Corne van Dooren - (Multimedia) Designer

December 24, 2007

That's it once more. The year has again passed so very quickly...

Just like I do every year I use this last post of the year to look back at the past year. Its been an interesting year to say the least.

The past year had quite some high's and low's in store for me. I will end the year feeling low, but that only means 2008 will be better no matter what! So thats a positive I take out of this summary.

The definate heights would be: going to London and doing the London Eye (I am afraid of heights, so it was a daring operation, haha) - visiting Fareham - spending the summer holiday in Turkey with Nadine's sister and her husband and kids - Kimi winning the F1 title for Ferrari - the slip control course in March - getting us a Wii - Rotterdam in December, as well as Oberhausen and Trucks by Night.

But the absolute number 1 of 2007 is obviously the wedding of my sister! A beautiful day, great weather and clearly two people who really love eachother getting married. Absolute numero uno.

The lows are also very clear: I feel I changed jobs too often this past year (3 different jobs) - a former colleague dying in January at the very young age of 34 - all the movie sequels that were absolute crap - Rasmussen not winning the tour the France - the dog of my parents having a severely damaged knee and hip.

But the absolute lowpoint of 2007 is that my heavy headaches have returned. I know its because I worry too much, but I have taken paracetamol for 14 days in a row now. A horrible sign...

Well, I am trying to find a solution myself, because my doctor doesn't want to. So on January 12, 2008 I am taking tests to get eye surgery (laser). Hopefully that will help big time. I am looking forward to it, even though I am a bit scared as I wouldn't want them to f$ck up my eyes...

Anyway, I think its clear 2007 was quite entertaining for me. And the heights do definately make me forget the lows. So all-in-all I am a happy man. A happy man with headaches that is... ;)

I wish you and those close to you a very merry Christmas and a brilliant 2008!

Talk to you next year. All the very best,

Corné

December 16, 2007

Its been a very busy weekend for me. Mostly because a lot is being organized just before Christmas.

On Saturday we've been to Oberhausen, to the Christmas market. I had never been there before and we still needed to get some Christmas shopping done.

I never knew Oberhausen was so big. The shopping mall was amazingly huge and it was very, very busy. Below a photo of the shopping mall...

Saturday it was also Trucks by Night, a yearly event taking place in the village where I grew up. The trucks are dressed with all kinds of Christmas decoration and the lot of them then travel through the villages.

Its kinda like the Coca Cola commercial with the trucks - but then without Coca Cola.

Anyway, I won't bother you with more details about my weekend. Below are a picture of the shopping mall in Oberhausen and an impression of Trucks by Night.

Take care and all the best.

December 9, 2007

This weekend we have been to Rotterdam. Nadine's employer celebrated a Christmas party there. Nadine's employer always celebrates Christmas bigtime.

A night at a top hotel is always included as are some nice little gifts. Nadine and myself decided to visit the Euromast with one of the coupons given to us by her employer.

The Euromast gives a pretty good view of Rotterdam from about 120 metres high. The second time this year I had to go up for a good view.

For someone with fear of height I think I did pretty good this year (did the London Eye in March and now the Euromast in Rotterdam). Can't say my fear is totally gone. I don't think it ever will.

But I think I did rather well for my standards... ;)

Take care.

December 5, 2007

Today I received a message from Appoint Professionals today. Appoint is like a Human Resourcer for the Creative Industry in The Netherlands.

I had enlisted there about three years ago. But now they wanted to know whether my contact information and such was up to date. It wasn't, but thats not my point.

They had a very nice new tool on the website. I had to answer 130 questions (a lot, but worth it!) and the tool would give me feedback on what job is best suited for me.

Obviously I expected it to be something like designer or digital artist or something like that. And I did score great on those jobs, but there were some jobs that topped the designer-jobs...

According to the tool I am best suited to be an Account Manager or Account Director! Who knew! Here's the top 5 the tool came up with:
1. Account Manager
2. Account Director
3. Marketing Manager
4. Art Director
5. Interactive Designer

I was pretty pleased that Art Director was up there, because to me that would be the next step in my career. The tool must have taken into account the number of active years, which I think is the reason the senior titles with Manager or Director are mentioned.

Anyway, its a cool tool. To all Dutch readers who want to be in the creative industry, enlist to Appoint to do the test.

Take care and speak soon!

December 2, 2007

Today we got to know who Holland are playing on the European Championship next year. And its tough! France, Italy and Romania.

I have to say though that if Holland get their stuff together it is far from hopeless. The statistics prove it.

Italy generally start bad at tournements and grow throughout the tournement. And when France has a difficult start they also find it hard to get into their game.

So frankly I think that Holland and Romania have a shot! But having said that Holland also normally starts bad with a tie... So, Romania for the first place in the group?

Ah well, if we are going out, we will at least have played the best teams in the world.

Take care.

December 1, 2007

Yesterday I worked my last day at DHvV Interactive Lab. Its been good and the news that they have possibly found another person for the job is even better.

I wouldn't have wanted to leave the job with any negative strings. Paul and Jeroen, who are the Interactive Lab, have been really influental and great throughout my career.

Its a shame things didn't work out as we had probably all hoped. I am just glad they took me on in March and I have enjoyed my time over there, even with the PHP-programming. ;)

It also was my final day going to work by train. Thats something I am pleased about. I always found the train okay, but hated that they never checked my tickets... Over the past month I had 22 tickets, 9 of them have been stamped because they were checked by railroad people.

That means I could have saved myself 13 x € 10,- = € 130,-!!! Thats the thing I really hate about the train. I don't mind paying, but at least check me up on that!

Anyway, all sights are now set upon the future. And I am sure the future still has some massive things in store for me. And to Paul and Jeroen I can only express a sincere "thanks guys".

All the best and speak soon.

Corne van Dooren, Multimedia Designer