Battersea Web Design interactive web
I went to Bungay yesterday to visit the Fisher Theatre where Elephant Shelf is playing a double header with Rupert Herries on October the 3rd. It’s quite a trek as its up near Norwich and its a lovely place even though its a 220 mile round trip. Ralph and Vicky came with me and we checked out the theater for all the techie stuff ,arranging the get ins and so forth.
It’s rain Jim but not as we know it. I quite like rain in the right place, and this is no doubt something genetic about being British and wet and proud of it. Drip Dry hair helps too of course.
I wonder if I will get any interviews?
It’s been a long time since I was in an office (2 years now) and 14 years since I had a job interview so if I do actually get as far as attending one its going to be a pretty weird experience. My real problem is I am rubbish at phone calls, I much prefer emailing because it gives me time to think about what I am saying as I suspect that there are times when I don’t make as  much sense verbally as I should. I am going  for everything from admin to IT work and of course including government temping too. Being 52 now is not going to help either I suspect. Having a long term depressive illness is a bit of a drag too, as at the moment I am feeling reasonably well, but it tends to creep up on me when I least expect it. My finances are pretty dire now too. To give a rough analogy I am 2000 miles out over the Atlantic but but I only have 500 miles worth of fuel left so I am not going to reach NY… even with a very fair wind
What skills have I got ?
IT consultant/Developer:
Web and programming skills including the following:
php asp VB 6 Java SQL Perl C# and Html XML JavaScript Ajax. UNIX LINUX Vba for MS Office
Photo-shop & Flash ActionScript
Ecommerce sites >
Click >>Here for an example using php and Smarty with full paypal integration
Web hosting
Prince11 project management.
10 years commercial experience, central government projects, including managing ITC for 300 users at the Parole Board for England and Wales.
Office admin:Case working, minute taking,  HR , reporting, diary organising,  file management, scanning photocopying, photocopier mantainance, prepairing reports for audit & bla.
Musician Composer
Radio play for solo material and for Band & Duo National and local
Cabaret Performer Music & Comedy
Previously performances at:
Kings head Theatre Islington, The Bull and Gate, Purple Turtle Camden Jazz after Dark Soho  The Celler Door  Covent Garden  The Joogleberry Theatre Brighton Dingwalls  The Bull Barnes O’Neils Chain of music venues.  The Abbey & After Office Hours Bullet at Kentish town Oliver’s Jazz Bar Greenwich The Crown & The Cock Tavern Kilburn & the Music Palace.
My Solo Album is available as to buy as download on Amazon E Music Rhapsody ITunes & Napster Selling but very slowly.
I have a CD ready and mastered but I can’t afford to press it at the moment, partly due to my car blowing up.
I am a performing composer and musician playing Piano Violin & Guitar and Bass and some vocals though my voice is somewhat unusual. I regularly gig with the Rock/Roots band Elephant Shelf and also the Delta Ladies duo which mix roots acoustic music and electronica and comedy.
I have a solo project band called Glass Cage.I read, but my sight reading is not that fast.
Musical styles rang from Rock to Blues Jazz Folk and world Music also electronica.
I compose in a variety of styles from pop to rock to jazz and classical oeuvres. I am also expert in multi-media recording and music production. I have a full studio setup which allows me to produce from demo to master recordings.
I could do that at a beginners level for adults I think. OK that sounds like a plan.
So why am I going broke? !!! ***$%^$%^$^%$***!!!
Well maybe.That’s what Napoleon Hill said anyway. So why don’t I believe in the power of positive thinking.
OK my problem is I have done quite a bit of positive thinking over the years and I have manged to get by but I have never really been able to get comfortable, perhaps this is just the human condition.
Cyclothymia:Â
A mood disorder and a form of bipolar disorder. It is defined in the bipolar spectrum. Specifically, this disorder is a milder form of bipolar II disorder consisting of recurrent mood disturbances between hypomania and dysthymic mood. A single episode of hypomania is sufficient to diagnose cyclothymic disorder; however, most individuals also have dysthymic periods. The diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder is never made when there is a history of mania or major depressive episode or mixed episode. The lifetime prevalence of cyclothymic disorder is 0.4-1%. The rate appears equal in men or women, though women more often seek treatment.
Cyclothymia  is also a pain in the arse and severely screws up your life…
Dysthymic phase
Difficulty making decisions; problems concentrating; poor memory recall; guilt; self-criticism; low self-esteem; pessimism; self-destructive thinking; continuously feeling sad; apathy; hopelessness; helplessness; irritable, quick temper; lack motivation; social withdrawal; appetite change; lack of sexual desire; self-neglect; fatigue or insomnia
Euphoric phase
Unusually good mood or cheerfulness (euphoria); Extreme optimism; Inflated self-esteem; Poor judgment; Rapid speech; Racing thoughts; Aggressive or hostile behavior; Being inconsiderate of others; Agitation; Increased physical activity; Risky behavior; Spending sprees; Increased drive to perform or achieve goals; Increased sexual drive; Decreased need for sleep; Tendency to be easily distracted; Inability to concentrate
Ho Hum
Gor blimey gov, its a fair cop, strike a light. Things ain’t what they used to be thats true enough. The Elephant Shelf CD continues to be played on some specialist stations in the EU and also on local radio in the UK too. 20 or so at the moment.
Having been involved in the production of the said item one is fairly pleased. Where this will all lead ultimately is up for debate really I suppose. Its rumored that there will be some festivals to be played in 2010 and we can but hope that it works out.
The long awaited solo CD Glass Cage solo CD is shelved for the moment due my just having to spend money on car repairs so thats that for the foreseeable future. I seem to be as mad as ever, and I badly need a job of some sort sooner or later. I have no idea what I am going to be doing in 2010, buts its getting to be quite a major concern.basically my money will run out around my 53 birthday. Eek.
I do feel OK apart from the usual feeling of impending doom which is quite rational of course considering the situation. I spent today between the Piano and the PC as usual. I am working on a basic but easy to use e commerce product, a sort of shop in a box with a reasonable cost including hosting that I may be able to market to boost my meager existence with. Its almost ready to roll out and it needs the right price tag. Too cheap just won’t do it I am afraid and the wrong price means no clients at all.
OMG I am on twitter
Suddenly I am struck nostalgic: I remember traveling in these often when I was growing up though I seem to recall them as always being gray or black. Quite comfortable but very, very slow. Especially up hill.
Much of the music that I enjoy playing comes from this era or well before it, possibly because it was a less instant time though many things were much more difficult to achieve. The sounds and the smells and the rumbling as we jogged along and every journey took a very long time indeed. Now because of increased traffic journey times our average speeds are back to those of the Ford Pop era or slower in some cases. The girl in the picture is no doubt considering if she should buy the horse as it is potentially a faster means of transport.
It seemed like a good idea at the time. But the circus train is way out on the plain stuck in a one horse town and you don’t have you fair home anymore. What to do? Sweep the Elephants tent out for the last time and hitch hike, but which way is home…
 From a holiday when things were changing quite a bit.