I love iTunes

What's that iTunes? There's a new version of iOS available for my phone? How exciting! 5.1 you say? Well of course you can download it and update my mobile, what could possibly go wrong there?

This is the general conversation that went through my head as the usual new software popped up after I plugged my phone into the old netbook and iTunes kicked in. I of course allowed it to continue, but what followed turned out to be a pain in the arse!

Software downloads fail all the time, especially from apple, so it wasn't a massive surprise when after 30 or so minutes of downloading and a brief installation attempt it informed me all had indeed gone tits up and it would now be kind enough to restore the phone to what it was, only there was a problem there too. Things not going well, but then the phone starts to come on anyway and everything's fine...or not, I not have a lovely iPhone 4 on factory settings. No apps no nothing.

Swiftly and with the poise of an IT professional (which I'm not) I restore a backup of my phone made not 1 hour earlier, and after several... dozen minutes of waiting, the phone restores the data and to my surprise everything seemingly goes ok, even the in app data is fully restored to it's previous glory. Even my Temple Run high score (2.3m) remains in tact.

But also, the strangest thing, according to iTunes, I now have 5 gig of memory free, when before it was stacked to the rafters. Funny as well as the new found free space was almost exactly the same as the memory taken up by my... cock biscuits.

I quick trip to 'Music' app confirms it, every trace of an mp3 (or equivalent iTunes compatible format) is gone. So while writing this I've also started slowly adding songs to thee phone from my iTunes library. Which itself has presented brand new issues, I'm skipping past most of it thinking... meh, never listened to it anyway.

So far I've managed to add about 9 songs to the phone, but I am still on C for the artist name, so there's some distance to go yet. But nothing in inspiring me, bad times. I think I need some new music, any suggestions feel free, ooh and to anyone who would suggest Beady Eye or High Flying birds, save yourself the keyboard wear and don't.

Interviews!

Before I start, I will openly admit I really don't rate myself at interviews. I don't know if it's the confrontational nature of the across the table style they're traditionally carried out in or what, but I tend to talk crap and make myself look bad.

Well today I had... an interview. It was to join the lovely IT department in work, and although I have no idea if I have the job as of yet, if I had to guess I'd say... no.

By nature I'm a reasonably introverted person (as for some unknown reason I choose to point out today), any of my friends will vouch for this, I generally let conversation pass me by unless I have something useful, funny, incitefull, etc to add. This makes me come across as sometimes quiet (fair enough!) and sometimes distant (not always fair enough). In an interview situation each question has to be answered, and answered quickly and by me. No more waiting for my moment to strike, it's everyone stare at the shy boy.. come on... speak. I try I really do, but I don't think I've ever left an interview going, "Yeah, in the bag mofo, sign me up", today was no exception to that rule.

Worst thing is I can't really put my finger on what was sooooo bad, I think I put across knowledge reasonably well, I put across skills and personality reasonably well, I even used the odd touch of humour, which made them smile, not laugh though... But my brain knows I could have done better. I will also do the introvert thing now of analyse every second of it to the point where I can break it down and write a report on it, nothing beats over analysing stuff you can't do anything about!

To be honest my interview skills are shaky to the point I'm surprised I have a job at all, let alone at a company I like working for, so I can't complain. Equally I can't change my nature and who I am, I'm better now than I ever have been, but I'll never be extroverted and outgoing, that's my lot, and to be fair there are signs my child has some of the same traits!!

Once I've had a pint though the above rules don't always apply!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

So Friday I stuck an application in for another job. Not another company, still staying with the Brotherhood of <company name>, but another department and a totally different role.

This has made me think, was it a good idea. I was ummming and arrring until the last minute, but in the end just hit the button and submitted it. That's another point, the application form was online, which despite being the total geek that I am, I didn't like. It almost felt like it was encouraging me to provide shorter answers, as is my experience using web forms, but I got over this and did a reasonable job I think.

Anyway, it made me evaluate where I am exactly, I have a job now I'm comfortable in, I'm good at, is secure. So why look for alternatives? The job I've applied for is in IT, and I think that was a strong attracting factor, as I've always fancied working in IT. I'm good with computers, and I think I'll be good at it with a little guidance.

But who knows if I've made the right decision, it's not like I'm certain to get it anyway, there's probably 200 people better for the job in the company, and it's not like I couldn't pull out.

Oh who knows, I'll see what happens.

At least I got to use a Bowie song as I title!