I start my new job in mid-October, and it's an administrative role in a bank. I'm quite excited about finally starting a job that may have real career possibilities! As I don't start for a couple of weeks, I have a bit of time to actually relax too instead of stress about finding work.
I can't believe just how much of a relief it is to have got a job.
Monday 21 September 2009
Thursday 17 September 2009
Job update!
Gotta a job! I'll give more details as to which one when the celebratory wine has worn off!
Tuesday 15 September 2009
Interview update
My first solo motorway drive went well. As usual, it wasn't half as bad as I'd built it up to be. It was actually quite enjoyable - especially as I was completely at liberty to choose my drive-time music. Rob Zombie never sounded so good!
The assessment went ok too. It consisted of an 8 minute literacy test where you had to identify spelling/grammar mistakes in a passage of text. Rather embarassingly, I only found 12 of the 15 mistakes - my A'Level tutor would not be impressed! There was also an 18 minute numeracy test based on using a variety of tables of data to ascertain the information you needed. I was doing fine until ratios were brought into the picture. I've never been a fan of ratios! As such, I got 15 out 20 for the test. Oh dear. Oh well, it was enough to pass the assessment so I have to go back again on Saturday for the second part of the process.
Travelling 2 hours a day could prove tiresome, but I with the recession I think I need to be prepared to travel for a job.
The assessment went ok too. It consisted of an 8 minute literacy test where you had to identify spelling/grammar mistakes in a passage of text. Rather embarassingly, I only found 12 of the 15 mistakes - my A'Level tutor would not be impressed! There was also an 18 minute numeracy test based on using a variety of tables of data to ascertain the information you needed. I was doing fine until ratios were brought into the picture. I've never been a fan of ratios! As such, I got 15 out 20 for the test. Oh dear. Oh well, it was enough to pass the assessment so I have to go back again on Saturday for the second part of the process.
Travelling 2 hours a day could prove tiresome, but I with the recession I think I need to be prepared to travel for a job.
Sunday 13 September 2009
Interview and bedbug update
I have another interview tomorrow. This one is in Taunton so I get to do my first solo motorway drive. I am pretty nervous as I'm not really a confident driver (I passed 5 months ago but don't really drive much - driving in Bristol has put me off a bit). It'll probably be fine, but add this is a lousy sense of direction and you can see why I'm apprehensive.
I have started to sieve through the dining room and boy, is that job going to take awhile! I went through all the cross stitch charts sheets by sheet to check for bedbugs then called it a day as I was starting to go cross-eyed! If you are familiar with cross stitch charts then you'll understand how the symbols can be mistaken for small bugs and thus why it was such a mammoth task. I have a lot of charts. I'm going to attack the room again today and start checking my scrap book stuff.
I have started to sieve through the dining room and boy, is that job going to take awhile! I went through all the cross stitch charts sheets by sheet to check for bedbugs then called it a day as I was starting to go cross-eyed! If you are familiar with cross stitch charts then you'll understand how the symbols can be mistaken for small bugs and thus why it was such a mammoth task. I have a lot of charts. I'm going to attack the room again today and start checking my scrap book stuff.
Sketches
Over the last 7 years or so, I haven't really done a lot of drawing or artwork. I'm not sure quite why this is, but I think it is in part due to not having a lot of time when at university (working weekends and attending uni weekdays did not inspire creativity or energy!) and for a long time my head just wasn't in a good place - a lot things in my life took a backburner whilst I dealt with various things.
Anyway, I've started drawing again and thought I would post some of my sketches. I'm quite aware they aren't particulary good, but after such a gap I wouldn't expect my skills to have improved!
Random dragonfly and a non-specific wading bird! For some reason there is a very snitch-like object too!
Anyway, I've started drawing again and thought I would post some of my sketches. I'm quite aware they aren't particulary good, but after such a gap I wouldn't expect my skills to have improved!
Random dragonfly and a non-specific wading bird! For some reason there is a very snitch-like object too! 
I have never been very good at drawing people, I always preferred animals - not surprising I did a zoology degree then really! However, I was pleased with this guy!
Ok, anatomically not very well drawn, but practice makes perfect - or at least passable!
Thursday 10 September 2009
Dog club
Gareth and I went to watch a dog training class yesterday. I wanted to observe the class without Tangent first in case it wasn't a good class and freaked him out - it can ruin a dog's confidence in those situations.
I was quite impressed. It was a fairly informal, soical class and everyone was really nice. The class is also small (maximum of 8 dogs) which is ideal! I was trying to bear in mind that it was a social club, not an obedience club though, as I'm more used to an obedience environment for dog clubs!
I reckon I'll Tangent next week and get him going regulary. He certainly needs practice with ignoring dogs when he is being trained!
I was quite impressed. It was a fairly informal, soical class and everyone was really nice. The class is also small (maximum of 8 dogs) which is ideal! I was trying to bear in mind that it was a social club, not an obedience club though, as I'm more used to an obedience environment for dog clubs!
I reckon I'll Tangent next week and get him going regulary. He certainly needs practice with ignoring dogs when he is being trained!
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Rambling
The administration specialist job interview went well (apart from shredding my feet - see previous post). I should hear back next week. They interviewed 40 people for 5 positions, so roughly a 1 in 10 chance of getting it if I ignore any actual personal aptitudes!
Gareth's cousin's wedding was really nice too. They looked so happy! It was also good seeing the rest of Gareth's family, as we don't really see a lot of them. I also did my first night motorway drive too. It was a bit daunting at first, and I'm glad it was only half an hour of actual motorway, but I'm glad I've finally got around to doing it before I built it up into a major issue!
The next day, we took the dogs to Leigh woods where I managed to hit the 5 mile target for my running (my longest run has only been about 4 miles before now). I was pretty pleased, and Tangent was exhausted by the end! He didn't even want to play in the evening which is a rarity for him.
Gareth's cousin's wedding was really nice too. They looked so happy! It was also good seeing the rest of Gareth's family, as we don't really see a lot of them. I also did my first night motorway drive too. It was a bit daunting at first, and I'm glad it was only half an hour of actual motorway, but I'm glad I've finally got around to doing it before I built it up into a major issue!
The next day, we took the dogs to Leigh woods where I managed to hit the 5 mile target for my running (my longest run has only been about 4 miles before now). I was pretty pleased, and Tangent was exhausted by the end! He didn't even want to play in the evening which is a rarity for him.
Time for new shoes?
This is what happens when you walk to an interview wearing shoes that are a little too big and rub. I also have blisters on the top and bottom of my toes:
Friday 4 September 2009
Level up!
I recently did one of those 'what's your stress level' tests which consists of adding up points based on events over the last year. For example, death of a close relative is 40, moving home is 20 points, Xmas is 15 etc. (I can't remember the exact points, but you get the idea).
If you get more than 300 then it states you are at risk of serious health issues. Mine came out at 443. Hmm. I think more candle-lit baths and less double-bagging is in order! Oh yes, and 'dealing with bedbug infestation' wasn't even on the list! Problem is, I'm finding it difficult stopping. I can't seem to just stop, and when I do (i.e. the craft session - see previous post) it doesn't seem to work out. I know it's probably not healthy to be this wound up all the time, but behaviours can be hard habits to break.
If you get more than 300 then it states you are at risk of serious health issues. Mine came out at 443. Hmm. I think more candle-lit baths and less double-bagging is in order! Oh yes, and 'dealing with bedbug infestation' wasn't even on the list! Problem is, I'm finding it difficult stopping. I can't seem to just stop, and when I do (i.e. the craft session - see previous post) it doesn't seem to work out. I know it's probably not healthy to be this wound up all the time, but behaviours can be hard habits to break.
UFC
This has to be one of the funniest photo's I've taken of Tangent! It looks like he has been scissor gripped in a UFC fight! He was yawning, not trying to tap out!
Creative block
The bedbugs are still here! After being isloated from my craft stuff for nearly three months, and deciding that that is more than enough time for any crafter, I went into the dining room to do some scrapbooking. I thought that after two doses of different pesticides and no bloodmeal for months, the chances of their being any bedbugs would be quite minimal. I started emptying the box I'd packed all the art stuff into and found one of the ruddy things at the bottom of the box. It had the audacity to be alive too. Gareth soon rectified it's mistake by dousing it in RIP, crushing it's head before manually homogenising it (not that we have personal issues with bedbugs or anything).
Instead of a relaxing afternoon crafting, I spent the next two hours emptying all the remaining boxes and found another live bedbug in a separate box. We have a lot of stuff to throw away in that room that we aren't prepared to take chances with (i.e. seat cushions etc.). I'm kinda gutted as I've being missing doing crafts and I still can't get my hands on any of it! The scrapbook/cardmaking things will have to stay in there until I can go through them one by one to make sure they are ok. I'm a bit annoyed by this as I wanted to make a wedding card for Gareth's cousin and his fiancee but we have had to buy one instead. I've also got to freeze all my cross stitich stuff for three weeks (when there's room in the freezer!) as the aida could harbour bedbug eggs.
I do have access to a sketchbook and pencils, so at least I can still be creative to some extent!
Instead of a relaxing afternoon crafting, I spent the next two hours emptying all the remaining boxes and found another live bedbug in a separate box. We have a lot of stuff to throw away in that room that we aren't prepared to take chances with (i.e. seat cushions etc.). I'm kinda gutted as I've being missing doing crafts and I still can't get my hands on any of it! The scrapbook/cardmaking things will have to stay in there until I can go through them one by one to make sure they are ok. I'm a bit annoyed by this as I wanted to make a wedding card for Gareth's cousin and his fiancee but we have had to buy one instead. I've also got to freeze all my cross stitich stuff for three weeks (when there's room in the freezer!) as the aida could harbour bedbug eggs.
I do have access to a sketchbook and pencils, so at least I can still be creative to some extent!
Blackberry picking photos
As promised, here are the photo's from our blackberry picking when the fumigator was last at our place:
Willow the day after losing the tip of her tail. She did get fed quite a few blackberries along the walk. At least she had one good day that week!
The act of blackberry picking. I think Gareth got pretty bored by the end.
Tangent Tired after the day! Ignore the vast amounts of dog hair on the carpet; since the bedbug problem we haven't been able to vacuum the carpets as it will dilute the effect of the pesticide.
Willow the day after losing the tip of her tail. She did get fed quite a few blackberries along the walk. At least she had one good day that week!The act of blackberry picking. I think Gareth got pretty bored by the end. Tangent Tired after the day! Ignore the vast amounts of dog hair on the carpet; since the bedbug problem we haven't been able to vacuum the carpets as it will dilute the effect of the pesticide.
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