Thoughts on coding and stop speaking English at home

Bremen, Germany

9th November 2002

When it comes to writting software, you don"t have to be the first to conceive a new idea, nor the first to implement and deploy, all you need to do is be either the best or the cheapest. In fact, not being the first puts you at an advantage because you can study your compeitions work and then improve upon it.

There is a massive windmill right outside my window. It looks so nice. I can"t believe that I"ve lived here for about 6 weeks and haven"t noticed. It"s not that far away, only about 50 meters.

I was going to do some translation work today but then I got.... no, just kidding. I slept in this morning which isn"t anything special, I do that every morning. Then I watched a few episodes of South Park. Afterword I played Grand Theft Auto 3 which is the most amazing emursive game I"ve played in a long time. I worked about 45 ~ 46 hours between Monday and Friday so I"m not doing anything work related today. Purhaps I"ll finish off the translating tomorrow and study some more Deutsch.

My flatmate is forbayed to speak in English around me from hereon, my boss phoned her in the middle of the meeting yesterday and told her to stop speaking English at home. I wish I knew more german than I did, I know if I had more time to study and practice I would do better in the business environments and even personal environments. One bloke whom sat next to me on the train asked a question about my notebook as a conversation starter and I had no idea what he asked.

I"ve realised something. Everything I learn about Computing in general, I end up using in my work yet this time that I use to learn about Computing I never invoice to my company because I consider it more an enjoyable hobbie than anything else. I"m sure I"m not getting screwed over or anything... hmmm... weird.

I want to go to Paris next weekend. It"s an 8 hour train ride. Purhaps I can talk Anja into coming.