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I actually nodded off pretty early last night – during Match Of The Day!  Not that the football was boring… I’d had a heavy first full week at uni and a long Saturday at work (9-6) with 45 mins travel each way too.

After not working at all for 6 months, it was tough going.  I think the hardest part of work, is that you have to keep on the move.  I sold quite a few coffee machines, including a top-of-the range Gaggia and a De’Longhi – Plus, I get to chat to customers about one of my favourite subjects – coffee

Sunday was a much busier day but time flew by as I was only in 11-5 and I’m getting to know our product range a lot better now.

So, I’m just looking over a couple of assignments which have to be in later this week and then I’ll be off to catch some more Zzzzzz

Related articles

• Catering Coffee Equipment: Gaggia Relaunches into UK foodservice Market Through Watermark Coffee Technology (prweb.com)

I’ve created a Flickr set as a photo-journal for my time at the University of Liverpool.
I’ll be adding plenty more during the year.

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So, no sooner had I posted about urgently needing a part-time job whilst I’m doing my MSc – than I received a call offering me the choice of 4 roles!! I’m working weekends in the Electrical Dept. of John Lewis ‘At Home’ Chester.
I must say that I never thought I would have any problem walking into a new job 6 months ago, when I became redundant.  How wrong I was.  The growing unemployment levels and recession have put many more people in the same position as me.  I ended-up applying for anything and everything.  I did get 6 interviews though, which is not bad considering.  I was asked back twice for second interviews too.  But obviously didn’t get those jobs.

Anyway – everything has worked out well.  I guess that for the next 12 months, I’ll be blogging about my MSc course.  Stay tuned, whilst I’m razzing up and down the Wirral on my Vespa between Liverpool and Chester!

Related articles

• Part-time workers on rise in Mass. (boston.com)

Hire Me

I’m going to be studying full-time for an MSc in Computer Science at the University of Liverpool – starting Sept 26th.  I’ll be looking for a part-time job to help fund this and am able to work up to approx 14 hours per week.  I am prepared to do/try anything but would obviously prefer work within the IT/Education sector.  I’m able to work in or around Liverpool/Wirral or available for online projects/contracts.

Please contact me for my full CV – for reasons of privacy, it is not published here.

I’m available for immediate start.

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How often do you feel truly inspired?

Can you remember the first time you thought “Wow! That’s amazing” when you heard someone giving a talk, when you read a book, when you saw a TV show, or when you had an inspirational teacher?

My first “Wow!” moment came as a teenager (I was probably 13) when I was at my best friends house.  I already thought he had the coolest house, family, etc.  There was always some aromatic Caribbean food cooking in the kitchen, cool music playing in a distant room and amazing photographs & art everywhere.

I knew his parents both worked as lecturers at the University of Liverpool but I guess that never really meant a great deal to me at that point…  Anyway, one summers day we were just sitting around his house listening to some Linton Kwesi Johnson on their enormous hi-fi speakers.  I happened to look at a book shelf and see a few with my friends Dad’s name on.  I’d never known anyone who’d written a book.  That was my first ever “Wow!”  – it really impressed me and stuck with me.  His mum was incredible too – such a beautifully warm, intelligent woman, but sadly no longer with us.

Was I inspired?  TOTALLY

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to go to university when I left school – it just wasn’t an option at that time.  But I never forgot this inspirational moment… Instead, I went to work – I worked during the day and studied for a BSc at The Open University and am now (proudly) about to undertake an full time MSc at The University of Liverpool thanks to a John Lennon Memorial Scholarship.

Here’s to you Colin & June Henfrey!

I’ve never counted the number of Apps I have; of course, they’re organised into categories and also alphanumeric order. That goes without saying

it’s 09:37 and so far, I’ve used (WordPress) eBay, mail, Facebook, Echofon, LinkedIn, WeekCal, Wired

Cover via Amazon

I was sitting in my (somewhat compact) office at home this morning, preparing for an interview this afternoon, busy making some mental notes about the company and the job specification, etc. when I found myself wandering off on a train of thought whilst looking at the vast array of books and CDs on the shelves.

How, in an age of  iPods and Kindles, can you form a cultural opinion of someone?  Whenever I’ve been to someone’s house, I quickly scan their bookshelves and CD collections in order to find out what kind of person they are. (I’m sure most of you will have done that at sometime or other)

Will I now have to surreptitiously pick up their Kindle and rummage through it whilst they’re making coffee in the kitchen?  Should I add them as a ‘friend’ on Amazon, so I can see their wish lists?

Whilst I’m at it, I may as well check out what they’ve got on Sky+ too.

Related Articles

• Gadgets (everyburnedbook.wordpress.com)
• Should you buy the $114 or $139 Kindle? (reviews.cnet.com)
• Should You Buy a Sony eReader or a Kindle? (brighthub.com)
• Amazon to launch library lending for Kindle books (teleread.com)

Phew, what a relief to feel that I can genuinely get back to working again, without the fear of being accused of ‘working’ during my paid gardening leave.

It felt like I had a gagging order placed on me. I was never going to bad mouth the college or any of the staff working there – I’m a professional, but I also felt like I couldn’t talk tech.

Any how, “that’s all behind me now” – as the ventriloquist’s dummy said.

Which ever way you look at it – my life has changed dramatically over the past month or so.  My job at Birkenhead Sixth Form College officially ended yesterday… so what next? What indeed?

I’ve already signed-up for an MSc in Computer Science at the University of Liverpool, starting in September.  Before that, I need a job (or two).  I decided to try and set myself up in the Vintage clothes/curios market – trading on eBay.  This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time – so I might investigate about business start-up grants when I have my first (and hopefully last) Job Centre Plus interview on Monday.

I also decided to keep on with my ‘day job‘, working in Edu-Tech, and am setting-up as a Consultant Technologist – so if you want to contact me about any work you have or would like to discuss what I can do for you, simply drop me a line in whatever manner you wish.  I’m on most social sites as ‘colhawksworth’ or you can email/txt me if you already know me and I’ve given you my details.

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I took part in a Podcast today with @craigtaylor @burrough and @StephanieDedhar – we were discussing the subject of compliance training, our best and worse experiences of it and what we in the Learning Technologies field can do to enhance its reputation.

Check out the Podcast here, on Craig’s Blog

Although I have been involved in adhering to IT systems compliance and statutory compliance – I’ve not had to develop compliance delivery across an organisation… so I read up on it before the podcast and made a few notes.

Differences between policies, regulations and Laws

• UK Law, EU Law, International Law
• Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Business Law

Training

• Budget – who pays?  [each dept, Training/Personnel?]
• Time constraints – when will it be delivered
• Method – How will it be delivered
• In-house [expert?] or outsourced?

How to ensure Compliance?

• Internal Policies and Procedures
• Who’s responsibility? Personnel or each department?

Important to ensure compliance – embed it into the workplace culture, as part of staff development, rather than as ‘rules & regulations’ training.