Friday, May 26, 2006

Kms... (miles for the imperially inclined)

Just did 3000+ kms for various job-assignments in the last two weeks, and used yesterday (a pub-hol where I live) to recuperate. To reassure the ppl I saw: it was great, and it already generated 1 company-sponsored blog-entry (so there!). I enjoyed the meetings (even the sales-pitch) and the disucssions. But I have had it with driving to work for the coming week!

Salon-based working is much more relaxing (that is lounge-based, for the non-french speakers).
I vote for couch (UK: settee) and self-brewn coffee.
Today, it is even cold enough here to warrant a fire in the fireplace. Great way to write reports.

The first hint to my work-related blogs:
http://www.bloggingaboutoracle.org/archives/disaster-recovery-and-replication-at-what-level

And I think I need to generate another story entry on lpars, unix-deployment and risk-mitigation soon.

Monday, May 15, 2006

What a life!

Worked in comfortable communting distance of home today.
Wonderful! When I revert to working in M I always have this "wow" feeling.
The comfort of an office, without the loneliness of a hotel.

Now all I have to do is make sure the work stays interesting (as it will, for about a week, I guess).
Must admin I'm already looking fw to my next meetings and client visit. I need the interaction with peers.

On the positive side: I mowed the lawn on one of these short-commuting-days last week. And Today I was home in time to tear the grass from the driveway, and clean up the corner of the garden where the boss wants patch of flowers (well, let us just say: I started the cleanup).

Loking fw to some relaxed days in the coming weeks (just dont tell my management).

Sunday, May 14, 2006

buzzing around

Almost 1 week, and nearly forgot my blog.
Been home, been Rotterdam, had travel arrangements re-done, went to meetings, wrote texts. Studied.
Worried about backup of documents, mail, knowledge.
Ran into waaay-too-full harddisk so trying to clean that up.
Oh, and had some very relaxing weekend time.

Ppl to thank: Natas for re-arranging my plans, Manon & admin crowd for processing expenses.
Management for letting me do my thing.
Rob and Eduard for interesting opportunities.

CU all soon.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Countdown - and expenses.

Final day in the UK.

The way to do expeneses is to re-enjoy the good meals that resulted in all those receipts. Look at it as a privilege, not a chore.
For BP and MM: the expenses are filed up to 07-May. Not bad eh ?

Clean up tasklist.
Reset passwords so they last a month.
Keep human connections alive.
Do shopping.
Avoid any task that cannot be completed in minutes.
Book taxi (Helen, Nial!).

Notably: Thank Martin for all the intersting stuff.
Internal joke: nr Nine really has a great wow-factor.

Looking ahead: plan for rest of week is packed. Plan for next week is a mess.

CU all later.


refrence here.. HERE see.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

help - time crunch again.

Last day of my "extreme working weekend". Won't complain about taxidriver (but I should). At least breakfast crew was now used to me getting out Very Early even on weekends (Thanks!).

The usual problem when ending a stint: Time Crunch (have you addressed such-and-so's item as well? can you get it out before leaving?). Notes... and re-producable cases (proof) needed for all problems and issues (I know you are reading).

Was lucky yesterday: managed to squeeze myself on last tour of local castle and learned some local history (promised guide I'd verify on the web, later). No pictures allowed ??

On blogging general: I'll soon tell more friends and family about these pages, so we can keep tabs on one another.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

one more working weekend

If the job is interesting, and instructive, it is not that big a deal to work long and weird hours. But the breakfast-lady at the hotel (not ready) and the cab driver (yawning) who picked me up from hotel to drive me to office wondered who in his right mind would go into work at 0645.
Well guys, I'll have to do this again tomorrow...
Now let me get on with my job.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

language hell

Deinstalled firefox, and re-downloaded, finally got an english-speaking version. Edit now shows up as "edit", rather then some foreign language.

Work wise: still nice quiet, but knowledge-transfer issues become evident. may have to do some ppt work later on to properly introduce new team-members.

Would rather just get on with job, as real work will be ramping up nicely, but teh intro of new-ppl is vital to sustainabiltiy..

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

daily writers block? not yet

Still new enough to do my daily lines...

Networking is Fun: having dinner with pal from 2 years back. found veggie restaurant. And will try to find a particularly hard-to-get item from outdoor shop.

no pictures yet: I'm not the picture taking person anymore.

(what a nonsense eh ?)

now you are supposed to larder a blog with emoticons, icons, pictures, and links to friends.
(do I have any?)

Monday, May 01, 2006

sitemap

Here are the introductions to PdvFirstBlog and SimpleOracleDBA,



  • Intro - if available - This is where I started my my blogging era

  • Simple oracle DBA - The main topic.




  • Various Oracle Tips and Rants and Opinions, all to do with practicalities.

  • Simple Oracle DBA - Availability, Scalability, Manageability... It has to be Simple

  • Bitmap Indexes on an OLTP system - ORA-00060... Classic Deadlock

  • Backup on a different Level - in the SOA layer.

  • How To Pool Connections - One of the challenges

  • Databases Everywhwere - Systems and Databases, how many databases.

  • ILM, Information LifeCycle Management - another Three Letter Acronym.

  • Index Organized Tables - Many Benefits

  • txt - txt.

  • txt - txt.

  • UKOUG - I do value my usergroup events.




  • Various Rants, all to do with practicalities.

  • In times of Crisis you call the DBA - Who you gonna call...

  • Rationalize TOAD - Toad will find a way...

  • M O O W - Miracle Oracle Open World...

  • My blog-plug for the Conference - UK Oracle USergroup...




  • Travel related stuff.

  • Angel of the North - My most visited leasure page...


  • Inconvenience of Leeds Bradford International Airport.

  • Eurostar is Perfect - Very comfortable and reliable.

  • Colorado - Winter Park, actually.

  • Back to Normal - on the train.

  • Climate - Enjoy while it lasts....

  • Cricket - I have no clue.

  • Work, Dinners, Fun - and lots of miles on the train.

  • Angel - of the North, my most searched for picture.

  • UKOUG - my excuse to travel.

  • txt - txt.

  • txt - txt.





  • The usual links to groups etc..


    my agenda (normally at the right hand side of the blog)




    UKOUG main url



    Miracle BV



    the home of Oracle-L : Best Mailing list



    link to Oracle Forum.



    My own linked in profile (shameless plug)
    the mandatory linked-in profile...

    Dont believe me ? Google

    See you Somewhere, and say Hi if you feel like it!

    different country, different styles

    Getting re-used to the brits. Allthough I cant insult the locals by stating I'm in "England". Hopefully get to do some touristing around...

    And I helped someone create a metalink account (hadnt done that in ages).

    Off to see a new city... might include some phone-pictures tomorrow.

     

    This is the footer...and this should be small text for disclaimers and the like. and some small stuff

    Locations of visitors to this page And this text is placed next to the map. we could possibly hide some stuff here too for the benefit of the search-engines and if it is at color ffffff cam we put all sort of rubbish that we do not want readers to see. travel itinirary reservation ticket agent flight plane boarding attendant train connection rail ticket wait time booking flight boardingtime taxi ramp luggage suitcase trolley wheely laptop bagpack corpaorate wifi connection oracle. it will also be interesting to see what happens when this wrap around. or even if we put in spherus and worwood as additional word.