Short wedding today, started at 9am at the brides, then headed to St. Brigids Church at Millers Point and had a few quick shots in the Rocks, before heading to the lunch reception at WatersEdge. So there was the ceremony at the church as well as a ceremony at the reception. There seemed to be many readings from the Qur’an. Fantastic day, and a lot shorter than other weddings – i.e. tomorrows…

The bride getting ready:

The veil had a mind of its own today, it was magnificent:

Simple shot from the back of the church:

The bride and groom do walk a lot during formals – just another persepective:

Loving the colours in this shot:

And this just shows where watersedge is located and just how nice of a day it was:

More pics at www.vlblog.net .

So got a really long wedding tomorrow, dont know how I’ll cope. Basically, need to get studies for uni done, help a friend with their computing assignment, and get MY projects completed at work. It will be a very long week, with a very long weekend coming up. Still havn’t had time to reflect on my past week, but hope to get it done soon.

Written by Milton Lai

Its been a very long week, with not enough project work done, but a lot of operations related issues dealt with. Basically, one guy left for the US for a conference last week, coming back tomorrow. Another left on Tuesday to another conference for a week, back this tuesday, then off again for a month in Europe. So that left 3 people on operations. It helps so much that one of the guys has uni on tuesday and wednesday, leaving 2 of us on operations. So spent a lot of the week in operations related issues.

So just a quick run down of my week.

Monday – had a new payroll system implemented, which looks quite good. I guess its reached the stage of removing paper.

Tuesday – Had a meeting with the boss to talk about my “current” project. Basically, he wants me to use the framework we have instead of hard coding SQL statements in the event that in the future, we change the data model, we dont need to change individual lines of SQL, instead the framework will make all the necessary changes. Had uni, getting back my subnetting quiz, getting 12/15, which I really only had one stupid mistake – writting the right number in binary but some how was 1 off from the conversion.

Wednesday – Had another meeting with the boss, about a previous project involving the data load. Changes AGAIN need to be made, and not having enough time this week, I was onto something on Friday, but hit a dead end with my logic.

Thursday – So working on the data load – basically, the parts of what my boss spoke about yesterday didnt make sense, after I looked into the code and the external databases. Headed to uni for some study after work. Was also supposed to pick up my speakers, but didn’t have time to get to Parramatta.

Friday – had internet troubles at work. It was out suppliers supplier who had the problem where we were not able to access external international websites. Headed out that night as well, and met up with a few people.

Saturday – I had planned to go Mountain Biking, but since i got home so late on friday, I thought it’d be better if i just stayed home. Woke up at 9 and it was a lovely day. So woke up my mate and we headed to FreshWater Beach for the day. Just wish I had a board to go surfing. Nice waves, nice weather. It was also election day. Fortunately, I applied late apparently, and wasn’t eligible this time round of elections. I guess I’m not too fussed about it, but I’m sure I will be as time goes on. So was also supposed to get speakers, but again, didn’t, so plan for it on thursday. Its ok, because I do have their pair. I got home from the beach, only to head out again last night till quite late.

Today – Woke up, early (day light savings this morning so dont know whats going to happen tomorrow – assume I’ll be up very early) , and headed to the uni library to study. Basically heaping a friend to get them through data structures (C programming). It was good, since i think that the data structures subject I did at uni was a lot shorter (they have done a C programming subject and this is a data structures subject). So still a bit to learn, but its coming back, but still difficult. Just a comfortable, relaxing and cold day.

I just hope I get more time to keep this blog up to date. I should though, but again, I feel bad for my projects, since they seem to be falling behind, but I’ve been told that operations is much more important, but I cant help but feel bad.

Written by Milton Lai

Its been a week since this wedding happened, but I havn’t had any time catch up and blog. So here it is:

So it started at the brides place in Gladsville, then momved to Elkington Park next to Dawn Fraser Pools at Balmain for the ceremony. Weather was, no so great. Basically it was wet. This was the first time I’ve shot in the rain. After the ceremony we moved onto the Sydney Rowing Club in Abbotsford for the reception. Here are the pics:

Bride getting out of the car – as you can see, very wet.

Ceremony under the rotunda at Elkington Park.

Just showing how wet it was… (although it may not have been pooring at that time)

Very casual and relaxed shot – the park is magnificant

Over heard she’s a shoe girl.

Testing out something new for the dance.

Very nice simple wedding. More at http://www.vlblog.net

Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have some time to catch up on the week.

Written by Milton Lai

Very long, but eventful week. Project wise, I was able to complete half of it. Basically the functionality I was after, I acheived on Thursday, which is fantastic news, and meant that I didn’t feel like doing too much work after that. Monday and tuesday had me modifiying my stored procedure, since there were confusions about a few of the columns and their links with our database.
Many problems this week have been blamed on the Intel Mac. Basically since support for printers and particular applications have ceased and so there are no updated drivers or versions of software that will work on the new Intels. On thing to note, is Adobe Reader 8 is the only one with the plugin that works with Safari on the new Intels. I have yet to call HP to ask for updated drivers for their printers since the Intels appear to lose the connection, and need to be re-added to work.

Friday I was given the chance to be the “offical photographer” at a symposium held at my work. Also being the I.T. support – on rotation throughout the day, I headed down to get a few photos of each of the speakers. I just hope I get given more opportunities in the future.

My brother had entered in 6 prints into the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) NSW photo competition. Monday was when the judging was, and that night was the presentation. I received a call from him during work to tell me that one the photos I had taken, “under his direction” received a Silver award! He got this news since he had a colleague who was present and recognised my print. So we headed there that night, hoping to have received more, but it was only the one. Still, first time we’ve entered any competition to come out with a silver. Some of the other photos were amazing, but some were… rather ordinary. I will say that, I have taken pictures similar to others that received silvers and golds, but personally thought it was a bit weak to enter – and a huge risk, but i guess its up to the judges and what they are into.
Here is our winning picture:

Monday night – studied for networking as well as completed my 2 online exams at the library. Tuesday night – had networking. Received 7/10 for a quiz done in the second week of class, and this weeks class was a lot more productive than anticipated since I was able to fly through the exercises. It seems as though something has clicked and programming routers isn’t so hard anymore. Wednesday night – had a break from staring at my code, so instead went to the library to read into realBasic, but it didn’t help as I realised that our data infrastucture is quite different from what books tell you. Thursday night – star gazing. Friday – headed to Sneaky Sound System at the Manning Bar at University of Sydney. Was very crowded, but had a fantastic time. Thanks to the people who got me out of the house. Yesterday, had to get a screw removed from my rear tyre, which took about 5 minutes. It appeared as though he put a strip of sticky of hot rubber inside my tire, and that was it. Bit sceptical about what he had done, but so far, the tyre seems fine. Had myself a haircut, then off to another wedding which I’ll post up after this one. I was able to grab this shot from an apartment I was in on Friday night before heading out to the Manning:

I did receive a call from my cousin on thursday telling me that he got a call from LifeStyleStore, saying my speakers had arrived. I was thinking that it is really bad service. They claimed it wasn’t their fault last friday, and that it had been dispatched and will arrive on monday. Instead, it arrived 2 weeks after I ordered them, even though I was told originally it would arrive after 3 business days. Planned to have picked it up today, but on the site, it says that they aren’t open, so I will now have to wait till next thursday to pick them up. Guess I can just keep using their ones for the moment. Here is a pic of my amplifier and speaker (note the little dent in the tweeter – was already there when i got it, then again, its not mine, so its ok)

Currently, I’m at the library studying for networking, reading over from C books, and having the time to get some photos ready for when I’m home to upload. Today is the Harbour Bridge’s 75th Birthday, and there isn’t much traffic. Of course people were told that roads would be closed and not to drive in. Looking forward to some lunch now. So after lunch, headed out and about to check out the Bridge’s light show. Very lovely night, and the lights gave a unique feel to the harbour. It was changed a few times during the night. Had dinner at Pancakes at the Rocks – Chicken Tandoori Pizza and Thai Chicken Crepes. Was fantastic.

One of the best days / productive days / best week / productive week in a long while. Thanks to everyone!

Written by Milton Lai

This one might be a long read. Friday I managed to get my project complete. Long day at work, lots to do as usual. We have a computer that will continue to reboot after someone installed the lastest symantec version on it. Been trying to get it going without formatting since there are devices connected to it which we dont have drivers for. So called up lifestylestore about my speakers and amp. So now the amp has arrived and the speakers hadn’t. So frustrating, but they did offer to give me a loan pair so I have sound until next week (thursday) when i pick them up.

So.. I decided to leave work early enough to get there by 6, but they said they will wait till about 6:15 for me. My cousin surprised me by telling me that he left work(called me at 4:30). Boss, at lunch, said, meeting at 4. Come 4, he says he’ll be a bit late, I said fine. Come 4:25 he comes back, 2 other people see him first, and then I come in… 4:35… I felt a bit rude, but I asked him how long the meeting was supposed to be, since I didn’t expect him to be 30 minutes. So we sat down for 1 minute, and he walked me out of the building as we discussed what will need to be done next week for the new system to “go live”.

So ran to bus stop, hopped on the bus, met with cousin at central, bus to car, speed to lifestylestore, traffic on parramatta road, got there at 5:59, left there at 6:45. So cousin wanted to hire the 52′s, but there was no… grill? and so… but risky since if anything happened, like a sharp object, then i’d have to pay for them, so we grabbed the 42′s.

Headed back to my cousins place, so he could compare his amp to mine. Main difference is that his gives a brighter sound, which I like. So thats my main criticism about my amp. Also as mentioned on some forum, the instruction booklet is hopeless. But once I got home, hooked it all up, hooked up the banana plugs, which make everything so much easier! Put in Josh Groban DVD, and oh it was soooo beautiful. Sitting on my bed across the room, the screen is just the right size, and the bass is tremendous on these babies. Put on other DVD’s as well, and relaxed.

Yesterday, it was such a nice day, woke up, put on Santana, again, sweet as anything. Then decided to ride to Chullora shops, where I bought Michael Buble – caught in the act, and the Cat Empire – on the attack. Of course, they would give me the wrong case for the cat empire, so when i rode home, there werent any discs in there, but it was too late to go back. Michael Buble was soooo good though. The recording is just excellent. So after my counsins, headed to my brothers to do some proofs for a wedding. Finished going through about 3000 images, possibly more. There were still about 2000 to go for that wedding. Then back for some sleep.

Today, woke up, watched Lost, cousin came over because he wanted some food. Went to Chullora again, and I swapped the DVD over, he bought a few things, came back to mine, and bit disappointed with the DVD. Sure it was made a few years ago, but instead of it being them performing live, it was their music sync’ed with clips from various performances. I was looking for improv’s like in their live performances. After that, met up with a friend in the city, headed to Bondi, and had the most relaxing time I’ve had in a long while. It was such a lovely day, in fact, a lovely few days – weather wise. Came back home to some study (Cisco site had stupid maintenance time until 7pm tonight but it was working when I got back at 6:30).

I will put a few pics up of my set up tomorrow I hope. Camera battery died, and CF reader isn’t working.

Written by Milton Lai