In the last couple of weeks I’ve a) moved into a new flat in London b) started looking for a new job (current contract finishes end of August) c) helped a Spanish friend start an internet venture that will hopefully bring in some advertising money later.
Edit: Also started the twittering. http://www.twitter.com/MigginsPies
Well, it had to happen sooner or later. I’ve been hit by “the runs” and am now reliant on Immodium to keep me fairly stable.
Good news is I watched this new series http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t4pgh last night on the Beeb. Enjoyed it immensely…
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As I’m now in London more and more, I think I’ll add this link, especially as the World Cup has now started
It does mean getting up at 4.30 am (rarely home before 9 either) though, the commute is killing me. But for once I’m earning some money. Wonder if it will last long..
Never let it be said I live a boring existence. Tonight I remembered to put out the rubbish bags for the block. Because of snow and ice etc., the timetable of the rubbish collectors has been less than reliable lately. But, baring late disasters, they should be there tomorrow morning picking up the old potato skins and beer bottles. Speaking of which, I’ve just finished off the last beer in the house. Means a trip to the supermarket tomorrow. Will the excitement never end?
On a lighter note, here’s what I’ve been watching lately to cheer myself up.
Well, it seems I’ve been away a long time. Except I’ve not been away, just trying to concentrate on getting work, without much success. I had the chance of an interview last month, but was unable to get to the place. Firstly the car rental company re-allocated the car I’d already paid for (nice one Alamo, I still feel you’ve stolen from me). I tried to go by train to the interview and got to Euston station only to find that all trains were cancelled at that point (it was the Friday before the holidays when we were surprised by snow). The interview was re-arranged for Wednesday this week but guess what the snow came again and my chance of the interview went out the window.
Apart from that I’ve been working on my new website. It may be of use for Spanish speakers – enter in an English word eg “deep”, “useful”, or “bear” and various expressions will be displayed, next to their Spanish translation. Early days yet, so the database isn’t anywhere near comprehensive, but there are still quite a few words to look at.
Anything else? Ah yes – Happy new Year!
We’re starting to get those wetter days we all know and love. Job wise nothing much is happening; I had a chat with a recruitment consultant from Germany yesterday, and I quickly found out that my German could not be described yet as fluent. Ah well, plenty more study is required – and since time is the one thing I have a lot of now, I have no excuse. My hopes of moving to Nottingham, cruelly dashed a few weeks ago, are now potentially alive again. Is it really too much to ask that I live in a city I’m comfortable in? As for actually getting work, I fear that my working days are now over. Seems that those recruiting prefer to look at folk in their 20s, and when you get 100 or 150 people applying for each job, they have an easy choice to make. Doesn’t stop me being brought into the Job Centre for meaningless “help” sessions. I understand the next Conservative government are going to clamp even harder on those unfortunate to be out of work. So they’ll end up spending more on admin, surveillance etc when in reality the answer is to create jobs! Ah well, easy to see why I’m not a politician!
There’s definitely an Autumnal feel to the place now. There’s more cloud around, it’s been quite windy and yesterday the heating went on for the first time. I quite like this time of year (despite the darkening evenings) – it’s only the December through February part I can’t stand. There’s nothing like getting home after a brisk walk, making oneself a cup of tea and reading a favourite book. Time to turn off the computer I think!
There’s a chance I may be able to return to Nottingham in the next few weeks. Although my employment record has been poor since I moved to Oxford, I doubt it will improve in Nottingham owing to my age. Another disadvantage is I will probably have little access to the internet. Even so, if it does happen my quality of life will be so much better – I rank Oxford as one of the worst places to live in the UK – there are worst places but they don’t tend to have such rip-off prices. I must admit that the lack of hills have a depressing effect on me. Anyway, if it doesn’t happen, I really don’t see myself surviving much longer, the place grinds you down. We’ll see, sometimes good things do happen! Will post next time I have better news.
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