Date: 12 November 2008 01:30:11
Until I am in the US. I cannot wait. Though there is plenty to do before-hand. Particularly at work.
I, in some sense, made a rod for my own back. I do not regret what I have done, but perhaps with hindsight I would've done it better. I have created a number of work-a-rounds and new programs to assist staff where our current system did not have the capability. And, of course, being the only developer here it then falls to me to keep these going. I did these with good intentions: to empower staff to do their job and take pride in it -- rather than them having to ask me. However the effects are larger than I considered [which I didn't really do].
In addition, where things were not working, and where to get fixes to the system would prove too costly, or where they were taking too long, I wrote my own programs and ran them [command-line interfaces; direct-to-database scripts] as need be. Quick and easy. But they can cause enormous trouble if not run correctly, so I cannot hand them over to staff -- not that I do not trust them, but it is too easy to change data you don't want to and generally cause problems when you have power and are working behind-the-scenes.
These are all coming back to bite. Particularly when I am going on leave for four weeks. A lot of clearing up my spartan and technical documentation so normal [i.e. non-IT] people can read it -- which is probably not a bad thing. But stress on myself, of my own making, of what may happen while I am away is effecting me. I do hope I can relax though: I need it.
Last year I also took four or so weeks off and headed off overseas. I received a few calls, particularly from the poor new Helpdesk assistant, who found how difficult and temperamental systems can be -- particularly when they stopped working for no discernable reason. He did not want to call me, no-one did; but there was no choice. I was happy he did, and could; and I nominated him for Employee of the Month as soon as I got back [and he received it].
Sadly, these fixes and patches have also given false impressions on how things are going. Comments may be made on the fact we need a new system, as the current one truly has seen better days, but as my, and others', workarounds are making us rather efficient, very efficient in fact, it may not seem as urgent as it should be by upper management.
As I said, it is a rod of my own making so I cannot complain [too much :)]. I will try and learn though: I should better consider how these will work going forward than just doing a quick fix. God willing, I will learn.