ANDREW WATERHOUSE’S BLOG

An Update About My Book

Hey all, apologies for the site being down over the past few days. I’ve managed to rectify it’s issues and now I’m back to the blog. To spice things up a little, for a change this isn’t some wonderful wisdom. Instead, it’s a simple update. More particularly, about my book.

I’ve just received my second version of the book in the mail and boy you should have seen my face when the delivery man turned up! There’s a lot of change in this publication and I think it’s about time to give you guys a quick once over on the behind the scenes.
Let’s start with a bit of prologue. For the last few years, I’ve been keeping a diary on the daily antics of my life. The reason mainly comes down to the poor memory of mine. One day I’d like to look back and remember those forgotten times. As some of you may already know, I also went to summer camp… or affectionately known as Camp America. Thankfully, I kept up the diary and I’m now ready to reveal all.

There’s No Place Like Summer Camp Book is Coming Soon, Really Soon.

Coming later this year, There’s No Place Like Summer Camp will be released (19th September 2017). It’s the personal memories that I kept over the course of my first year of independent travel. You will get to meet some outlandish characters, crazy kids and quite surreal stories of what volunteering at summer camp is really like.

It’s taken a butt-load of work and there still is a whole load more still to do behind the scenes. Currently clocking in at over 120,000 words, which is easily the biggest amount of scripture I’ve ever wrote. Heck, it’s even bigger than my Automated Pac-Man program dissertation project which is really saying something.

So, allow me to break down what’s been going behind the scenes all this time.

A few special announcements about my book

The Title

So, I’ve finally settled on a title. This took a good few months of head-scratching to find one that perfectly sums up it’s contents. Like all good names, I finally stumbled on to There’s No Place Like Summer Camp and I absolutely love it.

Feel of the book

Since its first incarnation (which was used to test the waters), the whole feel for the book has changed and I do mean quite literally. The quality of paper has been much improved, along with a much silkier feeling cover. I’ve put every intention in making this book ideal for taking on your travels and boy does it feel high quality!

Content

The content has had a massive overhaul. There’s a lot more context to situations that occur in the story. There’s now background to the characters in There’s No Place Like Summer Camp along with the day to day life of how summer camp runs. As you’d expect, there are millions of spelling and grammatical fixes thrown in for good measure too. To top it off, the book has a few cool features that you don’t really see from many other authors these days. There’s photos, social media updates and daily ratings which all add up to one unique reading experience, much like summer camp is unique in itself. There’s some “other stuff” in there too, but I’m a fan of surprises so will keep you hanging on that one.

Availability and release date

I’ve nailed a release date, the 19th September 2017. The intention is to get the physical book perfected first and then eBook version will be worked upon once the rest is complete. As for availability, it will be available on Amazon on 19th September 2017. I’ll be working hard behind the scenes to also get it in Waterstones and other high street retailers too.

Cover

The covers have been totally re-imagined to better reflect the summer camp vibe. The whole design has been worked upon from the ground up to better leap off the shelves!

Blogging

There’s going to be a few blog posts in the coming months about Summer Camp and the books progress too. I’m super excited to continue to refine my first entry into the world of books and I’m happy to announce that any book updates will be posted here first.

 

There’s still a lot of work to go and this will be the best place to keep an eye on whats going on. It’s quite an exciting time and I want to nail the release.

 

I’ll see you in the next one,

A.

Never Forget Where You Came From

For a few weeks now I have been scratching my head on what to blog about next. But today, it hit me. And there’s a bit of a backstory to this one…

My First Job

Shortly after leaving sixth form in my quiet suburban neighbourhood, I went and found my first job. A bit later than my peers, my first role came when I was 17. The job itself was simple, a Sales Assistant at Sainsbury’s. Daily duties would include offering friendly customer service, stock control, reductions and obviously, stacking shelves. For what it was, on a part-time 12 hour a week permanent contract, I enjoyed it and it got me by. Heck, there’s no better feeling than that first paycheck, where your eyes are opened to the world. £350 a month!? That £12 a month pocket money I had irregularly coming in from my dad for the last 4 years was a thing of the past in one fell swoop.

Confident with customers and what my role entailed, I was now for the first time being referred to as ‘a man’. I vividly recall the first time I overheard a mum shopping with her young son to ‘ask the man where the creme fraiche is?’. It was a bizarre feeling. Fast forward toward the end of my two year tenure, it dawned on me that I needed to get out of the retail market. I felt I had learned what I could from my first job.  Now in more of a ‘reliable, team leader-esque’ role, I was at home on the shopfloor and felt I had to break free from it before I was sucked in to being trapped in retail for life. The one month’s notice flew by and I’ll always remember that last bus ride back home. Emotional from what that first job had done for me, I was now officially a man on a path to progress his career.

Growing into an adult

It was that first role as a Sales Assistant that really sprung me in to the world of work. Away from the routine school-life, I was now in charge of where I wanted my path to lead. It wasn’t about the money, it was about the independence and growth. Mid-way through university by this point, I was keen to find a placement role that would complete my Computer Science degree. I started to look online for available roles and one sprung out at me in particular. Working at Disney in their games department. It was the dream job that I would have thought would only present itself to me much later in life. But, the disappointing fact was that I had only just missed the deadline for applications. I plumped for it anyhow, spending every waking moment refining my application so I could have a good shot while my toe was in their figurative online door. The next day, I was called for a phone interview.

This was unlike any other interview I had previously. I was tasked with some taxing, personal questions like ‘who inspires you’ as they ventured deeper and deeper in to my responses… but alas it turned out I had passed. The face-to-face interview was lined up next where I’d also be tested with a presentation. It had to be on a mobile game to demonstrate that I knew the industry well while I provided insightful and entertaining content to the panel. Honestly, it was a piece of cake. The game I chose was World of Goo. Give it a try if you haven’t already, it’s one of the few mobile games out there that is really worth the premium price tag. The reason the most challenging interview of my life was a breeze was because of my passion. For what I lacked in the presentation, my hobby had filled the gaps. Not only had I made the presentation, but I ensured I had the game to hand also. With all the work I had put in, I had provided that extra effort other candidates hadn’t for them to remember me by. Handing them my phone to give that same level of engagement I had was a great move.

Working at Walt Disney

The manager who hired me saw something in me and my poorly written CV. So I soon found myself with my second job, working for Walt Disney in Hammersmith. Albeit, I had come second place. There was a candidate who had much more qualification than I. She was hired for the role while something quite remarkable happened on my side. A new, temporary two week unpaid role was created just for me as the manager had seen a spark in my eye that he wanted to alight. I simply couldn’t turn the offer down. My passion for gaming had got me in to their prestigious revolving doors in their Disney Interactive arm. It was there I met some amazing people on their graduate scheme. Seeing how a gaming company operated was awe-inspiring. For the first time, I had insight in to the role I wish to have as a long term career. It was just how I expected too. The people were what made Disney what it is. The world-renowned Disney values were emanating from every person in the office. The people were some of the most down-to-earth, professional and fun people I’d meet in a workplace.

Once the two weeks flew by, the manager had taken time out of his hectic schedule to sit me down and allow me to learn from his greatness. We would sit together at lunchtimes and during the work-schedule to take a look at the work I had been doing and my CV. After the great working relationship had come to a close, I was left with a stand-out CV. The amazing advice Matt had gave me would live with me forever. Plus, I now had Walt Disney’s name to add to my growing résumé. I learned that it wasn’t all about qualifications anymore. Your employment history has just as much, if not more of a factor when it comes to standing out in a crowd of paperwork. This was something you would never hear from a teacher at school.

My professional journey would then take me to other offices that would harness my (now earned) Computer Science degree. With each time I changed job, I unexpectedly learned more. I grew as a person and added more skills to my repertoire. I met a variety of different characters and while in a professional working environment, found myself new contacts and friends along the way.

Throughout my journey, I found workmates who would make my day to see as I seek their insight. From the few jobs I have had to date, I always find I have learned something new about myself or a new technical skill from the job at hand. Since that first job at Sainsbury’s, I’ve always had the attitude to work that I’ll leave when I feel I have peaked. I’m not one for settling for second best as there are plenty of opportunities out there to grow. Routine can be the bane of many people’s lives and I for one do not wish to settle for it.

Since visiting home over this weekend in the run-up to Christmas, I’d like to offer my sentence of advice. Simply, ‘Never forget where you came from’. It’s astounding sometimes to take a few minutes out of your day, recognise what you have gone through and who you have become.

 

See you on the flipside in 2017,

A.

Without a Goal, You Can’t Score

As mentioned in my last blog post, this one was always going to be dedicated to my bucket list. It’s one that I started to make at the beginning of the year, shortly after this website was made. So far, I have come up with a staggering 52 things I’d love to experience before I die. In no particular order, I’m about to break them down to provide insight into the person behind the portfolio.

 

Andrew’s Bucket List (in no particular order)

1. Obviously, marry the love of my life – I’ve stated that these are in no particular order but this is definitely number one. Since day dot, I’ve had the desire to find the woman of dreams. There’s no shifting this one off top spot. I’m after the awe-inspiring, beautiful partner.
2. Visit North Pole – The North Pole is strangely a place I’d love to visit. Being part of an exclusive group of people to have visited and meeting Santa Clause himself is something I’d love to check off my bucket list.
3. Have a massive wedding, catching up with all the old friends of days gone – Tying in well with #1, I want to marry when the time is right. By that, I mean the wedding to top all weddings. I only ever want one wedding in my life and there will be no cautious spending here to make my declaration of that. I’d invite all the friends of days gone by, having catch-ups since the years we last met. Going all out for my princess and rekindling old friends.
4. Visit Australia – There’s much to life down under and I’d find it fascinating to visit the country. Just the wildlife alone, friends from summer camp and the threat of drop bears will be enough for me to make the 24 hour flight across the globe!
5. Own a house – It’s a simple one, but has to go on the list nonetheless. I want the flexibility of having my own pad and building my kingdom.
6. Have kids – Ideally two, one son and one daughter.
7. Take kids to Disneyland – I never went as a kid, but I’d love to make my kids dreams come true. Its a bucket list item I’m holding off of for now as I want that giddy feeling when I experience it with them.
8. Record a song, whether that be a cover version or custom – I’m not musical in any way, shape or form. I’d love to one day record a song and openly declare my love for my partner.
9. Learn to play an instrument – Tying in with the above, I’d love to learn an instrument. I never took music seriously at school, but I’d like to learn now.
10. Run a marathon – Always a competent runner, I’d like to run a marathon for charity. I did a 5km run many years ago so fancy my chances of one day testing my stamina to the extreme.
11. Write and release a book – Already being worked upon, I’d love to say that on my deathbed, I gave everything a go. This is one of those things. I’m super excited to have the chance of one day seeing my book in a bookstore.
12. Create a video game – I’m a gamer. I did Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) at university so I could learn how computer controlled players worked in games. While I have made a game already, see portfolio, I’d love to be able to make a game that I can distribute properly one day.
13. Visit the Amazon – Just for the weird kooky wildlife you get there. I’m sure you’d bump in to a couple of tribes too.
14. Ride a helicopter – A small, but essential one on the list. They all count!
15. Visit and gamble in Vegas – Stag do anyone? Ties in well with That’s Your Best Bet ventures too, but in all honesty I just want a crazy break there like the Hangover movies.
16. Visit Japan – A man of technology can’t help but admire Japan. It would be an alien world to a man of the west but I’d love to visit and bask in their culture.
17. Zipline – I’d find it cool one day to do so, but it’ll come eventually.
18. Hot air balloon – Always seemed like a fun way to get from A to B.
19. Snowboard – It’s something I’ve yet to do and everyone who comes back from it says its awesome. Would love to give it a shot and I bet i’ll be on my arse in minutes.
20. Ski – As above.
21. Zorbing – Bring out the inner child in you by rolling in a ball of air down a hill!
22. Visit Bletchley Park – Experiencing where modern computing came to be, particularly after studying the course excites me. I’m sure a lot of it will go over my head but there’s only one way to find out.
23. Be a best man – From one man to a fellow man, this is any mans dream.
24. Own an Arcade Shop – I’d love to own an arcade shop when I’m older. Perhaps as a retirement thing to do, own an amusements by the sea.
25. Visit Hollywood – All the glitz and glamor!
26. Make Lemonade – One of the games I played as a kid back in the late 90’s was lemonade tycoon. It was one of the early pillars that got me in to gaming and I’d love to set up a stall outside one day and try to flog some!
27. See a magic show (Penn and Teller style) – None of these small time kids entertainers, I want my mind, heart and soul to be blown.
28. With the kids.. Have an opposite day, dinner for breakfast etc. – Growing up, I’ve always been intrigued how this would go down! I’d love to give it a shot when the kids are bored one summer holiday!
29. Go karting – Strangely, I’ve not done petrol go-karting.
30. Write a open letter to unborn children for them to read when 18 (write when they’re in womb?) – Of course, this would be the pinnacle of an extraordinary present for them to open.
31. Watch a rocket launch – Seeing humanities effort to venture out of our world would be an awesome sight. That may mean going to Florida again!
32. Go to a drive in movie theatre – Like a scene from Grease.
33. Visit the pyramids – Visiting a different side of the world, soaking up the culture from olden times. Definitely would have to buy myself a commemorative Egyptian beetle/Scarab too.
34. Spa day – Destress with all sorts of cosmetic magic that goes on in there. Walk out, feeling and looking like a freshly born baby; because that’s attractive!
35. Ride a segway – Again, something different and fun while you futuristically move from A to B.
36. Make each of my kids a scrapbook – Memories and keepsakes are things I’ve always held dear. Having only gone through my own scrapbook recently (made when I was 10), I can only smile. I want them to experience that too while unforgettable memories are jotted down in an oldschool fashion.
37. Attend a world cup match, ideally England or the final – Any football fans dream really. I’ll be realistic though and state that England won’t get to a final in my lifetime!
38. Water jetpack – Not that I’d have any control or anything. I’d be like a loose hose going off in the garden, spraying the neighbours and the like.
39. Visit Niagara Falls – No place really like it and I know it’d be crammed full of tourists. Still, it’d be a sight to behold, admiring one of the 7 wonders of the world.
40. Do a tour of The Louvre – I’m all for conspiracy theories so kind of fell for the fiction of The Da Vinci Code. I’d still like to admire the artwork at this place just before I visit #41…
41. Go up Eiffel Tower – I presume these are next to each other? Well, Paris is a city of romance and I’d love to see this iconic structure in all its glory.
42. Grand Canyon – My love for America crops up once again in my bucket list. Where else can you visit some huge crack on earth? And don’t say my mum!
43. Work abroad – I guess you could count Camp America… But I’d like to visit some country, work there a few months/years while making new connections and memories.
44. Go on a cruise – It’d be so fun to have a holiday on the seas! All entertainment under one roof and then the excitement of visiting a new country on top!? Sign me up.
45. Visit a jail – A proper, fully functioning one. It’s a side of society that you really forget about in day to day life. I’d love to give it a visit, perhaps speak to a few inmates and see what obscenities are inside. Do they even do visits? I don’t know, but it would definitely be high on my bucket list.
46. Go to a WWF/WWE event – We all know its fake and staged. But the adrenalin and showbiz of it all would be such a laugh!
47. Read Anne Franks Diary – Not high on the list, but at some point in my life, I’d like to have read it.
48. Be on a TV show – These days any old Joe can get on TV. So eventually I’d like to aswell. So don’t be surprised when I’m on a gameshow one day trying to win some wonga!
49. Threesome – This wouldn’t be a bucket list without one.
50. Eventually visit all continents on the earth – Because why not?
51. Send something to space – With a GoPro and everything!
51. Run my own business – And last but not least. The dream.
Please note, there is no mention of skydiving here.
Till the next time,
A.
.
Andrew Waterhouse logo

Recent Blog Posts