I've been feeling very cynical at work recently. The slipping schedules, arbitrary deadlines, and promised improvements that amount to nothing are getting to me. Today we hear that the entire project will probably slip another six weeks; not much in the scheme of things. The project manager suggested we might be able to get some training out of the slack time. The wisdom in training people at the end of the project is lost on me.

There will never be any C++ training anyway. I want to be a C++ guru, but it's difficult being surrounded by C monkeys. I do the best I can to educate myself, but there's only so much one can achieve without working alongside other gurus, seeing how they work, and having a critical eye watching over one's work.

We talk about improving our engineering processes. Using third party tools to increase the quality of our software, sharing more between projects, stricter processes for critical components. Meanwhile our project rolls on, a huge juggernaut. Inevitably there will come one arbitrary day where these great ideas are imposed retrospectively on our project, and we'll need a huge effort to implement the well-meaning changes. There will be no rejoicing, only pain.

Promotion?

The project manager left an offer on my desk, written on a piece of paper ripped out of a notepad. SAFETY ENGINEER BID #1 it said on the front. Inside, the generous offer. 1x CRUNCHIE. 1x BEER } PER WEEK.

Belgian Beer Cafe

The highlight of my week was taking my sister along to the Belgian on the weekend as part of her birthday extravaganza, and it was as good as always. I started with a large Hoegaarden (how do they make their large glasses look so large???) then moved onto a Leffe Blond, and finished with two bottles of Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit. I was asked for ID on my third drink. "Wow", said the bar chick. "You're older than I am." Every time I'm asked for ID I take note, because one day it will be the last. Seven years of being asked, and still going strong. I like to watch their faces when they check my date of birth, just to catch the look of surprise.

Other

Played tennis and tenpin bowling last Saturday. Met the wedding celebrant on Monday and did lots of paperwork. Mum's planning a holiday in Rome, with a stopover in Dubai on the way. One of the guys from work went to Sydney this afternoon for a meeting, he's coming back tomorrow evening. A huge waste of money? $3.50 chicken rice for lunch continues to impress. I don't see my fiancée until Saturday due to her shifts. A small area of my house smells like wet towels. I can't work out why.