As some of you know, I’ve been unhappy about the direction my job has taken. I was being transferred to a project which would involve no design or coding, and was almost clerical in nature. Last Thursday I had a talk with the head of the software department, and explained my issues to him. Once I explained what they wanted me to do, he understood my reluctance. As a result, starting Monday I should be working with a different group, writing test software. Whether it’s as enjoyable as what I’d been doing remains to be seen; but at least I no longer feel dread at the prospect of going to work.
I just finished the last book of the His Dark Materials trilogy, by Phillip Pullman. I haven’t been so enthralled by a fantasy series since Narnia. The worlds he conjures up are brilliantly inventive, the characters are complex and free of cliches, and although he doesn’t pull any punches, the spirit of the books is ultimately an uplifting one. Highly recommended.