Aaron Allport

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Welcome to my website. Here you can find out all about me and what I get up to.

New year, new things

#16 Written on 20/01/2008 at 10:44

As promised, this is the first of new posts for the new year. I've had some time off, and feel recharged and ready to get back into the swing of things.

Like many of you, I have a few new year's resolutions of my own that I aim to keep this year. I've narrowed it down to four things, and I'm doing a pretty good job of keeping to them. They are: Join the gym (done), eat more healthily (doing), use my iMac more (doing that right now), and play more Xbox 360 (as it's limited to weekends at the moment). I have to say that I'm feeling the benefits of the gym already, and feel more energetic on Monday nights when I play 5-a-side football with work.

I've also got three websites on the go at the moment, and therefore you should expect an update to my Portfolio page very soon.

Like I said in my last post before the end of last year, I aim to post more often, and so here's to the beginning of that!

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Ta ta for now

#15 Written on 04/12/2007 at 20:10

Due to work and my new hectic life in the smog, I won't be writing here for a little while. Please do keep in touch in the meantime, and I'll do my very best to answer any web or software architecture, design, implementation and testing questions as I have always done. I'm afraid I find it very hard to make time to keep my website updated (due largely in part to long working hours). I'll be in touch in the new year, already having a new years resolution to blog every few days (I may start that one sooner if my schedule eases a little). Take care and I aim to see you all in early 2008!

Best wishes,

Aaron

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Was joining the BCS worth it?

#14 Written on 10/09/2007 at 16:06

I've recently joined the British Computer Society, due largely in part to the publicity on many walls of the Univeristy I used to attend. I have this idea of becoming a Chartered Engineer/Chartered I.T. Professional one day in future, and thought that the BCS would be a good place to start. Does anyone have experience with developing their career in this manner (i.e. Using/Joining a professional body)?

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Moved in, job started

#13 Written on 01/09/2007 at 21:04

It's been a month since I last posted, and what a hectic month it has been! I've now moved down to London with Nicola and started my job as an Associate Software Engineer.

I hired a van to take all of my belongings down to London, but had to go via Liverpool to pick up Nicola's things too. I ended up driving from Colchester to Liverpool to London over the course of two days, with a lot of loading/moving of items in between. I can now safely say that the flat is sorted in terms of furniture. A trip down to B&Q now means that some pictures and mirrors are on the walls too.

As my job start date approached, I got my self organised and finally went for my induction mid-August. Two days of training followed by two weeks of SAP training have left me drained, but eager to get started on my first project, which I will find out next week.

Now I have finally sorted out internet access with BT, I can now maintain websites and get the comms working again, but I'll definately be making some time for a little xbox360 too.

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Flat hunted

#12 Written on 31/07/2007 at 16:48

The weekend past has been one of many property viewings and travelling about via the tube. Saturday was a dis-heartening start to the weekend, when a tiny flat and a dodgy warehouse conversion were all that I and Nicola had to view. We were gutted by Saturday lunch-time as we tucked into a bit of lunch.

I lined up a couple more viewings for Monday morning with a chap from a letting agency based in the Isle of Dogs, which would eventually prove to be what I and Nicola were expecting.

We turned up at Canary Wharf ready for 2 viewings at the Royal Docks, but ended up viewing 7 places in total. We decided that the 2 properties we were due to view originally were simply too far out from the city, and therefore concentrated more on the properties on and around the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf.

After opting for a second viewing of a one bedroom and two bedroom flat within the same brand-new development, we have decided to take on the 2 bedroom. I feel very happy about the choice we have made, and as the flat is brand new, we get to make our mark. I look forward to the 10th of August in anticipation when I can move in and begin life in the smog!

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Power of the atom

#11 Written on 26/07/2007 at 10:21

There is another update to my website this week, in the form of an Atom blog feed! Available from the same places as the RSS feeds, those of you preferring the Atom syndication format are now catered for.

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Request For Comments

#10 Written on 23/07/2007 at 12:53

I've made a few updates to my website recently, involving cleaning up of code and (most importantly) the addition of comments on blog posts! Feel free to share your thoughts on any of my blog posts from now on, and should you manage to break something, let me know!

In the near future I shall be updating the About and Portfolio sections of my site soon in order to keep things a little more current. This is all in aid of getting through my "website to-do list".

With regards to the comments, I will be monitoring them carefully. Any abusive language comments will be completely deleted in the mean-time until I have finished writing a filter to catch naughty words. Please respect other viewers of my site, as some may find bad language offensive. For now, have fun commenting!

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Graduation

#9 Written on 18/07/2007 at 16:05

Yesterday I was back up in Stafford attending my graduation ceremony. I was chuffed to finally reach the day when I'm officially the owner of a degree. I'm now ready to enter the world of work, with Bachelors degree in hand. I can't wait!

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At the finish line in first place

#8 Written on 04/07/2007 at 14:58

I received my results from university yesterday, to find out that I am going to be awarded with a first! I'm so very happy that the result of 4 years hard work is in fact the highest degree classification. So here is a small mention to my family who have supported me throughout my time at university. I owe a huge debt to all of you.

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Back in Essex, but the work keeps on going

#7 Written on 21/06/2007 at 14:06

I'm now back in Essex for the summer, and have finally shifted my boxes to one corner of my mother's living room. I have to admire her, because the thought of having some stack their entire, boxed-up life in the corner of my living room would be driving me crazy by now. She told me "that's what parents are for" - well said Mum!

I am continuing the web projects I have been doing towards the end of my last year at university, and will be helping my Grandfather set up his new business soon also. I have personal commitments too, such as travelling to see Nicola and us hunting for a place to live in London.

As this summer will be the last before the "real" work starts, I intend to enjoy it, seeing friends and colleagues where possible. I also intend on having the barbecue roaring away as much as possible!

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