Twittering @LastMinute_com

I've only recently started twittering, mostly because I couldn't find an application that I can comfortably use. I now use twitterfox, because it's sits right inside my browser, which is about the only thing that I can install on my work PC.

I have found that it works across many folds:

1. it helps me keep in touch with savvy friends who also twitter. Conversations are quick, open and easy
2. I can follow small pieces of news eg. Number 10, R4's Today program
3. Organisations trawl twitter for people discussing their product eg, Nokia E71. (I was quite impressed when I first twittered about it and they started following me)

The third point is the most important one I think. Unlike facebook status, twitter is searchable, and those searches can be subscribed to.

Anyway, my story is this:

For some reason, every time I visit a lastminute.com page - no matter what page it is - I get a 404 error. So I decided to twitter it quite casually. My friend replied saying that, if they're clever, they'll be listening. They were indeed clever...but not that clever.

Seeming to disregard my problem, they said "you can contact us on the lastminute.com website". Which I can't. Even if I get a "contact us" link, I go straight to a 404 error. So, good support, but no help really...

Overall, though, loving twitter.

Lazy days?

So the reboot of by training hasn't gone too well, mostly due to moving house - so I've redeveloped my time to start next week. I'm still cycling in and out of work - but I'm inspired by "slow cycling". I find that taking my time, waiting patiently etc costs me no more than 5 minutes! And a hell of a lot less stress!

My other initiative is more to do with my working patterns. My IT kit for work is pretty impressive. I have my own small laptop that can connect from anywhere with VPN (anywhere with a wireless network that is) to get my email, instant messenger and shared resources. My phone system can be logged into from my mobile, and I can sync anything and work offline for those times I can't get a connection!

Overall, this means, I can carry my office around with me, and my office can be any flat space where I can open my laptop and connect.

I working to increase my flexibility to physically being in the office when I need to be, IE arriving in time for my first meeting and leaving after my last. After that, I can work at home, in a cafe, anywhere that I need to - as long as whatever I need to do gets done.

To do this, I need my managers agreement, which I have for the next 2 weeks, and I need to keep them updated and assured that I'm actually working. So it involves more accountability I think - which isn't a bad thing.

This just in: Loud Music Damages Hearing!

"A new EU study has found that listening to personal music players at a
high volume, over a long period, can permanently damage hearing."

I read this on british news yesterday, but today it's Ireland's turn to try to drill it home. It has to be the most obvious research there has been so far to date. It may be that the actual report shows something more detailed, in the rate of degradation of hearing, but we're not given that information...or even a link to the report.

The one-stop longer shortcut

I cycle most days, but can't guarantee to do it everyday. So I have to endure the overland from Dalston to Highbury and then the tube. Until now I've taken the Victoria to Warren St and then change to the Northern to Charing cross. Today I discovered something great:

If I stay on one more stop until Oxford Circus, I can simply cross the platform to the Bakerloo line, rather than trudging up and down escalators at Warren St.

This benefit is very short lived though, since I'm moving house in less than a month...

1st Swim & a reshuffle later

I posted earlier this morning about my 1st swim. I have to say, it was good. I've got a new routine to follow and, while I didn't get to finish it completely, it pushes me enough to feel slightly nauseaus afterwards. I need to pay more attention to what I get to eat in the morning though. The nausea lasted all the way to work this morning...

I also saw this morning that instead of the friendly Defra sign outside my building, there hung a makeshift sign for the newly created Department of Climate Change and Energy (or whatever order it's written). Yet to find out where we'll be moving yet - it's bound to be back to the Ergon/Nobel/Millbank complex, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It'd certainly make my job easier...

...and I'm back

About to leave the house for my first swim of the autumn. And first swim in about 2 months. Not going to be fun...

Web 2.0 hits home

Just the other morning, cycling to work, I was remembering the day when I found out what the name of my street was in its original Irish. I remember I was in primary school at the time and my teacher was going through all our addresses and translating them into Irish for us.

I grew up, after a few years in the suburbs of Mullingar (An Muileann gCearr), at the end of a mile long cul-de-sac called Keoltown. And today I saw that a new website has been launched in which you can search for any Irish town and it will return the original Irish name - in my home town's case: Baile Mhic Eoil.

Just like I remember it.