Three weeks in

I have just finished a three week contract at BIAD; Birmingham Institute of Art and Design at Birmingham City University. I left with a box of chocolates, a thank you card, a warm glow and a boost of confidence. In that time I've had 2 interviews and I'm waiting for the result of the last one. It's weird how much you can love being a happy little administrator with no money and no responsibility. It was a lovely crowd in the faculty office and I'll miss them lots. We had a busy enrolment period and an open day and I met loads of people, made friends and generally felt at home but all good things must come to an end.

The interview was for a marketing role for a company that is actually part of the Home Office, and I'm due to hear the result of that this wee. Tomorrow I find myself going to an Assessment Centre for a potential job in a huge financial services company and Thursday I have an interview for a PA job at a large Union. I've also been long-listed for a marketing job in a university and have to put together a project for submission by Tuesday. Meanwhile I'm being put forward for about 6 other jobs, to be honest I'm just keeping an open mind and trying not to lose track! The list I made two weeks ago is now hopelessly out of date! They weren't kidding when they said looking for a job is a full time job in itself. In between taking calls today I have finally painted our bedroom meaning at last at the weekend we're hoping to choose some carpet and put the blasted rewiring we had done behind us; it's nearly a year ago so it's about time. I have also painted the fireplace, cleaned the windows, cooked loads and made homemade rice pudding, yum. I've not wanted to keep still really, and not having to be at work has been ace in terms of allowing me to crack on with a few chores. Still it's only been 2 working days since I finished work and I'm a-hankering for a new challenge (not to mention some money) so hopefully the next one isn't far away.

Yesterday was fun... I went to the butchers 2 Saturdays ago and was waiting to order some meat when I overheard the butcher chatting to a girl of about my age. I heard her saying she'd studied Hispanic Studies. Well it had been forever since I'd heard someone say that, so I introduced myself. We met yesterday and it was so cool. I've not had anyone to practice with and we met for coffee in Kings Heath, at this really cool little cafe, the Kitchen Garden Cafe. It's such a gorgeous spot, you feel like you're in the countryside, not in the middle of Kings Heath and there's a really funky feel to it, kind of hippy, bohemian but cute at the same time. Food's nice too. Elena's half Spanish like me and half Greek too, and doing a Phd and learning japanese. We had tea, I scoffed a bagel, and talked for 2 hours until I realised that if I didn't hurry I'd get a parking fine. As I ran back to the car the fluorescent parking demons were hovering around my car but I think I got there in the nick of time. Phew. Then I can home (painted the fireplace), and headed off to Jean and Mike's. They live down the road from me and I see them in church most weeks. They have two little boys Samuel and Daniel (good old testament names). Samuel is 2ish and Daniel is about 6 months. They are both cute as buttons. Samuel reminds me of Jack from 2 years ago. Jean fed me tea and cake and then Samuel climbed all over me and measured me, giggled and generally messed around in that adorable, trusting, boyish way of his.

I walked home feeling very spoilt!

The job search and more news

I had 2 weeks being a housewife after we got back from holiday in the end. I couldn't sit still. Even though I managed to ignore any inbuilt panic buttons I still had to keep busy so I ended up doing a lot of diy. Much sanding was done. The bedroom walls are now ready to be painted and the fireplace in the living room is on its way. Yes I know I should finish one job before I start the next but... well there is no but, I just got stuck in! 

I applied for jobs too, don't want you thinking I just divved about with diy. I had an interview at Birmingham University Business School. The interview panel were really nice, we got on well, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I could do the job, I had a lot of experience that meant I was a good fit etc so I went home feeling cautiously optimistic. A couple of days later I got a very nice email saying they would like me to apply for similar jobs there but on this occasion I was unsuccessful. Gutted! Still though it gave me the opportunity to poke around the campus for the first time since 2002, when I graduated. I really loved being back. I would love to work there... Leon took out his lunch break to show me around, which was cool. There have been lots of changes like the new buildings by the train station, a new enormous and cheap fruit and veg stall on campus (v encouraging) but by far the most amazing change was Muirhead Tower. That tower, that blot on the landscape, was famously know to students as being the building the university allowed students to design to reduce wind velocity then it was erected inside out, exacerbating the wind velocity problem for generations. I don't know if that is an urban myth but it is a protected building that the uni wasn't allowed to just pull down and certainly during my time the 'temporary' scaffolding and "Caution in High Winds" signs were a permanent fixture. picture below. Well, do you know, they've gone and redeveloped it! The exterior is less ugly, more space age with fancy panels, v cool (see the link). Inside they've opened it up and built an extension so there are 4 lifts instead of 2, allowing students I imagine at least a cat in hell's chance of getting to their lectures in time without walking to the 12th floor! There is, wait for it, a lobby and a Starbucks!!! Yes a Starbucks people. I wasn't sure how I felt about that but there is now a fancy looking cafe thing in most of the buildings it seems, an attempt I imagine to keep students out of the Guild until at least after their lectures, and if that's their plan it would seem to be working. All the students I saw looked, well, studious!

Anyway, I joined the Unitemps online agency and last week I got a 2 week contract covering the enrolment at Birmingham City University (the old UCE) at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. You should see the students, so cute! They're all fashion students, graphic design, creative, jewellery students and the like so they all have mad hair and dress to match. Bless em. Nothing like my lot who mainly rolled out of bed, pulled on flairs, and pretty much made as little effort with dressing for lectures as possible. Mind, during my week off I went to my old stomping ground, the University of Birmingham, and all the little students seemed quite trendy there too so there's obviously been a change. I mean they were wear make up and jeans that haven't been bought from a charity shop... weird.

I've enjoyed being at work again and the people at BCU BIAD are nice. I've mainly covered the office but for one day I sat in the tent helping to enrol the students, issuing ID cards, giving out free gifts etc. It was fun!

Yesterday I had an interview at the Shakespeare trust, the charity that looks after the various Stratford properties associated with Shakespeare and the archive, museum and educational events. I again felt confident, I'd obviously had experience of marketing the Restoration project at Kings Norton, now known as St Nicolas Place. Again we got on well, but I could feel I wasn't what they necessarily wanted. The lady kept on smiling sympathetically at me, and when the interview ended she hadn't even wanted to see my portfolio. It would have been a dream to not only market something I am so passionate about but work with people who are undoubtedly so professional. You could see she really knew her onions. More upsetting still I got the impression that if I hadn't spent the majority of the last 3 years in working environments where basically I was the most senior marketing person I might have learned more and have the kind of skills and confidence she thought I should have. She said she could see I had the nouse to learn quickly and the makings of a really good person for that role but they needed someone to start and be pretty much self sufficient and she felt I would be a risk. Fair enough. Back to the drawing board.

The job search

Yesterday was the 11th, that's officially 1 month since I walked out of the Leukaemia CARe offices for the last time. In the 2 weeks since returning from holiday I've signed up with agencies, fielded incoming calls about prospective jobs, put my cv on Monster, been to a jobs fair, been to an interview at Birmingham university, gone to the jobcentre, and searched online for a job for hundreds of hours. The interview went well and the panel advised me to apply for other similar roles but crucially I didn't get it. On the plus side I'm well on top of the housework... I've re-potted the mint and the rosemary, last thursday was washday and I did a handwash too, and I'm about to start a marathon ironing fest. I miss human contact by the friday but theatre on thursday night and the gym with Nathan on tuesday keeps me sane. Or sane-ish. But I hate not earning. And I hate knowing that means I'm not contributing. It'll come come good in the end I'm sure...

Tango in the Aisles

Caught up with my friend Emily from University and had a good old chat last night. Turns out the motivated ms bridges has made a film to submit into the Sadlers Wells Global Dance Contest, the idea of which is to turn the winning film I believe into a dance on stage. Firstly, bloody marvellous Em for coming up with the idea and actually doing it. Conceiving of a plan is something I'm great at, carrying it out... not always so hot. Secondly, a big thumbs up for motivating all those people and being the generally creative, fun marvellous person you are. Ladies and gentleman, ahem (dramatic pause), I leave you with... 'Tango in the Aisles'