns out) managed to find the right place - but they're in an area closed off by security guards, with big signs saying, "No public access", and no signs to indicate that a telecomunications company is hiding in the vicinity, so I was fooled into thinking that I had made a mistake. (As a side-note, I really don't enjoy trying to spot buildings while I'm driving in a busy multi-lane street - I much prefer paying attention to the road.) I acknowledge that it's entirely my fault; I should have gone up to the security guards and asked for directions. But as it was, I spent my lunchtime driving around the Stadium feeling somewhat stressed and frustrated.

Speaking of Telstra-Clear, one of my flatmates asked a builder working on the new units, and the flats are definitely wired for Saturn. So... I was going to try talking to someone when I dropped their bits and bobs off, but when that failed to happen, I resigned myself to sitting listening to hold music for thirty minutes while they "valued my call" and encouraged me to fax them or look at the website. When I finally got to a person, they were very helpful - they explained that the street number was listed as being not available for service, but they agreed that it was strange that they're be wired for Saturn if Telstra-Clear was going to refuse to connect to them. They arranged for a site inspection to confirm whether or not I'm allowed to give them money, which should take 7-10 working days, at which point they'll be able to say one way or the other whether we can get a connection via them.

(They apparently won't connect to apartments, but this is a town-house, so who knows which side of the fence they'll end up coming down on. Either way, it's another thing that seems to be a whole lot more complicated than it needs to be.)

Coupled with this, and the fact that I'm still feeling very tired despite getting to bed early both nights this week, is that there is still such a huge pile of work to do before I go on holiday, which people seem to be adding to every time I go downstairs. There's a certain theme going on there, I think, since I have a similar enormous pile of stuff to deal with in the flat, in terms of unpacking and clearing my mess out of the communal rooms - but that enormous pile is slightly less metaphorical.

I don't understand why everything suddenly got busy just before I'm about to go on holiday. Roll on Friday - but not too soon, since I've still got a whole lot of stuff to get done before I go. :p

Posted by svend at July 13, 2004 6:27 PM