Well I was going to write about...

a white paper I read today; 'The socio-economic effect of broadband in sub-Saharan Africa.' but then I saw this:

After 75Years Spam is now available in this 200g, easy to open, plastic tub. Available from Tesco early July and Asda a month later. How cool is that? Spam is a much maligned super-food. In fact, my memory of particular meals and snacks is somewhat limited but I do remember a sandwich I had somewhere in the wilds of Mali en route to Timbuktu.

Tony and I had driven 18 hours a day for four days at this point and eaten very little. We stopped at a shack in a rough village somewhere between Bamako and Mopti to buy some local bread, a bit like wholemeal flattish baguettes (the French probably have a specific name for this) and sliced up some Spam, very greasy in the heat, it was the most amazing taste, I felt slightly guilty as the local kids looked on in envy at my porky treat, sometimes religion can be a hindrance.

Thought I would share that. Maybe something a tad more high-brow tomorrow, although I doubt it.

Show us your hatch rash...and some slightly good news.

It struck me today, and not for the first time, that those who bang on about their time in the forces are generally those who have little else in their lives, or at least no alternative achievements to brag about. Don't get me wrong, I do respect and admire all of those who have given their time, blood and in most instances youth and freedom for a purpose and behind that a belief. To dedicate yourself to something takes heart, even if that purpose is not what others see as a just cause it takes character to do so and more to stay on that path. If you remove all arguments of whether particular conflicts are right or wrong, learning a place in a highly structured team environment teaches reliance and self discipline and that is priceless. Shit, listen to me ramble.

In the time I spent working with both Paradigm and Astrium I encountered many, many ex-Royal Navy    personnel. I was often embarrassed by a few, usually those who had risen to the dizzy heights of chief or fleet chief (un-capitalised on purpose) and had only ever had one job other than their current one. The title question is enough, no hatch rash, no real sea-time. I know I am a short timer and all that bollocks but my hatch rash is epic ;-)

A great day at Cerberus today, still no income but the Asda 'whoops' section is always attractive and helpful. Following our new, helpful and lucrative agreement with our primary suppliers we can now offer a Pay As You Go arrangement for those who need it and, I believe, that we are the first on the market to offer this particular service.

The good news, apart from the fact that I don't have to watch daytime TV, is that when I bought my trendy new trousers from Asda I had to downsize to a 38 inch waist. OK, as my doctor says, 'Meester Gledson, you obese' (she's Polish I think), but considering that I was up to a 44 inch waist four years ago that's good news. I only need to lose another eight stone and I'll fit in with my mates down the bus station.

Having time to waste time

After a good week another looms with the potential to go either way, beginning with a rather important meeting tomorrow afternoon at Blackfriars with our primary supplier which will shape our future in the most definitive of ways.

The latest Star Wars film has issued casting calls for major roles which means the production is about to ramp up, would love to get some of the action supplying the comms for the on=location elements, I guess we can all dream ;-)

I've been thinking about alternatives to my current situation, as in; if I had accepted the situation as I had lost my job as opposed to merely, 'shit my company has no contract', then I know that my attitude would be completely different. Granted, the effect is the same, no money coming in; from a contract or an employer it makes little difference when it isn't there. At my age, blimey, I never thought I'd ever admit that I was getting on a bit, the prospect of re-employemnt is slim to none, especially if there's an element of re-training involved. Not to worry, I'm not looking (not at the moment anyway) to do either go for a permanent position nor re-train.

I have found myself wondering if I had actually lost my job, in a permanent position type of way, and had accepted the lot of a career. Weatherspoon's is full of such, often a ten thirty, for a breakfast pint or three, followed by a few more, at some manky pub near a bus or train station. My point is that it is easy to despair and lose heart when things don't go your way. Endless mornings of daytime television, documentaries and repeats of Only Fools and Horses are motivation enough to get up and do something, anything!

I have also realised that until three weeks ago I have not been in a position to really understand the implications of running your company or indeed how much effort and time is required to break through into an area of operating profit. Pursuing the goals of Cerberus when earning from another contract is an ideal situation but it's not until there is no alternative but to go forward that any real progress, in a short time, can really be made. Desperation provides focus and focus yields results, now there is no time to waste any time.

Head above water? Oh yes...

Another week has gone by and I’m still ploughing ahead, indeed we have more team members working on this at 100%.

I remember a few years ago, more than a few, when I was still in the Navy. I, for some reason, unfortunately, seemed to attract rather active action stations on my ships and the time I spent on The Cumberland was no different. As a member of the aft DC party (Damage Control for the uninitiated) I was expected to await incidents where we would be required to respond immediately to extinguish fire, staunch floods, re-run cables and generally stop the ship form succumbing to the relentless attacks of a nefarious foe. On the whole this was rather tame, except from the time at Portland when the Green filth (FOST tossers) would throw thunder flashes and smoke grenades around like a cheap Janner wedding. Occasionally we would be required to visit the DRIU (Damage Repair Instruction Unit) at HMS Raleigh. This was a magnificent piece of machinery which replicated a large portion of a Naval ship complete with mess-decks, machinery spaces, galley and electrical supplies but was used to test the abilities of the DC units. To this end they could simulate a number of ways with which the unit could be struck and start to fill with water...don’t worry I am going somewhere with this.

In order to ensure that all were instructed, and understood the significance of all elements of damage control, the command of the sections were rotated and not the exclusive remit of the officers. On one particular occasion the command of an engine/machinery space was left to me. There is never a positive outcome when the action starts leaving the only question of, what point does the team commander give up on his task. I guess that you can see the analogy now. On that occasion I stayed until I was the last man in the compartment, evacuating my team and leaving only when I had no room to breathe. I’m not there yet, but, the point at which the decision is made to abandon the task is foremost in my mind.

There is a meeting with our supplier on Monday at which our position will be made clear and the support we require will either be accepted or not. If not, then we will be forced to take our hard work elsewhere, to another potentially more accommodating supplier.

We have a great deal of potential, hearing from one of our IT consultant advisors in South Africa a few minutes ago has only added to this.

Another a big push from early next week.

Hump day on week three of not having an income...

The snob in me feels that I have to mention that in the few years I have been blogging, this is the first time since my Timbuktu road trip in 2012, that I have had the misfortune, nay, displeasure, to use a PC and associated shit bits and bobs.

A pretty good day toady, meetings with old friends and the reiteration that the management at Skynet 5 are still a bunch of no nothing bell-ends, but we all knew that. A good demo which will lead to better things and, as they say in Monolpoly; 'An administrative error is in your favour...' collect enough money to pay for some of the direct debits.

It seems that, although there are a great deal of requests and interest coming in, our primary suppliers are going to be the problem. We have a meeting, Monday, I hope we can resolve.

As mentioned above, it's my first day for a while without a Mac and I find myself getting particularly angry at this poor PC, so I'll leave now.

I did have some really funny lines to post but can't be arsed to fight this keyboard so please laugh anyway.

Busy day with beef fajitas

After a bit of a punt on the event calendar, it seems that this approach worked with more than a couple event organisers responding immediately. Will chase this, as well as a rather excellent request to wifi up a regions towns centres.

Marvellous. 

Another day...another MacDonald's breakfast

Rather disappointingly when I stopped off at MacDonald's last Friday, just for a coffee, I was asked if I wanted 'the usual', I din't have the heart to say no. Today was slightly different in that I wasn't asked if wished 'the usual' and in that I did. It brings back memories when I was attempting something similar ten years ago when I became an expert, along with Monsieur Anfrew (typo on purpose, reason later) Briggs, could sniff out the biggest, cheapest and greasiest 'Full English' in the locale. Some of my best memories of this period, around 2002/3 & 4, involve large, thick rashers of bacon and a fried slice, awesome. I must say that my breakfast enjoyment has been shared by Emma, and I have had a great time working with her in the office.

For some reason, when we started off the company mobile phone accounts Briggsy was labelled as Mister Anfrew Briggs, when he rang to complain...well, the conversation went along these lines:

Vodafone: Can you confirm your name please?
Briggsy: Mister Andrew Briggs
Vodafone: We have you down as Mister Anfrew Briggs
Briggsy: Who have you ever heard of called Anfrew?
Vodafone: Just you mister Briggs.

Always loved the common sense of the call centre. (That actually happened)

A shift in approach again today as the goalposts have well and truly been moved by our main supplier. When I say moved I do in fact mean shipped off to two completely unrelated localities on a global basis, and by goalposts I mean a large bowl of jelly and a small fish. Never the less another forced shift in our approach has led to steps both forward and backwards. A company discussion is required as the landscape is now food, well for me anyway and an income for a fledgling company in order to achieve an operating profit.

Off to Hungerfordshire tomorrow to discuss matters with Chris, and hopefully a further meeting afterwards to better understand where we have been going wrong.

The new approach is  WiFi offering for events and festivals, already results are appearing.

Time for ribs.