3 Apr 1999 (Saturday) 

This is actually going to be a diary entry for the past few days, as and when I think of things to write because I've been very busy (as I'm sure you'll appreciate) with the new job. In case you're unaware, I'm working for a company called RISCOS Ltd which has taken over development of the RISC OS operating system (hence the name - cunning, huh ?) and are working toward making the version formerly known as 'Ursula' into what will eventually be RISC OS 4.

Last month I moved in and began work with the new job. We're based in offices we're renting in a super secret location, on the grounds that we don't want people pestering us with phone calls, or unexpected visits. Makes sense as far as working is concerned. Anyhow, it's all been very good fun so far, if not a little stressful because we've got rather a lot of work to do in a short space of time.

Anyhow, about a week and a bit ago the last piece of 'major' equipment - the ISDN line - arrived, so we're finally connected to the outside world and should be able to receive email safely. The main thing that hasn't been sorted yet, because Andrew hasn't been able to work out how, is the news feed. Admittedly this is something of a bugger, but I'm not exactly sure what the problem is - apart from a call to set the resource limits in what appears to be the fetcher. I'm not worried. Andrew will fix it soon. Otherwise we just don't get news in the office and that's unthinkable .

You might be wondering why I'm writing such a large diary entry all of a sudden, and the reason is simple - I'm on my own. Well, that's not the whole answer because Matthew is here at the moment. Matthew's just about semi-conscious after driving home and back and generally being busy, and Andrew's gone home for Easter. Plus, there's the fact that Angela mentioned that there's been nothing much on the diary recently, for which she should be thanked and congratulated; I really ought to keep the diary up.

Last week (sometime, I'm not sure when!), we had a nice little man from Acorn User magazine pop around to do little interviews with us. It was quite fun, but it's interesting to note how little of events 'other people' are aware of. I realise that that is because I'm slightly closer to things, and even still I don't know everything (pah!), but it's nice to be reminded. I was one of those ignorant people not so long ago. Ok, who am I fooling ? I still am .

Friday we had some policemen around. Nice chaps they were. And probably would have been nicer if they hadn't thought we'd broken into the building. Of course, we're just renting the place, so we don't actually know the key holders home phone number (well we do now, but we didn't at the time). Anyhow, we didn't get beaten up and all was sorted amicably. Eventually. Gratuitous amounts of killing ensued after that though. In Doom, obviously. Not that other thoughts hadn't occurred.

On the Doom front, we've just had the majority of the weapon restrictions code written, although it's not distributed yet. Player names and displayed names are now correctly distributed - a minor bug in the length calculation last week meant that the name wasn't printed centred and hence looked very silly. Spread level is now an in-game configurable, as are a number of the previously 'external only' options. Cunning new additions will appear as and when I think of them, but I think I ought to give RCI another copy of Doom+ to release as they obviously didn't like the previous three I sent and said I'm happy with this version.

What else ? Oh, I chatted to Helen for about an hour and a half last week on IRC - now why can't I talk to her like that in real life ? . I ended up telling her lots of personal things about myself that were very embarrassing. But I love her very much so that's alright . Matthew has noticed that I sway rather a lot if I'm sitting at the table talking (or thinking) about Helen. I hadn't really noticed before, but I do. They do think that I'm in an extremely good mood after chatting to Helen which can only be a good thing, because the quality of my code increases then.

Last weekend (or possibly the one before, and I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet but I will again) I went to the IQ concert in London with the family. As well as being thoroughly excellent (and doing 'The Last Human Gateway' as a third encore!) we got a copy of their 'Lost attic' album of the tracks that 'didn't quite make it'. It's got some odd stuff on it, but their version of 'Bold Grenadier' is lovely, as is 'Wintertell' which is quite Genesisesque (if you can say that!). Oddly, I quite like the version of 'Barbell Is In' on there and I really couldn't stand it when I heard it the first few times. And the 'bizarre' award goes to (cue drum roll) 'My Legs'. It's just very weird. Let's say no more about it.

What else ? Oh, Glenn was wittering on today about Helen as he seems to. I don't want to even discuss that, but it happened today nonetheless. Oh, April Fools Day - I only got taken in by one, and that was because I was semi-conscious, listening to GMTV talking about a pregnant man. Ok, so I'm gullible, but not as gullible as some people (I'll mention no names here) take me for.

I get a lot of stick from Matthew and Andrew about the fact that I like Helen. It's really quite hard sometimes, but I'm finding it easier. Whilst I was at university there was a guy called Chris Davis who had a very irritating knack of reading what you were doing over your shoulder and criticising it. This can be somewhat irritating and can be met with lethal force in some countries. Fortunately for him, even maiming isn't allowed in this country so he got off lightly. However, the reason I bring this up is that Andrew has a similar tendency. It can be exceptionally irritating when I'm doing private things, but if I'm at work I just refuse to work whilst he's staring over my shoulder. Not so much on principle, but just because I can't think straight when I know someone is doing that. Ah well.

What else happened today/this week ? Oh, nothing much. I spoke briefly to Chocky at Oregan one evening just to keep myself occupied. They're all well, and I think it might be useful to keep in touch with them more often, just because I know there are a number of people working there that I'd like to stay in touch with (which is as good a reason as any).

I really can't think of much else to write now though. Night!

(I hope that makes you happy Angela!)

Oh damn. Angela Beardsmore's birthday is in a few days. Must get her a card. I can't quite afford to be 7 months late as I was last year .

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6 Apr 1999 (Tuesday) 

Spent an excessively large amount of time on Egham today, chatting to that nice Mr Proven about FileCore problems. Well, and to other people too. I caught up with Helen on IRC too which was rather nice, especially considering the very depressing dream I had last night .

Other than that, it's been a pretty dull day. Well, interesting for those reasons but nothing much else happened. I'm very close to getting a totally clean build now without any problems introduced by either the CVS system or my own general incompetence too .

On the Doom+ front, we've had a little set of messages in CSAG about Doom+, started by Andrew's little 'features' post. It's amazing what's been done to the network games. Particularly as I'm no longer playing 'catch up' to anyone else. I really don't think that any of the versions I've seen quite compete with Doom+ now. One of them is client-server though - which is cool - but it still doesn't have some of the cool things I've added.

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9 Apr 1999 (Friday) 

What did I do today ? Nothing much really. Chatted quite a bit on Egham. Actually that's a lie. I listened a lot on Egham. Vulch wants a copy of JFPatch, so I've tidied up the last copy that Mr Brady sent me so that I can release it. I started doing something on Doom too, but I've no idea what.

Oh, remembered now... I've added in game naming of players and... erm... tidied something up. I forget what though.

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