The Legend of the HOFIT

It's been many years now since I first posted this one, but I am able to re-issue it here without alteration:-

The "Hands-On Fixit Techie" has a certain attitude, a state of mind, a particular mind-set. Without arrogance, he is quietly confident in his own abilities. Self-sufficient, he is a survivor in today's technical world. Not feeling a need to go along with the latest fads, he can commune with any machine, new or old. Any tool, anything technical, is useful and can become alive in his hands. Calmly thinking in terms of a better way, he will always find one - even if it takes longer than others would be willing or able to spend. Although often working swiftly and efficiently, he knows that sometimes taking the time to do things properly can make a world of a difference.

Some may consider him a loner. But he can be animated in the company of those he considers worthy. Otherwise he cares little for the expectations of others and finds solace in the elegance often found in machines. In fact, technology, and his work in it, are his real friends. Disdainful of politics and religion, he attains an inner peace and an outer freedom. His mind is simply on a different level. A pilgrim seeking truth and wisdom, perhaps. Internationalist in outlook and freelance by inclination, he is, above all, a practical guy.

Time for Reflection

As usual these last few years, New Year's Day finds me working on my TaskMaster program. But, at as yet another year begins, it's hard to resist pausing a little for reflection.

For instance, it's interesting to note where New Year's Day would have found me these last forty-odd years:-

2014 Filey
2013 Filey
2012 Arlesey
2011 Arlesey
2010 Rotherham
2009 Rotherham
2008 Gloucester
2007 Weston
2006 Harrow
2005 Edmonton
2004 Riyadh
2003 Al-Hasa
2002 Al-Hasa
2001 Al-Hasa
2000 Al-Hasa
1999 Al-Hasa
1998 Riyadh
1997 Khobar
1996 Khobar
1995 Khobar
1994 Onaiza
1993 Enfield
1992 London
1991 Khamis Mushayt
1990 Yate
1989 Yate
1988 Yate
1987 Jubail
1986 Muscat
1985 Yate
1984 Yate
1983 Ballasmar
1982 Jeddah
1981 Bielefeld
1980 Bielefeld
1979 Bielefeld
1978 Ludgershall
1977 Ludgershall
1976 Ludgershall
1975 Hong Kong
1974 Hong Kong
1973 Colchester
1972 Colchester
1971 Paderborn

Quotes I Have Seen and Admired

I have decided to start noting (again) good quotes as I encounter them. Here we go:-

"In the EUSSR, it seems that the Gravy Train is more important than the Passenger Trains!"

"Before retirement I was lucky enough to be able to live and work in several countries. In all cases I followed local customs, ate the same foods, wore the same clothes, and enjoyed the experience. At no time was I ever offered any state benefits, residency or voting rights, nor did I expect any. I had to carry ID and had it inspected frequently. I did not try to tell the locals what to do. It might be a good idea for foreigners in the UK to try the same."

Interesting Thoughts

And he thought of those he angered,
For he was not a violent man,
And he thought of those he hurt,
For he was not a cruel man.

And he thought of those he frightened,
For he was not an evil man,
And he understood.
He understood himself.

Upon this he saw that when he was of anger
Or knew hurt or felt fear,
It was because he was not understanding,
And he learned, compassion.

And with his eye of compassion.
He saw his enemies like unto himself,
And he learned love.
Then, he was answered.

- Graeme Edge of the "Moody Blues"

Squaring the Circle

If you have hope, over despair ... then you can see the next day in.

"It's OK," he said. "Not a problem." He had a warm smile on his face and true compassion in his eyes. He was a good man for its own sake and required nothing in return.

"I wish I had some way to thank you," I said. "I appreciate what you've done."

"Not a problem;" he said again. "But if you feel the need to thank me, the next time you see someone in trouble, you help them out. That will pay me back amply."

"Tell them to pay you back the same way, and very soon the world will be a better place."

New Project VIII

Since the end of March, work commitments have not allowed me much time for TaskMaster updates. However (and due in the main to issues arising at work) I have added a few data fields here and there, and made corrections to clear bugs as and when these were discovered.

Some minor features have been added. For instance, the Log On/Log Off job timer at the Jobs Records form.

I also added a facility to permit more than one location for a Stock Item at the Parts form. Although that may sound like a minor enhancement, it is quite a significant improvement upon my traditional parts routines.

However, the most significant step forward has been the implementation of a method of updating datafiles between computers at various locations. For example, recent work at a remote PC can be zipped into a file (which I call DataPack.zip), uploaded (or passed across, using a memory stick, or whatever) to the host computer, and unpacked by a routine to update the host datafiles. Once again, it may sound easy, but it required a fair amount of work!

Long Time - No Post

It's been over nine months since I last posted here. Since then I have moved from Rotherham. 135 miles south to the Bedfordshire-Hertfordshire border, in order to take up some work at the small market town of Shefford. The move took six trips in "Mighty", my trusty Toyota Carina.

The move afforded me yet another chance to have a good "sort out", and I tried to simplify my stuff once again. I shifted all of my BBC Micro bits and pieces, my Psions, and all related stuff. Most of it went on eBay, but I hung on to the best of it for a while, taking it with me to my new pad in Arlesey. But later on, realising that I was never going to find time to really use (enjoy) any of it, I let it all go to a good home when Mark Haysman came up from London to take it all away. My plan was to concentrate my hobby interests (fiddling about) on the old medical equipment at work!

I occasionally get called to the company's main workshop at Kingswood (on the eastern edge of Bristol) and have also rented a room near there.