Just a quick one... Here is the email from my my Mum's best friend's husband (regarding Post 02 I think)
Dan:
Sorry it's taken me an age to reply, but my ISP was involved in a legal dispute with another company, and I've been unable to send emails. I've just sorted my email with another provider, so for the moment my email is as above.
Yes, my father was chief engineer of Daniels, who were located in Stroud. They originated as ironfounders in the 1780s, and were a family firm until taken over by various groups in the late 60s and 70s. The site closed when their work was put elsewhere in (I think) the Alfred Herbert Group. At one time they made traction engines, then presses from the 1920s onwards. After the war they were one of the first companies to make chainsaws (Danarm) and they expanded into plastics machinery for injection moulding and vacuum forming.
Regards, Chris.
Pretty interesting...
As for me, I'm heading to the Big Smoke to chase my dreams... And to do more temp jobs. Saving money here isn't working. Hopefully there it will!
Sunday 31 December 2006
Friday 22 December 2006
Post 06
Very unexpected - recieved in the post (along with incorrect timesheet) a Christmas card from the temp agency! Written personally to me aswell! Not. Nice of them all the same though.
Post 05
Not much info from me for a while, been busy making music with my band. (Though what you hear on the myspace doesn't really sound anything like the new material).
Anyway, I have been working for two weeks at a small bottle screenprinting factory/business. They market water purification units for restaurants/hotels to sell over-priced tap water; they sell bottles with for these units and will print your logo etc on them. (Some very well known - and expensive! - places use this company, can't say which though)
Lovely people (actually have real conversations) except one man - of the two I work with - 100% supports the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp which really disturbed me; I nearly quit when he said, "...Oooh Guantanamo; love it. Love it. It's justice isn't it". I wish I had my argument dialled but didn't know what to say. I did say that most of the men there have not had a trial. But couldn't compete with his self-assurance that it was a good idea (which I strongly believe it is not). He was a policeman for 21 years.
Radio 2 8:30am til 1:30pm (working hours). I got very confused as I was convinced Terry Wogan did the whole stint but gradually realised he only does up til 9am! The next man is Ken Bruce who sounds EXActly like Wogan; THAT is where the confusion lies.
Took some photos of the work environment. Still no people. Never feels right. I don't work in these places long enough to feel comfortable to do so (wouldn't want to do candid snaps either)
Here they are:
Place of work. Kilns on left, bubble wrap centre. It is infact quite a skill to print and bake the bottles (this 'sets' the ink like a glaze). You cannot take them out of the kiln straight away; they will all crack. The kilns are left to cool in the kilns until about 100 degrees C (with the help of homemade air-con/air extraction system, on left above kilns) then the doors are opened only slightly to cool bottles further (again they would crack if taken out now.) Eventually they are removed and placed on the tables (picture, right) and when at a tepid temp, the tops are put on (my job exclusively, see below).
THREE colours.
More 'factory art' with chocolate buttons Sellotaped to breasts.
Anyway, I have been working for two weeks at a small bottle screenprinting factory/business. They market water purification units for restaurants/hotels to sell over-priced tap water; they sell bottles with for these units and will print your logo etc on them. (Some very well known - and expensive! - places use this company, can't say which though)
Lovely people (actually have real conversations) except one man - of the two I work with - 100% supports the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp which really disturbed me; I nearly quit when he said, "...Oooh Guantanamo; love it. Love it. It's justice isn't it". I wish I had my argument dialled but didn't know what to say. I did say that most of the men there have not had a trial. But couldn't compete with his self-assurance that it was a good idea (which I strongly believe it is not). He was a policeman for 21 years.
Radio 2 8:30am til 1:30pm (working hours). I got very confused as I was convinced Terry Wogan did the whole stint but gradually realised he only does up til 9am! The next man is Ken Bruce who sounds EXActly like Wogan; THAT is where the confusion lies.
Took some photos of the work environment. Still no people. Never feels right. I don't work in these places long enough to feel comfortable to do so (wouldn't want to do candid snaps either)
Here they are:
Place of work. Kilns on left, bubble wrap centre. It is infact quite a skill to print and bake the bottles (this 'sets' the ink like a glaze). You cannot take them out of the kiln straight away; they will all crack. The kilns are left to cool in the kilns until about 100 degrees C (with the help of homemade air-con/air extraction system, on left above kilns) then the doors are opened only slightly to cool bottles further (again they would crack if taken out now.) Eventually they are removed and placed on the tables (picture, right) and when at a tepid temp, the tops are put on (my job exclusively, see below).
THREE colours.
More 'factory art' with chocolate buttons Sellotaped to breasts.
Friday 1 December 2006
Post 04
This week I worked the final three days at the switchgear factory. Mainly assembly of components, but also stock taking - I think I counted well over 6000 items. I am now proficient at counting - four at a time. I was able to take some more photos and people were actually wanting to make conversation. I learnt two Thai curry recipes (provided below) - i am yet to test them. I talked to a 25 year old man who was very keen on film (in particular the Alien series); he talked with some genuine opinion and passion about it. I am sure he would love to work on film sets - he was surprised when I told him it wouldn't be that difficult to get in to - and he said he was aching to change jobs - "sort out my career". "I might be a forklift driver".
I noticed a few things I hadn't noticed before in the factory - namely some interesting design by the workers. Incidental design, and I doubt the person who did it thought anything of it, but pretty original all the same! Below are some examples as well as a couple of other things... I don't want to use the term 'outsider art' as I think it's pretentious and raises the critic on a pedestal (which isn't really there). So maybe it's factory-art or something... Doesn't matter really.
I like this hose-clip packaging.
Pretty bored counting so I made this lovely Xmas decor from the left over labels.
Maybe not 'good design' but I know someone who will adore this.
Curry 01
Curry 02
I noticed a few things I hadn't noticed before in the factory - namely some interesting design by the workers. Incidental design, and I doubt the person who did it thought anything of it, but pretty original all the same! Below are some examples as well as a couple of other things... I don't want to use the term 'outsider art' as I think it's pretentious and raises the critic on a pedestal (which isn't really there). So maybe it's factory-art or something... Doesn't matter really.
I like this hose-clip packaging.
Pretty bored counting so I made this lovely Xmas decor from the left over labels.
Maybe not 'good design' but I know someone who will adore this.
Curry 01
Curry 02
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