Mind frazzling

So this week, I managed to have a brain exploding moment. As seems to be the recurring pattern here, I made a video about it! Here it is:

I'm not a person who gets stressed or depressed. I always think that my problems are somewhat insignificant to those of others and am able to just shrug it off and move on. I dunno what really happened here though. I think it's because my job was just "getting on top of me" momentarily. I'm told this can happen from time to time and the easiest way to avoid it, and I quote, "Don't let it get on top of you". Yeah, cheers for that!

But anyway, it's all okay now! I'm currently finishing off my induction which seems like it's lasted forever. I just can't wait to actually get into work! But see, even once I have started my actual placement (rather than the training), I will still have not only PDS (the external apprenticeship peoples) work, but also my Uni work to do! I have been told that I can relate a lot of what I will be doing in my day to day job to the PDS stuff which is sort of the point but it's still quite a, with lack of a better word, mind fuck.

I've been just trying to keep my mind off this sort of stuff by taking walks etc. and it has been helping quite a lot!

But Anyway! On to some slightly less work-orientated speechness. I've made very little progress with my Phoenix project. Did I tell you about that? I dunno if I did. Well it's basically just a poster I am working on for a YouTuber using his logo and filling it with comments from his videos. Sounds stalkerish? Thought so.

I have also decided to take up a language. I am trying my hand at French but still don't like the whole "this is feminine" "this is masculine" bullshit. It's a fecking apple. So I am starting to lean more to German or maybe Spanish/Italian. I've become very decisive as you may have noticed.

Apart from this, not really done a lot else this week. I made a new video today which I have appropriately named: "The Walking Vlog".

But yeah, until next time!

Update

I fell that I have been somewhat neglecting this blog somewhat, so I plan on doing a weekly update on a Sunday if I can, or the Monday if not.

But anyway, first things first. I have began to Vlog! So yes, if you enjoy reading my blogs then it might be worth heading over to: http://youtube.com/KaosVlog and subscribing. Not a lot on there at the moment but I intend to fill it with many a shenanigan.

Now that's now out the way, I can start with the actual blog. Lately, I haven't really been sleeping that well. It's not affecting me too badly, like I do have energy and stuff during the days but I keep having these "Half-Dreams" where I am actually awake but still think I am asleep so keep myself awake because of that. It's annoying and I kind of want it to stop. Does anybody have any tips on sleeping well or anything? Would appreciate it if you did!

Work has been okay. I am still in training and still working in Paddington at the moment but it has only recently sunk in that this is it. This is my life now. Yes, fair enough I don't have to be there but if I want to have a successful career, then this is my life from now on. I have to get up at 7. Leave at 7:30. Get to work at 8:30 - 9 and remain there till 5. I think it's just the sudden change, you know? I have been such a lazy bastard for so long as a student, laying around doing nothing but work on the odd occasion that having this full-time job which I am slowly learning is becoming harder by the minute, it's a real shock to the system.

But yeah, I keep learning all this new work that I will need to be doing. Not only do I have my "normal day job" but I also have the work for PDS, the people who run my apprenticeship, to do as well as the work I have to do for my degree (uni work). I mean, I knew that it was not going to be a walk over when I started but I didn't think it would be this much. It's not exactly not manageable but it's just a shock, like I said earlier.

Anyway, moving on! Two weekends ago I went down for another YouTube meet up in Somerset and this is where my vlogging experience began. It was to meet up with Sara Parker, Nathan Wills and a handful of other YouTubers. Here is my video of it:

I apologise for the amateur nature of it. It was my first one. Was a lot of fun and a great day!

I also last weekend went to the 84th GameOn LAN and was one of the best LANs I have been to so far. I did make a video for this but it is more game footage than anything. You can find it here:

 

Was also, a really great weekend and a break from work.

This week, I got sent to Milton Keynes by work (yeah yeah, I realise the irony of the situation when I was bitching about how much work I had to do) to visit the Open University. I may or may not be doing a vlog about this, I do have some footage but yeah, not sure. We were put up in The Hilton Hotel next to the uni and let me tell you, it was lush! Such a nice room :D.

But anyway, I apologise for the long blog but like I said, I hope to be doing more regular blogs from now on!

Starting to sink in & The Meet

So I've been at work now for just over a month and it really is starting to hit me that this is it. Up everyday at 7am. Work until 5ish. Come home around 6:30 - 7. This is it. Due to this past month, it has really helped me appreciate my weekends a lot better, but sadly I still am not doing much with my time!

Although, saying that I did go to London last Saturday and meet a BUNCH of amazing people including: Cory Williams, Kate Elliot, Sara Parker, Nathan Wills and a bunch of other YouTubers and non-Youtubers alike at a meet up for Cory & Kate as they have come over from America.

Cory Williams' Epic Man Hug

The start of the meet

Sara Parker

Was a truly amazing day and met some amazing people.

I haven't really been doing a lot lately though apart from that, although I did make a poster inspired by The Hunger Games which I will be sending out to Kate (One of the YouTubers).
I would link it in but apparently, it's huge and will not be accepted by the server.. Hmm.. Ah well, I will attempt to get it into another blog post.

So yeah, there really isn't a lot to be said at the moment sadly, although I have decided to invest in a new camera when I get my first pay check which should be nice. Oh, and I am off to Somerset on Saturday for ANOTHER YouTube meet up with Sara and Nathan (and about two dozen others I believe!). Can't wait :3.

Commuting, Reinstalling and Revision

Not really been doing a lot at work so far other than learning the basics of how Visa operates so there really isn't that much to talk about on that front just yet. Just been doing a lot of commuting which I am starting to get use to and not mind that much. I find that it gives me a chance to wake up.

Where I previously worked as a Lifeguard, it was a five minute walk from my house so I would get up 10 minutes before I had to be there. Sure, that sounds great but I would just be knackered when I got into work! It really wasn't a good thing. But this, it takes me a good hour or so to get to work each day so just gives me time to get myself in order. I prefer going to Paddington or Basingstoke rather than Reading though. The train to Reading is just one train for an hour and get's very boring and makes me very tired (even when I am reading) whilst the other two are two trains at about half an hour each (Basingstoke is more like half hour, forty-five minutes).

I am currently reinstalling Windows as when I first built my computer I stupidly put Windows 32bit on it. Such a bad move. Anyway, I bought a new 2TB hard drive along with an official (upgrade) 64 bit Windows 7. First piece of software that isn't a game that I have ever bought I think. But yeah, I am doing all of this now as I have the GameOn LAN coming up in just over two weeks which I can't wait for!

Along with that, this Saturday I am heading into London, rain or shine to a YouTube meet. Now a lot of people may look down at this but I think that a lot of YouTubers are the most down to earth "celebrities" you can come across. So I am going up to meet SMPFilms (DudeLikeHELLA) and Katers17 (Katersoneseven) and I can't wait!

I got my exam on Wednesday also which I need to get 80% in so will probably drop another blog in on Wednesday evening as it will be a load of my mind!

Three-Day Weekend!

The Visa-Europle Five Party Model

So been at Visa for two weeks know and I have to say, the last week went pretty fast. We learnt quite a lot of stuff as well such as the 5 party model which is the transaction process from the Cardholder to us and beyond (see image). I know that it looks really confusing but it's really not, especially if you put it into a straight line.

Went down the pub a few days as well with the other apprentices which was good. But the thing I have learnt the most about this week is the appreciation of a three-day weekend. Before, it was just a day off school/college and I didn't really do anything with it. Now, I have a whole new perspective on it! Sound silly but yeah.

Also got my LAN ticket booked for 4 weeks time. Cannot wait for that. Apart from that, not a whole lot been going on in the past few days although I did work up in the Reading offices on Thursday I think it was. I also met up with Anca that day, a childhood friend that I don't get to see nearly enough of!

Anyway, that's about it. Back to watching Lost!

Training..

We started our first lot of training this week with multiple different people. I wasn't exactly ecstatic to find out that there will be an exam at the end of it with a pass mark of 80% but luckily it's open book (I get to use my notes & laptop) so it can't be that hard!

This week has been going much quicker than last as we are actually doing something and learning things that will benefit us in the future (when I refer to us and we, I mean the other apprentices and I) so I've been enjoying it much more. My Wi-Fi at the office is still not working sadly but I will be getting that fixed tomorrow - fingers crossed.

Today we had a two hour break so I decided to go and see the sites of Paddington. There isn't a lot to see. What I was actually trying to find was a Waterstones or something of the like as I was trying to pick up the final book in the trilogy of The Hunger Games. If you have read the past few blog posts, you may have seen that I have been reading them. I've also been reading them a tad too fast (for me). I managed to finish the second one in three days whilst pretty much only reading them whilst travelling. Anyway, I realised today that Paddington itself doesn't actually have that many sights to see. It is pretty much just restaurants. I did manage to find a place deserving a picture though.

I also managed to get a decent enough picture of the "gardens" just outside where I work in Sheldon Square so here is a picture of them too. (They are not really gardens, just grass on steps!)

Tomorrow I will be going to the Reading offices for the first time - this should be interesting judging by the fact that when I first went to Paddington, I ended up at a random NHS building..

First weekend

So it's been a week since I started working at Visa and so far, not a lot has happened. But that's sort of what is to be expected when starting any new job. The entire first week was pretty much just introductions (although on Friday we got to look around one of the data centres in Basingstoke which was pretty interesting).

Seeing as we are the first batch of apprentices ever in Visa, it's not a huge surprise that everybody wants to meet us. We have been joined at lunch most days by some quite high players within Visa and have been getting lunch paid for us every day this week. Along with that, they keep giving us free merchandise and free travel. It's like they are trying to bribe us to stay. I don't think we're going anywhere!

But yeah, I got my £200 pre-paid card through on Thursday and seeing as it's Saturday now, I think it's time to spend some of this. I could do with some new shirts. Speaking of shirts, my parents have gone away for a week and I have only just realised I don't know how to use the washing machine. I am going to be terrible at living alone!

Oh, that's another thing, I think I have decided that I will be looking for a place in Reading in the next few weeks. I am starting off for 6 months in "Business Ops". This is basically Customer Care. The banks will call us with a problem, we will be the first line of defence to try and fix it. There are three of us in that section and it should be quite good actually.

Anyway, time to go shop!

Two days in..

So I have now started my apprenticeship and I have finished my second day. Basically, it's a 7am start or so where I then have to travel into Paddington (leaving the house around 7:30) and getting there around 9ish.

I managed to fudge up twice on the first day when, even though my dad had told me that Earls Court wasn't having trains to Paddington till the 22nd August, and I knew this fact, I asked at my local station and they told me to go to Earls Court to get to Paddington. It was early and I had forgotten that this was the fact. I then got to Earls Court station and was told to get back onto the train that I had effectively just got off (just going the other way) and go to Hammersmith.

Once I got to Paddington station, it is under a 5 minute walk to get to the main Visa building in Sheldon Square. As I come out of the platform, there is a sign saying "OI, TOSSPOT, THIS WAY TO WORK!" (I may be para-phrasing). I chose to completely ignore this and go on a journey ending up at a NHS building about a mile out of my way. Luckily, I didn't start till 9:45 that day and got there at 9:40. Go me.

Anyway, the actual days have so far just really consisted of introductions and the like. Nothing too interesting and the highlight of my job as an apprentice so far have both been meeting the other apprentices and the commute to work. It's a good hour 'n forty five minutes to get there give or take and I basically just sit down the entire time and read my book. I am currently reading "The Hunger Games". Don't know if you've heard of it but it's definitely one to read. Post apocalyptic world where minors are set to fight to the death. Google it. It's good.



But anyway, there really hasn't been that much to talk about except from the fact that on the first day we were given company laptops which I found very trusting of Visa. I mean, I'm not saying we are untrustworthy but; wasn't expecting that on the first day. But yeah, not much to say really, not going too badly at the moment.

Oh, also, they are paying for our travel and lunch for the time being which is shveet..

Shopping and Money

Today, I decided to hell with it (as the pre-paid card still had not turned up) and went shopping for some clothes. I went up to Kingston (see below picture) which is about a 40 minute trip from my house and ended up buying a new polo, some trousers and a shirt for work. Not the best of shopping trips if I do say so myself! I also bought some hair dye; Dark Brown. Decided I wanted to re-dye my hair (although last time it was black. It is naturally dirty-blonde). I am going to go out again tomorrow to Hounslow (15 minutes or so) to get some more stuff.

Kingston-Upon-Thames

Anyway, When I returned, I found an e-mail stating that my travel arrangements have been made for the first day (Great, first day). They said that they need some photo-id to do the other four weeks which I don't quite understand but okay! Anyway, they also said that they will be sending the pre-paid card to me next week. Sorry, but how is this helpful in anyway shape or form? Okay, yes. It is helpful as it's a free £200 and yes, I should be grateful that I am getting it anyway but seriously, I start on Monday, why would they send me a card to get clothes for a job the week I start the job. I'm not going to have time to go and get anything till the following Saturday so I will have to buy enough stuff for next week (which is pretty much all of it!). Hopefully, I can use the £200 on other things as well and it's not just situated to clothes. I can't imagine it is. As long as I have clothes and it gets used, all is well I suppose.

Off to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes tonight which I have been looking forward to for ages! If you live under a rock, then here is a trailer of it. Will write about how it was either by editting this blog tomorrow or I will shove it in the next one!

Team Fortress 2

As I haven't started yet, there isn't really a lot to report on the apprenticeship although I was suppose to be being sent a pre-paid railcard for a month so I can travel to and from Paddington station for free as well as a £200 pre-paid Visa card so I can buy some work clothes. If this has not come by Saturday, I will just have to go and buy my own clothes really.

I have been putting a lot of my attention into GameGrin this week. Oh yeah, the name of GameOn has changed to GameGrin. Don't ask. It can be found here: http://gamegrin.com. But yeah, I have been posting a lot of news as well as writing a blog post on Team Fortress 2.

Team Fortress 2 Classes

Speaking of Team Fortress 2, I have also been playing this a lot the past week and this week. If you don't know what Team Fortress 2 is, here is a quick breakdown. It's a team-based first person shooter. There are two teams, Red and Blue. There are eight different types of gametypes ranging from Deathmatches, Capture points and Capture the Flag. There are nine different type of class: Scout, Soldier, Heavy, Sniper, Spy, Engineer, Medic, Demoman and Pyro. They all have specific play styles and weaponry. It is Free to Play now.
Well yeah, I have been playing this a lot this week and going to be trying to get some gameplay footage in tonight as we have a GameGrin game. Should be fun!

Will try and actually do some more stuff in the next few days, might go out shopping but go the scenic route and take some pictures. That way I will actually have something to blog about!

Not much news

Not a lot has changed since the last blog really. I'm now under two weeks away from starting though. I think I have decided (that makes total sense) that I will be remaining at home for the first 5 weeks or so. This is for a few reasons:

1. I will be starting off in Paddington. This is, as I mentioned before, a half an hour trip from my current location in Middlesex but a two and a half hour (or so) trip from where I will be living in Basingstoke.
2. For the first month, I will not have any money. I will not get paid until the first month's salary comes through!
3. Hopefully - I haven't really heard much about the other apprentices moving but hopefully some of them will be doing the same as me and then I can hunker up with them.

So yeah; as far as life in general goes, it's pretty laid back at the moment. Not really doing a lot except from watching Lost & Breaking Bad counting down the days till I start. My money is starting to run thin as well as I will not be getting paid this month because I left my Lifeguarding job in June (my NPLQ (lifeguarding qualification) ran out then). Been getting out occasionally but not as much as I would like too. Sadly, as my money is running out I can't really afford to go out THAT much.

HTC Desire HD

I did, however, buy a new phone. I can't remember if I mentioned it or not but when I was on holiday in Zante, my stuff got stolen on the first night which included my phone. Well, the insurance money had recently come in so I jumped on the chance of getting rid of my temporary phone (LG Cookie) and upgraded to a HTC Desire HD and let me tell you now, I love it! So much faster than my previous phone, HTC Wildfire. I will be going out in the next couple of days to do a shop for some new clothes both for work and "play?" with the remainder of the insurance PLUS I get a £200 clothing allowance from Visa themselves which is good.

Anyway, that's all that is really going on at the moment and will hopefully get another blog up in the next couple of days with some more interesting updates!

Forms

I managed to get almost all my forms sent off now for the apprenticeship. I still have an online thing I have to fill out but that is 99% done. I am just having a slight problem which I am trying to fix and will most likely get done tomorrow.

It seems that my sleeping pattern is royally messed up at the moment as I got up at 10:30am this morning after going to bed around 4am and yet I am still awake at 2:42am this morning writing this post. I am really going to need to get this sorted soon (I'll give it till around the 10th of August though probably). The problem is, I get really bored anything past 1am as everybody else has been sensible enough to GO TO BED but it seems that I have not. So I stay awake, watching random films whilst playing random games (usually Rift) and just waste my time. Sadly, this then means that I end up in bed as the sun rises and don't wake up till gone 2PM and the cycle starts again.

An hour on the motorway - that's if I could drive.

Anyway, enough about that. I have got in contact with the other apprentices now and am trying to kickstart the whole "relocating process". Oh yeah, I forgot that I hadn't explained about the relocating process. Basically: I live in London. My base location is Basingstoke. That's a two hour or so commute for me as I, at this current point in time, cannot drive. I also will not get reimbursed for travelling to my base location so it would make a lot of sense for me to be living in Basingstoke.

A 112 mile round-trip!

Sadly, things get a tad more complex. Although my base location is Basingstoke, Visa have offices in: Reading, Paddington and Middlesex (my current area!). This means that I will be commuting a lot.

Basically I think the plan is to end up in Basingstoke. As I said before, I do not get reimbursed for travelling to Basingstoke but I do if I travel to any of the others. Sadly, I start out for the first five weeks in Paddington. I am trying to relocate at the same time as everybody else although the logical thing for me to do would be to stay in the same place at the moment as it's only a half-hour tube journey to Paddington from my current location. It is a MUCH longer (try three and a half hours or so) from Basingstoke. What I am worried about is if all the other apprentices move and get flatshares together then I will have to go and find my own room-mate which is a tad annoying and also a tad impractical.

I am aware of this slowly becoming a longer and longer post so I will cut it here but this is the sort of stuff that I am having to deal with at the moment. Luckily, I am not getting too stressed about it!

So it begins.

I have tried to start a blog for a while not but never had anything that interesting to write about really.

Well I have recently been accepted into an apprenticeship scheme working for Visa. Yes, the Visa (and no, they're not a bank).
I thought that this was more or less interesting enough to start writing about because it means that I will actually be doing something rather than sitting around playing video games all the time. Don't get me wrong, I will still be sitting around playing an ton of video games but I will also be having some other stuff to talk about rather than just how much I both like and dislike Captain America: Super Soldier (latest game I have been playing).

I might shove in the occasionally link to a review that I have done but yeah, lets see how this goes and then in three years time I can look back and see what an utter waste of space my life actually was three years ago!