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Jobs for mates that turn out to be tiresome?

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:49 pm
by Chris Corbyn
Last month I was asked by one of my housemates if I could help her build a website. Easy, Okie doke.

The idea is that it's going to be a birthday present for her brother when he turns 21 on the 23rd june.

I don't think she realised just how much work is included in this (neither did I to be fair). It's a kinda "this is your life..." type thing. Lots of pics, gallery based around a timeline (with user comments), a message board where people can attach images/files, a quiz about (mostly stupid) things he's done in his life, a poll and a section with some nice quotes and stuff.

Granted, she's done all the graphics and they're pretty damn amazing at that!

It started off all nice neat OOP backend code but I really don't have the time now so it's getting a bit scrappy and rushed and she also wants a load of DHTML effects on the pages (like flash sites) too. I'm finally at a point where I'm taking her sets of sliced up graphics and applying them to the front-end but I'll certainly be glad when it's all done :)

Ever find yourself agreeing to help with a seemingly small job for your friends and realising you've let yourself in for a lot of work?

http://www.w3style.co.uk/~d11wtq/timeline.jpg

http://www.w3style.co.uk/~d11wtq/homepage.jpg

EDIT | Changed [img ] tags to just link to the images :?

EDIT 2 | 23rd June, not July :(

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:54 pm
by feyd
Although it looks quite nice, this is exactly why I don't like to work with friends (as clients) .. Hell, I have doing client work when I'm the client! ... I get feature-creep easy.

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 5:02 pm
by RobertGonzalez
Heck yeah I have gotten looped into this. Both from a very close friend (for a church site nonetheless) and a family member. It gets hard to keep telling them to wait for what they want when what they want is a lot bigger than what they wanted.

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:12 am
by Grim...
You've spelt Quiz with two 'z's (in the second image).

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:34 am
by Chris Corbyn
Grim... wrote:You've spelt Quiz with two 'z's (in the second image).
I didn't do that... that's my housemate's artwork. It's deliberate too :P She's trying to be "kool" ;)

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:37 am
by SpiderMonkey
You did THAT for free? I sincerely hope shes at least sleeping with you.

Its tough with houesmates, because for some reason they automatically assume because you share milk and bread that you are their personal, 24 hour, tech support/web designer. I don't think you should've offered to do this for free in the first place.

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:55 am
by Chris Corbyn
SpiderMonkey wrote:Its tough with houesmates, because for some reason they automatically assume because you share milk and bread that you are their personal, 24 hour, tech support/web designer. I don't think you should've offered to do this for free in the first place.
She's a good friend. I would never make my friends pay me money. I wasn't implying that ;) I was just implying that I'd let myself in for more work than I bargained for. It's drawing to a close now anyway.
I sincerely hope shes at least sleeping with you.
Heh, I wish 8O

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:22 am
by SpiderMonkey
d11wtq wrote:She's a good friend. I would never make my friends pay me money. I wasn't implying that ;) I was just implying that I'd let myself in for more work than I bargained for. It's drawing to a close now anyway.
Which is why friends can't be clients. You feel bad about charging here despite the fact you are performing a valuble service for her. I bet she used feminine wiles you as well, didn't she?

Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:58 am
by Chris Corbyn
SpiderMonkey wrote:I bet she used feminine wiles you as well, didn't she?
No. I'm actually offended by that comment :!: