Jamie R

Only a quickie…
Well, I’ve now officially left TTC - leavers day was today and I got my yellow form signed. No more TTC! Now off to have some fun

On another note, Trivium yesterday announced the name of their new album. Called “Shogun (??)”, I feel it’s sure to be good. Well, atleast hopefully…please please… better than The Crusade. It’s being released on September 30th. Can’t wait.

Jamie.

Well, it’s now June 2008, which is half way through 2008. I feel like I’ve done sod all this year so far but I guess that’s most likely just my own convoluted opinion. Who knows.

Me and Hannah are seeing lostprophets next weekwhich should be good. Missed several chances to see them last year, bad mistake on my part, but sorted now. Anyone coming to the Astoria next week? 11th? It’s not a “proper” tour gig as such, it’s one of several gigs that lostprophets are doing as “warmup” gigs for the big festivals that they’re playing at this summer - Download etc. Should be good laugh.

Me and Miss LJ have been together for 20 months on the 8th. Heck, almost 2 years. You know what? I’ve loved pretty much every minute of it, except from a few little niggles which we’ve passed now. She’s awesome and we’re awesome. Love you

Ermm…ooh and yeah, before I forget. For you IE7 users (I still pity you but I guess it’s better than IE6 and below), I’ll get the main navigation on the site fixed at some point during this week. I’ve been bogged down with all sorts so haven’t been able to get it done.

I’ve started my third and final IT Applied exam today, a day earlier than I first thought, so getting out of bed early was a bit of a shock! Finishes on the 11th though, then TTC sixth form is finished. Leaving TTC will be strange, but I guess it’s gotta be be done at some point in my life. I’ve had a good laugh there and I’ve met some fantastic people, but I guess it’s time to move on and leave Tendring Technology College in the past.

This summer should be good, I hope. Lots of good weather, I HOPE…lots of beaching it with everyone, I HOPE and spending it with the people dearest to me.

Anyway, I’m gonna go get eat my lasagne. For anyone taking school/college exams/driving tests/whatever else, GOOD LUCK!

Jamie.

Enter Shikari on 6th November was bloody awesome. I couldn’t keep up with the fast moving energetic crowd and had to get out of the pit a few times. I lost Weston, but then found him again, he couldn’t survive it either. After getting lots of free water from the bar we went back in for a bit and endured a load more 14 year old wannabe-emo kids smashing into me. It was an awesome concert, but I don’t think I’ll see them again for a while. Don’t get me wrong, they are a FANTASTIC band live, who play FANTASTIC stuff and the atmosphere at the gig was awesome, it was just too violent in a way! I can survive a Metallica gig no problem, but 4,000 young people crammed into the Brixton Academy isn’t really a nice thing, especially if you’re at an ES gig! Too hot!

For you lampie folk out there, this page describes the technical side of the concert. Equipment includes High End Systems Studio Beam washes, Martin Mac 2000’s, Martin Atomic 3k DMX strobes and a Flying Pig Systems Hog 3 iPC for control.

Christmas is, at writing 20 days away. Laura’s off to Australia for Christmas and New Year, she’s leaving on the 14th, so no Laura for 3 weeks. I wish I could fit in her suitcase. Meh ah well - I’d happily trade in most things to go out there with her! What are all you lot doing for Christmas? Going out and getting sloshed? Staying at home with typically-Christmassy chestnuts and mulled wine? Going to Florida or Sydney or wherever? I reckon I’ll just be staying at home - might go and get my pipe and slippers as Nick would say - “fetch me my pipe and slippers young chap, I am a MAN now!” lol.

I found a really embarrassing photo of me at PLASA 2007 on the Avolites website earlier today. Man I look awful. It’s alright though, I found an equally bad one of Ricky at PLASA 2004 (I didn’t find any of us at PLASA 2006)…he’ll hate me

My college’s sixth form revue is on Wednesday 19th, which will be fun. I’ve been busy getting things ready for the lighting side of things. Should be good. This year’s theme is aliens and sci-fi, so I’m thinking lots of green/purple/strobes/whatever I can get my paws on. Hopefully everything will go to plan.

In terms of site news, I’ve added a donations page. Anyone who likes what I do and would like to contribute something to my PayPal account, they can do so through my site. Anything, however small will be greatly appreciated. I’ve also added a new section called “Essex Stage Crew” which is an area of the site which will be detailing more of my theatre work in the future. It’s not up yet but it will be soon!

Over and out

Jamie.

Yo

Over the last few days England has defiantly lived up to its name of being soggy, or at least it has down my way. It’s been raining on and off for the best part of three days, with Sunday being the last day when we had a decent amount of sunshine. Ah well, that’s England for you I guess.

I’ve been pretty busy with things really - I’ve spent the last few days renovating my bedroom with help from my brother and dad, giving it a bit of a modernization. The old floorboards, paint, carpet, shower tiles etc have all gone and have been replaced with beech effect laminate flooring which looks nice. It’s wanted doing for ages - it looks clean, modern and tidy now. New 12v low energy spotlights have also been put in the ceiling, so there is now a lot more light in the room. If I get bored, I might get one of them dimmer switches and change the standard on/off light switch with a dimmer switch. Could make the room look a lot romantic!

In other news, I know it’s a bit late but I picked up my AS results last week from college. I got a C overall for IT, and a C for Media. I’m not too happy about some of the grades for IT, because I put a lot of fucking hard work into the units. Ah well. I’m happy about the C for media, because that was the grade I thought I’d get anyway - I didn’t put as much work in as I could have done I admit, hence why I’m happy.

I also did my driving test last Thursday. It was my first test, and unfortunately I failed. Although I failed, my examiner had a good reason to fail me - I admit I made a few mistakes (for instance cutting a car up at a roundabout) when I should have given way to it, so he was fair. I’ve re booked it now, but I’m keeping the date fairly quiet! I have a car now as well. Well, I kinda have a car. My dad’s Ford Escort van is in for repair, and because he didn’t want to be without a car, he brought another car to use while his can is being repaired. When it’s back, the car will become mine. When I pass, I’ll be driving a Ford Escort SI Estate - 1.8 litre, 16v. I’m happy because I have a fairly decent car, with a fairly decent engine and a lot of space. Just what I want.

Tomorrow people are picking up their GCSE results (the year below me kinda thing) so good luck to anyone who is doing so tomorrow.

I’ve also posted photos of the Walton on the Naze 2007 carnival over on my gallery.

All for now,

Jamie.

Well at the moment it’s 23:59, so almost Sunday 17th June 2007. I’m sitting here in a rather philosophical mood - with one main question bouncing around my mind. What does the future really have for us? I mean, some people say that everyone’s lives are already planned, and that we are living them day by day as they’ve been planned, but is this really the case?

Most things which you do, well some things, affect the way that something else in the future happens, or how events will turn out and end up. If you think of an event, and think about how it ended, you can usually work out how it ended like that, and how if you’d changed one or two things during the goings on, how different the ending would have been. I guess that’s the story of my life sometimes - you don’t know the ending, or the beginning, but how if you’d changed a few things how things would have been so different. I can’t really think of a specific example, but I’m just saying in general. There are things I guess which I could fit into this.

In life, you get these little things which test your strength as a human being and your ability to cope with things. It varies from person to person, but at the end of the day we’re all humans and we all have some form of mental strength - some people have more than others - some people can deal with things better than others can. However, it’s not always the case of how we deal with things, but more so what we do as ways of dealing with things. Mentally, you can do anything - in your imagination you do anything that you want, but in real life, you can’t - you can’t do anything which you might just imagine.

Well, I really am talking shit tonight, but I’m in that kind of I’m-going-to-talk-shit-and-bloody-bore-the-pants-off-you mood - I’ve had an alright evening I guess. Rows with dad about shit and all that kinda malarky, but apart from that I’m ok.

I’m looking forward to the summer now. When I woke up this morning (well, OK I’ll be honest - 12:30pm) it was hot and perfectly sunny. No clouds around or anything. Ten minutes later however, the rain clouds had moved in quickly and it was pissing with rain. Lame…it’s been like that all day - one minute nice, then rainy etc.

This summer will be different from last summer, because it’ll be shorter and most people will be working somewhere or other. The biggest difference will be that last year was GCSE year, and the holiday was 11 weeks rather than the standard 6 which we usually get. It’ll also be the last summer holiday in between years before people go off to university, so we HAVE to make it a good one. Some people are or will be driving - myself included. I passed my theory test on June 2nd (got 32/35 on the questions and 61/75 on hazard perception) which was good. I should also be taking my practical test in mid July. All I need now is some money for a car and insurance and other things needed for it.

Me and LJ are encroaching on 9 months - woo, three quarters of a year. Now it’s awesome, but it’s rather strange in a way. I mean, I never thought that when I first started dating, the relationship would last this long, but it has - and it’s still going strong. She’s lovely

My cat is sitting next to me at the moment (I’m sitting on my dining room table for some reason - I don’t usually sit here) and she’s sitting next to my computer on the table with her eyes fixed in one position on my face. I think she’s hungry, so I better go and feed her. Beautiful little puss cat she is

My website hosting and domain registration is up for renewal soon so I better get that paid up otherwise this site will be going off-line!
In terms of IT news, most people who keep updated with it will know that Apple have released Safari for Windows. Hopefully, it’ll mean that the previously Mac OS only browser will now grab a much higher market share than previously. It’s been out for Windows for barely three days, and within a few hours several flaws were discovered in it. Now, as of writing now, the Windows version (which is a public beta of version 3) has been downloaded over one million times. Hopefully it will mean that because Safari has been released for the operating system platform which has the biggest market share in the world, its browser market share will increase even more.
Anyway, I know most people have already done their GCSE and A-Level exams - I did my 15 hour IT practical exam last week which went alright. For anyone who has done exams, or is doing them soon, here’s a rather belated Good luck - GOOD LUCK!

Well, I’m off - ttyl.

Jamie.

Firstly, a belated Merry Christmas! I would have posted stuff on here earlier but I’ve been pretty busy over the last few days with Christmas and things..y’know how it goes. In fact, it’s new years even now. I first thought that I’d do a blog post on the 26th (belated even then), so I’ve been one hell of a lazy bastard. Oh well…

I hope you’ve had a good Christmas this year and have had as much fun as you possibly can. My Christmas has been alright as it goes, far better than I expected it to be. I got quite a lot of stuf in the end, which was good. This is a collective thank you to the people who did buy me stuff

Well, as the end of 2006 approaches, I look at 2007 being a big pain in the arse. I know things will go good in 2007, and I will learn a lot, will experience a lot and it’ll help me in life, but I can see it being a big pain in the arse. Well, every year is like that tbh! Lemmie fail my A-Levels first I guess, then I’ll decide!
I’ve learnt a lot in 2006 and have experienced a lot of stuff. It’s probably been the best year of my life in terms of what I’ve done, who I’ve met and what I’ve learnt over the course of the year. I passed my GCSES and didn’t fail a single one, I had a great summer - probably the best summer ever, and I started dating LJ in October. I’ve learnt a heck of a lot when it comes to IT and technical theatre. I’ve gained a lot more experience in the areas of things which I enjoy doing and have an interest in, so generally it’s all been good.

In 2007 I wanna focus more on doing what I enjoy. I want to get more involved with theatre work and also wanna do more in IT. I guess I’ll also have to find a job somewhere before long because I’m unemployed atm!

I guess I could write a lot more, but I’m not going to. Just have fun, take care and I wish you all a happy new year and a good 2007. Don’t get too pissed, and don’t end up in some strangers bed, car or lying in the gutter on new years day!

All the best,

Jamie.

Woo…it’s that time of year again. It’s gotten cold again, winters set in and we’re getting the good ol’ dark evenings early. Meh, I hate this time of year…it really pisses me off. Why can’t it just be nice and sunny again? I mean, coming home from college and then two hours later it’s pitch dark…

Ah well, I guess there’s no point ranting over the weather, afterall the weather’s the weather. My life’s been pretty dull these last few months really. I get outta bed, get clothes on, go to college, come home from college, piss around till late then collapse into bed. Really old plain boring life! I’ve been doing the odd bit of lx work lately - mainly disco work but did a talent show last night, which admittily cocked up *(on the sound side of things)* and been working at the Mercury helping out on re-rigs and shit. I really like working at the Mercury, it’s a nice place to gain experience and they’ve got some alright gear there as well. I also lit an amaetur theatre production of “Something’s afoot” over the October half term for a small theatre group called Saxons.

Anyway, everyone looking forward to christmas? I’m gonna be looking forward to unwrapping whatever I’ve been given. Will probably get bloody socks or something, but nevermind..it’s only christmas! (yeah, as you might be able to tell, I don’t really give a shit about religion..I’m technically Christian but it doesn’t mean I have to be all Christiany, lol)

I don’t hate Christmas, but it’s not one of the best times of the year for me. I’m not gonna go into details, it’s just not exactly a good time. I don’t like the way that Christmas has been commercialsed so much over the last few years. I’m not that religious as I aforementioned, but I do think that all the little electronics walking santa, dancing polar bears and other fuck-up toys which are in toyshops are a little silly at times…

If Paul’s gonna read this (mate of mine), then here’s something for him…”Sorry mate, I’m Jewish” - he’ll understand…basically, had a little fun with a guy who was dressed up as Santa last year..hehe.

When it comes to the web nowadays, I’m still following the development of the XHTML and CSS specifications and hand coding all sites to W3C specifications. However, big ironic point coming up here. You’re more likely to catch me on my MySpace “page” than on here. Some W3C compliant devs completly shun MySpace for the simple fact about how badly MySpace abuses webstandards and generally lets anyone do *anything* with their MySpace “page”. I don’t think like that. I’ll code all my own shit to proper specs, but it doesn’t make me not want to use MySpace as a social networking tool just because of that one pure fact. MySpace is a great innovation I think, and an awesome service to have available on the internet. If I wanna post a blog, I come here..I don’t post stuff on the MySpace blog bit. No one would read it and it’d be shit….like anyone reads this blog anyway (well, if you’re reading this sentence then you’re one of a small amount of people who do!)

I can generally found on MySpace more in terms of “being online” than on MySpace (by that I mean I spend more time on MySpace than on this site updating it and shit.) Call me a deserter if you like, but for some reason that’s what’s happen. Maybe MySpace has taken me away from devoting time to my own website..the one I actually have to pay to host, I don’t know.

Ah well, Myspace is a good tool..that’s all I’m saying. Most of the people I know has one (I guess that’s *not* always a good thing) - even my other half, LJ!

Well anyway, I’m probably boring you..I’m gonna go and do whatever.

ttyl,
J.

Well Internet Explorer 7 has been released. I can’t say I’m happy with it, although I’m happy with the amount of fixes and technology support it now has. To name a few, Alpha transparency in PNG is now supported, IE7 has support for RSS feeds, the UI has changed significantly, CSS 2.1 Selector support and fixed positioning is now supported.

For a full list of the items which have been fixed, or to be correct provisionally fixed (because it was written at the time of Beta 1), click here

I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but IE7 has broken the main navigation of my site. This is something I’ll work on fixing over half term which is next week.

In other news, Sixth form is going good - I love the freedom of having lessons off and to be able to balance my time better than you could at GCSE level. I also love EMA money…woo, free money

My half term holiday is going to be busy - I’ve gotta finish off IT and Media work for school, as well as do a musical show down in Frinton. I’ve been pissing around more down the Mercury Theatre in Colchester and places like that lately..what can I say? I love it - I love working in the theatre and I’ve learnt a heck of a lot in the last year in terms of lighting and sound.
Jamie.

Well I haven’t been doing much on my site of late cos of other commitments which have arisen and stuff, but now I’ve got some free time I’ll spend it sorting this place out

I’ve been upto a lot recently. With the end of GCSEs us year 11’s decided to celebrate, several times in the forms of rather large parties. Parties are fun and I’ve been really enjoying it! There’s nothing better than seeing friends which are drunk getting vandalised (hehe, long story but let’s just say Alex got Ownnneeeeed.) Mitch’s party was really good, and alot of our “crowd” turned up over the course of the week (yeah, ’twas a week long party :D.) Networked Halo matches on xbox across the house and stuff was really good. I bloody suck at Halo tho, ah well :/

I got my GCSE results, and I did better than I expected in some areas. Although other areas I’ve flopped in. Ah well - I got:

• English Language: B
• English Lit: B
• Science Double Award: A A
• Maths: C
• Systems and Control: C
• Edexcel DIDA (IT): 4 A’s (A A A A)
• RE: E
• German: E

I’m fairly happy, they’re not the worst grades but at the same time they’re not the best. If I hadn’t been so lazy I mightta got better grades, but ah well! I’ve signed up for TVIC (Tendring Technology College’s Sixth Form) and I’ve decided that I want to take Double IT, Media and Chemistry. I hope it’ll be a fun 2 years, better than the last 2…

The rest of the summer, well what is gonna be the last 2 weeks before I start sixth form I’m gonna be spending having funnnnn! Going to a few more parties which are on during the next 2 weeks which should be good. I’m also still helping out over in IT at TTC and have been for a few weeks of the summer so far.

I also attended Farnborough International Airshow 2006 (the last day - Sunday 23rd July) as well as the 2006 Clacton Airshow. I have posted photos of FI2k6 but not Clacton, beause of the fact that I didn’t get good photos.A lthough I don’t know if a proper review of both events will come for a while because of time constraints with starting sixth form and things. I want to but I just don’t know at the moment.

All for now, stay cool!

Jamie.

Well it’s July, and it’s great! - The exam month of June has gone and now I’ve just gotta wait for my very low grades to come in in August..yeah, I’ve failed straight.
Exams are now over (well, they were as of 21st June but I was too lazy to post anything here until now) so I have plenty of free time until September which is rather good because it gives me a chance to be lazy and do bugger all (well, not really, I’ve gotta find another job and get site sorted and partayyyyyy.) In September I’ve decided I want to start A-Levels in Sixth Form (my school is also a sixth form so it means I don’t have to travel any further from what I was doing.) I’ve decided to stick to what I’m fairly good at in terms of subjectage, and not stray into the stuff that I was rather crap at (well, ok there wasn’t any point just putting that cos it’s obvious but I just did :)) - I’m taking IT, Media and Chemistry. Should be fun.

Last night I went and saw one of the greatest bands on earth play at Portman Road, Ipswich - The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Fucking hell, they were awesome! The two support bands (!!! - pronounced “chk chk chk” and Dirty Pretty Things) were pretty good..well DPT was. !!! were crap.

Photos are here if you want to see them - I had a great time and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything! I bought a new RHCP t-shirt as well, I’m happy

Jamie