I’ve been working for OpenAdvantage since December 2003 and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Unfortunately the funding has come to an end. So from the end of September I will be out of a job :(.

We had another bid into Advantage West Midlands to continue our work with the National Open Centre, but unfortunately due to the recent change in Prime Minister most public spending has been stopped for re-evaluation. So as far as AWM are concerned there is no money available to fund our project.

This seems like a bit of a shame to me and it looks like all parties concerned are going to end up with egg on their faces. Earlier this year we had a press launch at The House Of Commons where the whole concept was bigged up and people took all the usual pictures etc. It all looked quite promising.

I seem to remember the original funding application being handed in around November last year. Ever since then we’ve been hanging on, waiting to see if we got the money or not. It’s only recently that we’ve been told that there’s definitely no money in the pot for us. I hate the whole funding process, it seems like nobody knows whether they’re coming or going and decisions are made so close to the button.

The latest development is that we might be kept on in the University doing some other job, but gues what…. THAT’S NOT DECIDED EITHER!!! So yet again everyone working here is left wondering what is going on and whether we’re going to have a job at the end of September. Should I start looking for work? I don’t know. I like working here and given the opportunity to stay, I think I would. However, we’re not going to be staying in the same building, which means being shipped off somewhere else and I’m not sure I want to do that. The uncertainty of everything is making morale pretty low here, and I don’t like it.

So, the upshot of it all is that I’m currently looking for work, I think I’d prefer contract work. So, anybody know anywhere I can get some Ruby on Rails development work? I think that’s what I’d like to do. I’ve developed a quite a few internal systems here at OpenAdvantage and am currently working on a Rails based open source CMS.

However, I’ve also done loads of Web development with PHP and Python. Developed sites with Plone, Drupal and Joomla CMSs. Done loads of systems administration/network management with Linux, OS X and Windows. Taught courses in PHP, Plone, Joomla and Drupal. Plus, provided consultancy to many, many local companies on all manner of open source solutions.

I’ve just finished giving my first seminar, it was called Powerhouse Office Servers With Samba and LDAP. I was particularly worried about doing this as I’m not particularly good a speaking in front of people, however it is something I’d like to be good at. So, after spending about a week getting the 97 slides ready, complete with screencast style video of the steps needed to setup a couple of different systems, the time came to give it today.

How did it go? Well, I was certainly nervous before and throughout the hour and a half presentation, but all in all it went really well. People seemed pretty receptive to what I was saying and there were a good number of questions both throughout and at the end. Plus, I don’t think I saw even one of the 15 people even starting to nod off!

Would I do it again? Yes, infact I’ve got to do another one in September, same subject, so the presentation will just need a bit of tweaking, with a little luck. Am I looking forward to doing it again? Not sure, don’t think so, but I’ve been told it just gets easier and easier as you do more, so that’s what I’m planning on doing!

I think I’m just sure of one thing… I’d very much like a beer!!!