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Getting The Blues

Another job interview, once again I was not successful. On this occasion, I was not totally surprised as I did not have all the skills that they were looking for. They were looking for someone to come in and set up all their testing practices and do a fair amount of Automation. Still, the feedback from the people who interviewed me was good. It was the same as the last place, they really liked me, though I would be a good fit for their company, just the wrong role. It was intimated that if another testing role is created they would come back to me. All the same, it does give me the blues a little bit. Keeping focused is the key here and my focus is not great.


I was chatting to someone via The Ministry Of Test slack the other day and they pointed me in the direction of open source project Covid Safe Paths So I have signed up for it and spent some of the mornings negotiating my round their slack and documentation. There is lot to read about it, not sure what I can do for them but I have offered my services and there is no harm in it. Though interestingly when I downloaded the app on to my ancient Samsung 5 and tried to do a data share it almost totaled my phone. I suppose that is a good test in itself ha! Anyway, I think it will be experiencing and keeps my hand in the testing world. By the looks of it there are a lot very very very clever people involved or they appear to be!


I have decided I need to learn how to sketch/draw. I am not very artistic and my previous attempts at drawing were terrible doodles. Being in lock-down means I am a bit limited on going out and sketching subject matter - so far I attempted views from different windows. I have a number of 'how-to' books which I will have to study in greater detail! This one below is the view from my sitting room. One thing I have learned so far from my sense of perspective is not very good and getting a good sense of depth to a drawing is hard. 

One bit of advice I got from an artist friend a long time ago was just to sit and look at the world around and absorb it all, and take time doing it. I might try and to sketch from imagination and that way I can get away with anything I like. I feel when you are doing a sketch of the real world, that I need to get as close to the real world as possible. This means of course a lot of rubbing out on my part! Still, its good fun, and I wonder the skill I pick up from learning how to draw can be transferred to software testing- something I will ponder.








My attempts at learning Python is a bit of a grind, however. I could really do with some 1-1 mentoring, or to put it crudely someone to kick me up the arse..and then keep kicking. I have been given some good links and resources to learn from various good people on The Ministry of Testing.. It just doing all the practical stuff that I am finding hard to keep on top of. I now it is all about finding the groove. I need to get on top of it, and start doing this properly.


Still reading "The Wanderers"- though it is getting a little bit too close to real-life ha!




Stay safe and healthy.


Music on the Headphones-Mississippi Fred Mcdowell- Somebody Keeps Callin Me

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