Its been a very long time indeed since I last updated this blog, and since the time that I was rambling on about how fantastic Bikram Yoga is, many things have changed.

I have been to the Philippines to vist my family, and see my cousin get married. I have become “established” by entering into my 30s, and I have completed what I was set out to do in my job.

Just within the last week, I left my role as front end developer at QVC. It was the longest time I had worked for one company (excluding the student days of waitressing god awful shifts at a pizza restaurant), and to not be there now seems very strange indeed.

When I had joined, the site itself was very different. It was built using framesets (YES that’s right…you read that correctly), and everything was laid out in tables, which were built using various wysiwyg software. Web standards was not something that was a priority in developers heads, accessibility was not too much of an issue, and search engine optimisation was but a dream.

I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I embraced the challenge to help try and modernise the website. I went on workshops and courses, I attended events specifically for front end development, and I generally learned a lot about how things should be done to improve a website on all front end levels. I persisted in what I thought was the way to go; I would often come across walls which would make me lose my motivation, but I kept going.

Two and a half years later, I’m proud to say that the site and the team working to maintain and improve the website, are in a much better place; and I would hope that I have helped be part of that. I know that any replacement developer will do just as good a job, but I hope that the legacy I have left for maintaining web standards, building for accessibility and SEO, and continuously learning more about front end development will remain.

During this time I gained a lot out of this job, both professionally and personally! How to approach the way projects continuously change; how to work with people that are both technically minded and business minded; how to keep a sense of humour when things are bad; how to be patient when things aren’t going my way; how to stop moaning, and get on with things; how to not let things phase you; and how to try and inspire people as much as they inspire me.

Its always a strange thing to be with your colleagues 5 days a week, 7 hours a day, and suddenly adjust to not being around them anymore. My last week was very surreal, hearing from colleagues in the US that I didn’t have regular contact with to say goodbye, finishing up the handover period, clearing my desk. I have to say that working at QVC certainly had its challenges, but I left with a good feeling about what I had been part of, who I had worked with, and where things are heading for both myself in my career, and for the company.

Now, I’m adjusting to being the new girl again, in a completely different place. Fitting into the new group dynamics, getting a feel for what the work is like, learning the ropes, and forgetting it all within the first week. I’m confident that I’ll be able to contribute my pennies worth, and progress further in what I want to do, but can’t help but feel a bit out of my depth, and a fish out of water at the moment.

For now, I would like to say, thanks to the guys at QVC. I’ve teamed up with a variety of individuals in the past, but have to say that I have worked with some amazing and talented individuals during my time there. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve pulled my hair out, but I know I’ve left with a great sense of achievement, and a good number of friends. The new guys I’m working with, will have a lot to live up to.

A chapter closes, and a new one begins…so here’s to a clean slate and fresh start.

Blue Chip, over and out!