Been a bit busy

Partying, that is!  The weekend saw a birthday here in Dark Corner so I saw it as my duty to give my liver a good workout.  It has now forgiven me.  A bought me a Bon Jovi DVD.  The jury is out as to whether I am in heaven or not.  The lip synch seemed a bit out in places, some of the instruments hit the odd wrong note, and Jon sounded more out of tune than in.  All in all, not the best DVD of theirs I own, and I own plenty.  We did wonder if it was recorded at the end of the tour (Madison Square Gardens 2008) and if they were all tour weary.  However, I did my best to make it rain, yodelling along to the tracks and thoroughly annoying the rest of the household.

Last week, friends of ours left to go home to the US (waves madly at Ann).  Hopefully they will soon find a house and life settles down again.  They'll be missed.

D goes on camp next weekend for a week.  Unfortunately K chose not to so we parents won't get as much peace as we deserve.  We are having the week off and will be alternating between de-cluttering the house and doing day trips.  We might head to the island for a day.

My parents came down for the weekend.  I now have a tidy back garden - thanks, folks.  I need to go and buy a job lot of slug pellets and growmore, as well as a bucket of long-acting weed killer for the patio and drive.

On the job front, my official finishing date is the end of August but, as per usual here, I may be needed a bit longer.  I'm not bothered either way but it'd be nice to have something concrete.  Oh the joys of being a temp!  I've applied for a few jobs but not heard anything back.

Roll on tomorrow.  No work for 2 weeks.  My job share fellow temp wanted to swap some days with me so I am working Monday - Wednesday this week.  Then I'm off next week before returning to my normal Wednesday - Friday the following week, so for 3 days off work I end up with 1 day short of two weeks not working.  Excellent!!!!!

What's going on at the moment

Yesterday afternoon I had another session with my life coach friend, R.  We talked about my future plans with particular respect to job-hunting.  I told her that it was on hold for now as I was having difficulty dealing with the constant knockbacks/no replies.  She helped me to see that there is nothing wrong with making big efforts to find a job then taking a few weeks off when the constant failure gets too much.

We also discussed my personal brand - or, the image I need to project to get what I want.  We have made plans to go shopping in a couple of weeks to look at, and maybe buy some 'sharp and professional' business attire.  Needless to say, A is already going a bit pale at the thoughts of it all.  I have promised to be good and be more Primark than boutique.  I am also considering getting my CV professionally done. 

The plan was to start job hunting towards the end of September, assuming that my current contract finishes at the end of August.  Well, this afternoon I got a call from an agency asking if I was prepared to look further afield for jobs - as in Poole or Andover - and the answer was 'not that far'.  Anyway, the job they sent me for 3 months ago (the one I never heard back from, and they never phoned me back about) became a different role, one which I wouldn't have gone for (and neither did anyone else who they interviewed).  This business have decided to fill this vacancy in-house from their sales ledger team, leaving a vacancy.  So, I asked this job agency to get me in for that one.  This agency don't generally handle jobs paying less than £14K (lucky them that they can be so choosy).  I explained to them that this is an unrealistic wage for someone with AAT Level 2 but no proper work experience; somewhere around £12K is more appropriate.  I repeated that I was interested in the position and could be negotiable on salary - apparently the company likes a bargain.  We'll see what happens.  I might just go on to the company's website direct and see what's what.  Looks like I'm in the job market again.

Hi there

I've been very busy living life - again.  Sorry, but it keeps getting in the way of the blogging.

Anyway, I have news on the job front.  I have lowered my hours to 3 days per week.  Now the balance feels right; I can get my housework done, see friends, not feel guilty for vegging on the sofa for a few hours if the mood takes me, etc.  This has made me much happier in myself, though I still get stroppy at the others if they don't pull their weight.  (It took me a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get them this far.  I'm not letting it slide now).

I also have news on the studying front.  After much discussion with my nearest and dearest (and his dad) I have decided to go back to college in September to do AAT Level 3.  I'm even going back to Fareham College!  Some of my friends from this year's course are going back so I decided to join them.

Oh and my dad turned 70 on the 18th.  I'll put up some photos when I get a chance.

Doing too much, and other interesting insights

Maybe I was trying to do exactly that.  Needless to say, thanks to a good chat with hubby, things are a-changing.  I am reducing my hours at work down to 3 days and, once the exam is done (this coming Tuesday), 2 weekdays at home.  This gives me a 4 day 'weekend' to get caught up on all the chores.  It also means a return to some lovely home-cooked-from-scratch dinners.  And I'll have more time to catch up with friends.  And I might be able to find the time to keep this blog up, instead of letting it drift like I have for the past few months. 

You see, there was a rumour at work that my services would be required up to September and there's no way I can let my outstanding 'big' chores list (total spring clean, decorating, etc) go on till then.  So tomorrow, for the first time in many months, I will NOT be going shopping tomorrow (Saturday).  I've never liked doing that - too many people.  So I'll start going on Mondays (or Tuesdays).  I might even stop feeling guilty for having a lie in at the weekends.

I've also decided to stop job-hunting.  It's soul-destroying to get no joy.  I've had 2 interviews this year out of nearly 50 job applications.  Once the economy picks up, and there's not so much competition, I'll try again.

I have enjoyed my time at college and I'd like to do the Level 3 course at some point in the future.  However, I think I'd like a job in that field so that I can have some experience of what I'll be learning.  Plus the distance learning version will set me back about £800, once you've allowed for things like books, exam fees, AAT annual fees, etc, etc, etc.  Makes you wonder what you're paying the course fee of £670 for, doesn't it?! (Yes, the £800 includes this £670).  For a mere £650 I can go back to the Open University and do the next course on my list - M208 Pure Maths.  No extra fees (apart from posting some tutor-marked-assignments back).  Plus I LOVE pure maths. 

Right now I want to spend the next 6 years or so finishing my Maths degree.  The only issue is, what do I do with it?  Most people assume I'll go into teaching.  Not a hope!  I'd rather go into a research role - being left alone to discover new and wonderful things in the world of numbers.  Not much money in that, though, but a heck of a lot of job satisfaction, not to mention the absolute delight at going to work each day.

Anyone want a middle-aged, enthusiastic, willing to learn, number cruncher?

Between a rock and a hard place

Please bear in mind that I have a cold and am feeling less than 100%, and the knock-on effect on my ability to ignore/dismiss annoying people.

There is someone at work who is getting on my nerves.  This has been getting worse over the past week (which is roughly how long I have been coming down with/suffering from this cold).  She is constantly whinging about how she doesn't like her job now her team have merged with ours; this, that or the other isn't right; doesn't like all the phone answering/door buzzer answering/myriad other things that interfere with her ability to concentrate on what she has to do.  However, she doesn't whinge when the current acting Admin Co-ordinator is in the office.  She, and her colleague from the same previous office, can't cope with all this so when they have something that requires total concentration they go off to a different office for some peace and quiet. 

Now yes, to a point, I can understand it BUT not for one second does she consider that we others are in the same boat (and by buggering off like that our disturbances are increased).  There have been times that I have been doing something that I could really do without having to deal with incoming phone calls.  Does that count?  Does it hell!  I still have to deal with them and then try to re-focus on what I'm doing.

This morning I was doing something clerical with some client files and she knew I wasn't at my best.  However she was far too busy whinging to her colleague about how she hates her job now and doesn't want to come in (interspersed with actually doing her work), whilst I was answering the phone, taking messages AND e-mailing said messages to the correct recipients, all the while with a client's file 'in bits' all over my desk (burying my keyboard/mouse/pen/paper to boot).  Let's just say that by lunchtime I had had enough, burst into tears, played on feeling rotten and asked to come home.  We all have gripes about the 'new order'.  It doesn't help when the senior manager keeps taking systems that work and making changes, without considering the knock-on effect to our workloads.  If I'm honest my workload is the least hectic - it has its moments though - as I am not fully trained on all the in-house systems and therefore cannot do some of their work for them.  Plus my primary role is as phone answerer.  But I have just about had enough of keeping my mouth shut when she starts her whining.

I really don't want to go back there, purely because of this.  Yet it looks so much better when applying for jobs if you already have one than if you are unemployed, so I don't want to quit.  It's a temp position which will last for who knows how much longer and I'd really like to see it through to its conclusion if I don't land a permanent role elsewhere first.

So, do I stay and try my best not to blow a fuse big-time or do I walk and, although still with my temp agency, deal with maybe being between positions when applying for jobs.  I don't like the idea of walking as it can be seen to be taking the easy way out, plus what do you say when asked at interview, but it's playing havoc with my nerves.

A quick catch up

My UV-induced rash has started up.  That'll be me looking like a case of measles (hands and arms only, hopefully) till towards the end of October.  Hey ho!  Hence the feeling slightly miserable.


There's no news on the job front.  Not even a phone call to say "we don't know anything", which is quite rude seeing as I have been sending e-mails and calling only to be told that someone will call me back later the same day.  This is through a different agency to the one that currently employs me, not the company that was advertising the job in the first place.  Hence the feeling slightly miserable.

My brother has the results back from his mole biopsy.  Whilst not the worst news, there are definitely cells that have changed from 'normal' so, like me, he has to be careful.  Hence the feeling more than slightly miserable.

Normal service might be resumed this week.  (And before anyone gets excited I'm not THAT miserable, just bl**dy tired).

Busy, busy, busy

On Wednesday I had a Pampered Chef party - I love that stuff.  We all had a good time, with Chicken Tikka Masala cooked in the Deep Covered Baker .

On Thursday and Friday I worked all day, stuffing envelopes with 'heads-up' leaflets for the business's training seminars, and making various folders to be given out to the attendees.  None of it was particularly hard.  I spent most of both days in a world of my own, putting finishing touches to Plan J from the last post.  The distance learning aspect for AAT Levels 3 & 4 is looking very good.  I can work as fast or as slow as I like, the only fixed dates are the exams (June & December).  I'm also going to apply for a job advertised at Portsmouth University, helping to admin/organise business conferences/events there.  The pay is excellent (to me) but the only sticking point is they want you to have experience in a busy office environment.  I'll apply and see how it goes. 

If that goes pear-shaped, which I fully expect, then I shall be setting up a database of local (10 mile radius for a start) accounting firms.  Once I've revamped my CV and designed the killer covering letter I'll be sending them out to all these unsuspecting businesses, asking for a training position in return for a low wage, and if nothing's available please remember me when there is.  Ten out of ten for a proactive approach; unfortunately I expect hundreds of others have thought of it.  But nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?

Next week is looking busy.  College on Monday, nothing on Tuesday (yet), working the following 3 mornings till 1pm at a different place to this week.  However this week's place may want some more help next week so I've told them when I'm available, so I could be charging between 2 different jobs each day.  I'm not turning it down because it's all more pennies in the bank. 

Plans

OK so I must be at about Plan J for the future by now.  My 'butterfly' brain looks for new solutions if the current plan doesn't instantly yield the intended result.  This is something I need to work on.

All the previous plans 'failed' because none of the jobs I've applied for in the past 12 months, quite a few, haven't even offered me an interview.  Yes, the economy is in the sewer, but for someone who's previously got the first job she applied for this is a whole new game.  I need to learn patience and understand that it's not the fault of the plan; the plan just needs time to come to fruition.

I still want to be an accountant, I still want to continue studying for the AAT qualifications.  But I'm BORED!!!!  College is creeping along at a very slow pace and we're not allowed to go on ahead as then we'd be too far ahead of the others, so we have to twiddle our thumbs waiting for them to finish that chapter.  I've tried patience, really I have, but I am just fed up.  Part of me would like to quit but then I couldn't get on to the next level so I've got to tough it out.  My frustration isn't helped by more NVQ portfolio work which, although it isn't related to accounts, is required to pass this level.  This time I have to provide evidence of what I do at work - I'm allowed to use what I do for the Home Ed group - and how I manage my time, how I cope with deadlines, etc, etc, etc.  Oh and the best one is The Advantages/Disadvantages of Teamwork.  Me, I prefer to be left alone to get on with it, only occassionally conferring with anyone else.  Hardly the stuff of positive teamwork, eh?!  So you have been warned.  The next few weeks will probably see the most amazing outbursts of temper this side of your average 2 year old.

I'm already pretty much decided (hence Plan J) to change to a distance learning provider for the next year's Level 3 course.  This is subject to being allowed to race ahead when the going is easy AND that the NVQ stuff in that is covered by all that I have done/will do for this year.

The first of many, hopefully

I had a phone call at lunchtime today from a job agency.  Was I interested in going for one hour's training tomorrow and a full day (8 - 4) on Friday to man a company's reception.  Now normally I'd have said 'no way'.  I have some very poor memories of reception work back from when I last 'properly' worked full-time.  I wasn't allowed to take any of my real work with me to do, which was a shame because there was time to do some and it would have saved me the late hours/weekends I did to catch up.  All I had to do was smile sweetly and answer the phones, oh and tannoy people to call people if they weren't at their desks.

However, the hourly rate of £8 made me consider that I could at least try it.  After all, the equipment these days must be easier to use than that of 20 years ago.  Plus this could be the little acorn that my mighty oak of full-time, paid reasonably, employment would spring from.  So I said 'ok, yes'.  This company would like to build up a bank of people to step in to cover holiday/maternity/illness for their regular reception team, so there's a chance of repeat work - the next 10 days before Christmas sound rather nice  ;-).

Now all I have to do is find something suitable to wear - and work out how to pick up my dry cleaning from Fareham before the weekend.  For those of you who don't know me, my Thursday mornings are ring-fenced in stone.  My good friend Julie is likely to commit murder if I left, though she knows that is my intention in the long-term.

The future's bright.......

...... the future's mine for the taking.

I blame Ros - yes Ros, if you're reading this, I know I'm not allowed to really.  Ros is someone I've known on and off for a few years.  She is a life coach, amongst other things, and she offered me some sessions as I was at a crossroads in life (no more HE) and not sure which way to go.  Thanks to Ros and her probing questions I now know exactly what I want and, thanks to research and Gemma (one of my AAT tutors) I know how to get there.  Blood, sweat and probably tears appear large in the next 5 years or so but, oh my, it will be worth it.

You see, many years ago I started an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 2 course.  Unfortunately life, and moving house/counties, got in the way and I didn't finish it.  Years passed and I was quite happy as a stay-at-home-mum, then home education (HE) became our way of life so working outside the home became awkward.  So this August I took the plunge and re-signed on to the Level 2 course, now run as an NVQ award (sheesh!!!) with the intent that I would earn a few pennies playing with numbers - and I adore maths so numbers don't scare me. 

So, the AAT run three levels of courses (2, 3 & 4), after which you can either a) go on to university and do whatever else needs to be done to get an accounting degree (the AAT courses mean you don't have to do all the years), or b) get a job at some point during your AAT studies and hopefully your employer will encourage you - and fund - the rest of your AAT studies as well as your Chartered Accountant/Management Accountant studies.  All in all option b), the one I shall be following, should take 5 years or so.  After that, and a few years experience, I have been told by Gemma that Financial Accountants can earn £120 per hour, and Management Accountants can earn £160 per hour!!!!!  Not being the totally greedy type (yeah, right) I've kind of decided to go for the £120 per hour job.

Financial Accountants deal with what has happened - they have a paper trail to build a picture of how the business has been doing in previous years.  Management Accountants deal with the future - crystal ball accounting if you will - projected profit and loss over the next few years, likely investment required, income/expenditure forecasts.  Hence the higher pay packet.

Ros's life coaching has helped me realise that I am money-oriented.  Reward me enough and I will work like a slave.  Also I value financial freedom (don't we all, I suppose).  I like the idea of being able to afford the nicer things in life - not necessarily being able to afford everything (that's no fun), but certainly a decent standard of living - including a nice home in a very rural setting with a pool and several acres between me and the neighbours, oh and a Ferrari 430 of my very own.  Yes, a lot of it is probably pie in the sky but if you don't dream you can't set yourself a goal.  I'm also concerned that A's health may be a factor in how long he works before retiring - he already has achy joints (arthritis runs in his family) and a back problem - so I want to be in an earning position so that if he has to cut his hours or stop working completely I can take up the slack.

And besides, the way this government has cocked things up and put the country in a mountain of debt that will take years to clear (don't get me started on borrowing to make up a shortfall) I don't want to rely on the state pension provision.  I want to be able to retire when I'm ready, not when some faceless bureaucrat in Whitehall decides I can.

So, watch this space, this girl is going somewhere!

Am a student again

I've enrolled on a college course, one full day a week. I'll be doing AAT Level 2 - the first level of an Accountancy qualification. I started it 15 years ago but, due to moving to a different part of the country, never got round to completing it. Of course, it's now too late and I have to start from scratch. It won't be an issue though as I need to refresh, especially as everyone seems to be computerised these days and some of the rules/laws have changed.

So I'll be off to college on Monday 14th September for a whole day - bet I'll be a bit tired that evening - with my briefcase loaded with paper and pencilcase, and my laptop just incase I need to do some serious writing. I just can't write fast enough to keep up with my brain, and besides if handwriting was a guide to future career prospects I'd be a senior consultant doctor person. Seriously, no one can read my writing unless I make a conscious effort. Should be fun.

I'm hoping this will increase my employability, and also hoping that some business somewhere will set me on and pay for the next 2 years.

I have a job!!!!!

And I didn't need to attend an interview to get it. I've been trying to find paid employment since October last year. I've had 4 interviews and no success, out of upwards of 50 applications. Now I have one. Like I said, no interview, no competition for the coveted role, no set hours, no office politics and all the holidays I want. Sounds good, eh?!

What am I doing, I hear you ask. Well, last week I went out with friend A to a Pampered Chef party. Now I've been a fan of their Stoneware for a year or two, so I took the plunge and signed up to be a Kitchen Consultant. My kit arrives on Monday (my first official day) and my first party is on Wednesday, held here at Dark Corner Towers (those of you who know me know where that is). D is hosting it and I get to practice my patter and cooking skills.

I'm keeping away from the rings, wreaths and plaits for a while - need to get them sorted out before I let them loose on an unsuspecting public - but am game to try anything else. The rest of the household are salivating at the thoughts of having to 'road test' my efforts - it's a hard life they lead.

So, if there is anyone out there who is interested in Pampered Chef, wants to come to my party on Wednesday, wants a party of their own, or fancies being their own boss, get in touch. I'll be more than happy to see you.

Long time, no write

I've been too busy living life to write about it.

The job-hunting front is a 'bad' topic. A says I can go to college and get some qualifications if I can decide what I want to do. Unfortunately I CAN'T decide. Do I get some proper office qualies or do I do something different? Decisions, decisions! For now we have decided that I should do some voluntary work. It'll give me some current references and experience, just no pay. But, you never know it might morph into a real job.

A has got his hayfever/snuffly sinus allergies under reasonable control. He's been taking Hayleve (cheap OTC remedy) and it seems to be working. Fingers crossed for tonight as we are going to try sharing a bed, something that's not happened regularly for the better part of 7 years or more. You see, he snores. It's loud enough that if he goes up for a nap during the day I can hear him over the tv. No amount of prodding or changing of position helps. None of these anti-snore devices make a difference either. So we have separate rooms on different floors of the house (with an old external wall between us), otherwise we'd probably be divorced by now. He wants to take me away for our wedding anniversary this year (20 years) so we have to start being able to share a room first.

K is a clever girl. She has just got the results from her latest Maths module exams in March, an A in each paper - 50/60 in the multichoice and 52/60 in the structured. I am so proud of her as she doesn't really like the subject. She's refusing to study it at AS level yet it will probably be the best of her GCSE grades. She's off on a sleepover tomorrow night.

D is considering his university choices for September 2010. D & I have spent 4 days this week visiting Aberdeen and St Andrew's. Don't think Scotland likes us though as it was sunny when we arrived and sunny when we left but cold, wet, and/or foggy for the rest of the time. These visits also raised as many questions as they answered. Yes, he'd be quite happy going to either of them but, thanks to St Andrew's, he might also want to do a single honours in Chemistry rather than a joint honours in Geology and Chemistry. Cue more soul searching and changing of minds. He has been trying to make his mind up between Oxford and Cambridge too. Both do interesting courses but their entry requirements might be a bit too much. The silly boy didn't revise for his January modules and got high Bs. Just got to hope that he works hard enough to turn those into As in summer.

As for me, I survived the Scotland sojourn. D might not be as bad as his Dad for snoring but he's certainly in training. I've finished my 'medical microwave' sessions for this year. Of course since then I've had minimal opportunity to keep topping up in sunny weather! D & I played golf at St Andrew's - there's a pitch & putt right next to the 18th fairway on the Old Course. You just have to, don't you. I won by one hole!!!!!

There, I'm more or less up to date again. No more moaning when you see me.

Did you miss me (again)

I've been busy - again! This time I'm decorating, with help from A of course. A new lounge carpet is being fitted next week and the current decor just wasn't suitable for the new colour scheme. So I've been sanding, washing, dusting, hoovering, painting, and swearing a little.

Swearing? Why? Well, you'd swear if you kept catching your flesh on carpet gripper-rods. The gripper-rods were exposed because I wanted to get as far down the skirting board with the gloss as possible. So now my hands have a few new scars. Fortunately the blood didn't get on the woodwork.

The walls? They're a rather nice shade of dry sand. The woodwork is glossy white, except for the doors - they'll be taken outside during the summer (we WILL get one, I have decided) and painted then.

And you can tell the difference! It's amazing how the sun fades white gloss, especially as we haven't painted it in the nearly 12 years we've lived here. (Sorry, MIL).

My next project is the kitchen. The cupboard doors are dark wood and, as the kitchen gets very little direct sunlight, they need lightening. A is unsure as to whether this would look nice or not. One day he'll come home and find out the hard way.

The job-hunting is still slow and labourious. I am applying for apprenticeships - there's no maximum age - even though the wages aren't great. At least I'll get paid to get current qualifications.

Tomorrow A & I are off to Nottingham to visit the family. The kids are staying here to show how they can be responsible and trustworthy. (I've already had to tell them NO SLEEPOVERS!).

Am unloved!

At least in the working world. That's right, I didn't get the Trainee Accountant job. However I now have another half-dozen or so irons in the job-hunting fire.

Apparently these Modern Apprenticeships have no upper age limit so I'm applying for 3 of them. Why not! It's getting paid (seriously low money) to get bits of paper that say I'm competent at certain administrative procedures. These are instantly marketable and should stop me being ignored for people with more current experience.

Then there's a Science Technician required at a school in Southsea, 15 hours per week. Again the pays not fantastic but no experience necessary so what the heck. It's right next to Fratton station so I don't even have to drive in.

There's a Dispensary Assistant required in Wickham's doctors surgery, again no experience necessary but must be prepared to study for Dispensary qualifications. Must make sure I don't confuse eye drops with ear drops, as happened to poor D once.

Also there's an opening to work for my local MP as a full-time caseworker, sorting out constituents issues by liaising with the necessary government branches and hopefully finding a mutually satisfactory solution. All I'd need to do then is work out how to secure a £200K handshake when I make a complete horlicks of it. LOL!!!!!!

I am also considering taking up something I've always thought about but never had the nerve to try for - midwifery! I have experience on my side. Apparently the NHS pays your course fees, assuming you can bag one of the few well-sort-after positions. Southampton University has 25 places and 25 applicants per place. Probably no worse odds than I usually battle when job-hunting. I have to make enquiries as I am a mature student and the entry requirements are sometimes different to the straight from A-levels brigade. Plus I think it might be a bit late for this year.

This leads back to the beginning of this post in a way. If I have to take courses to get bits of paper to get a job, do I go for courses that bolster what I can already do or do I go for something new and very different (but no less interesting)? Because the way it's looking I am going to be very lucky to get a job as most require recent experience or relevant qualifications. Hence the reason I feel unloved and unwanted by the wider business world. To be fair to them it's a hirer's market at the moment and why should they take a punt on someone whose skills are rusty at best when there are so many people around who are up to speed.

Bye bye, Merc. Hello Focus

After 3 years of faithful service, and right before it started to get expensive to keep going, the Merc has gone. Now I have my Ford Focus and it is much more comfortable to drive. I picked it up this afternoon and drove round the corner to Asda to fill it up. No problems there, a mere £41. Coming back through Asda's car park on the main through way and some dozy bitch decided to pull out of a side road right in front of me - she was busy seeing to her lipstick. I would like to report that the brakes, horn and seatbelt tensioners work just fine, and the silly woman doesn't have a bright blue streak on her minibus. She didn't even apologise or look sheepish, just peered at me and carried on her way. That would be close to a record wouldn't it; you pick it up, fill it up and write it off, all in 5 minutes!

The interview yesterday went well, or so I think. I had made it to a shortlist of 6 out of the many applicants. Now I have to wait to see if I'm in the last two. I really want this job - the money is fine, the perks are perky, and the prospects are eye-opening once I've got all the necessary qualifications (which they are paying for). Fingers crossed.

Oh and two of my wines are about ready for bottling. It's gonna be a great weekend ;-)

A selfish post

This one's all about me and none of the others are going to get a mention.

Yesterday I started broadband UVB desensitisation for my P(M)LE. It was only a small patch test to find out what dose would give me a burn. I ended up going pink in two of them, and applying copious amounts of aqueous cream to soothe the stinging.

Today I had my first proper session. They started me off at 50% of the dose that caused the pinkness yesterday. This evening my whole back is slightly pink and quite warm, as is one elbow. A (the only mention, honest) has had a pleasurable few minutes slapping E45 all over.

Also yesterday I got a reply from a job I applied for last week, the Junior Accounting Clerk one in Eastleigh. I have an interview tomorrow at 2pm. Fingers crossed I do alright. They are proposing to send the lucky person to college in September to start their accountancy qualifications.

Oh, and I got a haircut today at the local college.

And Again!!!

I can't believe it's nearly 3 weeks since the last post. I really must give up this life stuff, it gets in the way. LOL!!!

D turned 17 last week. My baby has his first driving lesson today, so those of you with a PO postcode would do well to avoid the western reaches of that code this afternoon. He may also venture into the eastern reaches of the SO code. You have been warned!

I have just had to turn down 2 weeks paid work. It's full-time with a 7.30am start. I really don't do early starts - would much rather have a late finish. I've also applied for some trainee/junior positions with sound interesting. One is for a trainee accounting technician; another is for a trainee legal administration assistant. With having nearly 18 years out of the job market I figured I'd be better off starting at the bottom again. I have every intention of losing the trainee tag ASAP but really need some current experience and references. Also RSH (hospital) has called me in for my annual UV desensitisation treatments starting next week so I'm not really in the market for full-time work for the next 5 - 6 weeks, unless it's in Southampton.

Oh, and I have a cold again. I enjoyed the 6 weeks break from germs. Now if I could just get 6 months or more break before the next lot I'd appreciate it. More on the driving lesson later.

Oh for a simple life

I'm STILL coughing and I'm not overly impressed. It's now just over 3 weeks since I got this virus and if I wake up tomorrow with no symptoms at all it will not be a minute too soon.

I haven't heard anything from the full-time trainee international shipping clerk interview I went to. As far as my hazy recollection goes (all that excess catarrh production gummed up the memory banks) I was supposed to hear at the end of last week. My referees haven't been contacted so no news is bad news.

I did go for another interview last Friday as a part-time media lab assistant at Southampton's General Hospital. This would see me making batches of algar, ordering supplies and checking them off the files as they are delivered, etc. There is no chance of any promotion to something more technical. And don't get me started about parking! Oh alright then, I'll get started. There is NO parking on site for staff, only doctors and patients/visitors. Underlings have to find a parking space where they can in the surrounding area. Most of the streets have a maximum parking limit of 2 hours so that's not much use. From where I live I would need to catch 2 buses each way, adding a total of about 4 hours to my working day - not a chance! Fortunately I didn't get that job either.

On Tuesday I found an advert for a Trainee Legal Executive with the County Council, paying £18K - £21K. Now that is what I call a starting salary! You only need a minimum of 4 GCSEs and a willingness to take ILEX (Institute of Legal Executives) qualifications so you can lose the Trainee tag. So far so good.

On Wednesday I spent a good proportion of the day at a local Special School, the one that I put myself through the Great South Run for. The headmaster had organised a Vision Day where he, the staff and the therapists could discuss the school's needs and aims for the future. Friend A & I were invited to attend as we have been asked to fundraise the megabucks needed to bring some of this into fruition. Unfortunately friend A couldn't make it so I went alone, armed with a big notebook. The wishlist was divided into 'Short Term', 'Medium Term' and 'Blue Sky' (aka what you'd like if there was a blank cheque book involved). Let me tell you that there was a lot of consensus in all three categories and none of it was particularly cheap. Primarily the school needs more storage space. The size of the equipment that some of the pupils need is huge and there's just nowhere to put it. A good proportion of the attendees would like to knock the building down and start again. This building has been up since roughly the 70s, but wasn't designed with children with mobility issues in mind. Looks like we're going to be busy raising money, which is going to be interesting given the current financial climate.

Today I was having a good think about the Trainee Legal Exec. job. With it being 37 hours per week and studying on top there certainly wouldn't be enough time (or sanity) left to help the school. Husband A had already said that jumping straight back into full-time work after 17+ years as a housewife/mother might be a bit much, and he didn't want me to overdo it. He likes the starting salary for this position (and who wouldn't) but he agrees that I would be beyond exhausted by the end of the week, and that is not good for family harmony.

I suppose it sounds like I'm running from a challenge, and maybe I am. But A's original suggestion to me was to find a part-time job, so obviously a salary below £10K is acceptable to the family budget. This would then leave me time and energy to devote to raising funds for the school, as well as the usual housework/shopping/supervising K's education/etc.

This evening I found another job, part-time, wanting administrative support for the Children's Services team. These have a lot of dealings with children with special educational needs (SEN) and the knowledge I would gain there would certainly be helpful in my fundraising capacity.

Decisions, decisions.

Been for an interview OR Don't judge a company by the building they work in

Gosh! Two posts in one day! Don't get excited, it won't last.

My bright idea about signing on now I am job hunting has bit the dust. Because I haven't paid any NI contributions (and my Home Responsibilities from claiming Child Benefit don't count) for the past 2 - 5 years (try over 17) I can't claim contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). Because of A's salary there's no way in hell I'd get means-tested Allowance.

To claim either of the JSAs you need to apply for at least 2 jobs per week, use the Job Centre's database to find jobs twice a week, plus buy the local papers on Thursdays when the Jobs section is in. And you HAVE to take the evidence of this in when you go to sign on.

It was whilst I was waiting to find out if the Government were going to sponsor my job hunting that I applied for a full-time position as a Trainee International Shipping Clerk. Now, full-time is not really what I am after at the moment but, having previous transport experience (albeit out of date) that it intigued me. Imagine my joy when they offered me an interview.

I was concerned to discover that the office was upstairs above a shop in the main shopping street. Not the big haulage yard I was expecting. However, all my worries evaporated once the interview started. The job is varied and definitely enough to keep my brain out of mischief. I won't have time to die of boredom, that's for sure. I would start out on the export side of the business, preparing the necessary paperwork, keeping the customers informed of expected arrival dates (and grovelling when the smelly hits the whirly). There is so much to it that I didn't absorb all of it. Everyone is on first name terms with everyone else. Everyone does their share of tea-mashing and running to the post office. The directors in head office are quite happy to chat to whoever answers the phone (the company has offices/warehouses in various cities nationwide).

The salary's not bad either - £15,000. There are pay rises, bonuses, profit shares, performance related stuff, etc to go on that. Plus after a period of time there is private healthcare and a company pension scheme where the company pays in 5% of your salary and you aren't obligated to pay any more in, unless you want to.

I should find out by the end of the week if I've been lucky.