Tag: place

Returning to Humax

Posted on by bobdvb

More than a month ago now I announced my departure from Humax as their Chief Technologist. I have since been working for nice company doing some productisation work and while that has been interesting I have missed my colleagues at Humax. Recently I was called by my former Director, we had some discussions and after some careful negotiations I am returning to Humax. I am now to be a member of the development team and as part of this I will now be working more in Korea than before. It is a nice step-up for me and I hope I can input some valuable effort to the Humax development process. My departure from Humax was part of my personal development and I think it also gave a number of parties opportunities to consider approaches. This year is, so far, not only a good one for me but also I think this will be an important year for the companies I work with. The development of the YouView set-top boxes in partnership with the TV industry will be a minor revolution for the market place and Humax is well placed to take advantage of that through foresight and determination to lead the UK TV market. Furthermore I am also looking forward to working with freesat to bring their ambitions to fruition and I think that working together with them Humax can help their platform really evolve.

Here’s to the next step!

On the way back from work

Posted on by bobdvb

Today, on the train on the way back from work I was seated next to a man who was reading his newspaper. As usual I was reading over his shoulder. The article was about Madonna and the divorce settlement of £5m that she paid to Guy. I got a bit confused thinking how come a man reads this type of article.

After completing his reading he folded the newspaper and he took out of his pocket a stack of other papers. He began reading again but this time the articles were print-outs from the internet and the titles were: “Divorce Recovery Workshop”, “How to deal with Depression and Sadness” and lastly and most horrific “How to deal with suicidal feelings”!

Suddenly, everything fell into place…. For the first time in my life I felt like talking to this person and give him my advice. I didn’t. I don’t know if I regret it or not. Sometimes, we like remain anonymous among strangers however, if I had introduced myself to that man and talked to him, I might have made him feel happier even if it was for just the duration of my journey.

Metro Hotel refuses soldier room

Posted on by bobdvb

I was rather disturbed by reports that a hotel in Surrey, the Metro Hotel, had refused a soldier on leave a room. Apprently it was because in the local area other soldiers had caused problems. I remember when certain pubs and clubs in Dover would refuse entry to soldiers, but that was groups of drunk soldiers tearing up the place. A wounded soldier on leave visiting a friend in a rehabilitation facility is hardly the same thing!

Shame on them. However a recent B&B I visited apparently gives a discount to soldiers on leave! So there you go buys and girls, a nice little relaxing eco-B&B in the middle of nowhere to chill out in. Take a look at The Old Chapel Forge B&B for a soldier friendly place to stay.

 

Views on Venice

Posted on by bobdvb

Venice is a nice place to be for 2 to max 3 days. I don’t know if I would like to live there. The cold penetrates you to the bone and personally I had troubles to sleep because of the horrible pain to my body’s joints caused from the humid. I also got back with a terrible cold which still exhausts me one week later. I know that you may think that it can’t be that bad, how can one nag when being in one of the most romantic places in Europe! Indeed it is an exciting place which combines the unpreserved matured beauty with the modern facilities and luxury. While approaching the island you have the feeling of entering an industrial zone or a shipyard. Once sailing slowly down the Grand Canal, penetrating the island you begin sensing the blows of the city’s charm.

Amazing buildings, great Venetian architecture, arched windows supported on double roman columns, soft pastel colours, decayed walls, green with moss entrances emerging from the sea level, grandiose heavy double wooden doors, geraniums hanging off the windows reflecting their beauty into the still sparkling murano crystal window-screens formed by hundreds of little glassware circles bonded together. But the best is yet to come…

As the dark falls the town is dressed in its heavy black velvet cloak, covers its face in a golden Venetian mask and strolls into the narrow allays or sails in the dank canals. If you are lucky enough, you may find her in one of those little bars offering you a glass of deep red fruity wine, drinking with you and telling you amazing stories for ghosts and secret lovers. This is Venice. A town stopped in time but never forgotten.