ilex_aquifolium

Once again it's been a while. And once again I'm going to try to start updating more regularly. Well, it's worth the attempt anyway.

Recently life has been exciting. I went to Florida and visited Hogwarts (lovelovelove), came home again and saw John Simm in Hamlet, and then went to see the Live Doctor Who monster thing.

And now life has returned to it's normal boring state... and that's when I decide to start updating again. Oops.

I find having an interview in the foreseeable future really does put me off applying for other things. There's such a 'it could all just be pointless' feeling about it, and so I don't bother. Which is a bad idea if I don't get this job, but perfectly sensible if I do.

There does seem to be a lack of suitable jobs this week though, so it's not entirely due to my laziness. And I have been working on graduate scheme applications a bit, but it's so unlikely that I'd get on any of them that it borders on pointless anyway.

So, have I been working on writing for NaNo with my spare time? Well, not really at all. What I have been doing is watching the first series of ER. I'm not sure when I first started watching it on tv, but it certainly wasn't this far back. Getting a job really would disrupt such plans.

Possibly seeing the boyfriend this weekend, well, Friday-Tuesday. I'm not entirely sure he realised tomorrow is Friday though because I sent him a text to check that's what he meant, and he hasn't replied since. Silly boy. Didn't think I was going to see him til my interview, very exciting.

A man on Question Time is making the sound on my TV go funny.

I have a semi-idea for NaNo! Don't know if it will work. It begins with two people running away to get married, in the middle they travel, and somewhere near the end they dance. But it's not necessarily happy ever after... I'm undecided. And I think it may be fantasy, allowing for more of a conclusion. Fantasy is more interesting to write, and no-one can criticise the inaccuracies that way! I'm not entirely sure about it yet. But it's a beginning, the start of an idea that I can ramble out for quite a few days, I just wonder if it can be extended over 50,000 words.

Applied for a job today. Looks like it would be pretty boring, but it would do just fine for a year or so... if only I could get it! I look forward to that day so I don't have to obsess about such things anymore. What a relief that will be.

Other than that today, like every other day, I have done nothing. Again I state: What an exciting life I lead!

I think I have reached a new level of depression with the whole unemployment thing.

I just gave in an application for a Christmas job at a card shop in town.

I got home and cried.

One thing I don't want is a job in my home town. I want to leave, live and work in Sheffield. The idea of tying myself to this town with a job is physically painful.

I'm just hoping I never hear back from them. I've done exactly what I promised myself I'd never do and feels worse than I ever believed it could.

Haven't done much that is in any way productive today.

Tomorrow I'm going to the dentist (hoping I don't need a filling, but thinking I might) and buying a new laptop (I've given up on waiting until I next get an interview).

...I'm hoping this will lead to continued 'doing things' and not just playing with my new toy. Seems doubtful, but the first application I'm going to do looks really straight forward, so I'm aiming on completion before lunch, leading to some guilt-free playing, and then investigating the next application on the list.

Plans are useful, and that is mine.

Talking of plans, I've been thinking of doing nanowrimo this year, because I have no education or job commitments, so I should be able to fit in writing it around applying for things. However, I have no idea what to write. Am hoping somehow a new laptop will help me get inspiration... somehow.

Success! Well, not to get to excited, no major developments in the life of me, but today I completed two applications, so I'm pretty pleased with myself.

Finished the nhs one that I've been working on for a few days, then completed another for an admin job that I think is to do with student accommodation, but the advert was pretty vague so I'm not to sure. If anyone contacted me about that one I'd definitely need more info before taking it any further (although whatever they said it's highly unlikely I'd turn down an interview!)

For once I've run out of jobs to apply for so I'm going to have to do some searching tomorrow... although a couple with probably have turned up in my inbox by morning anyway.

Anyway, that is all. One day I hope to have a life and have something more exciting to update about.

Well, I didn't update yesterday, and that's mostly because I didn't do anything productive yesterday.

And I haven't done much today... the easy part of a 'supporting information' section of an application, but nothing that couldn't be done in ten minutes. Oh dear.

I think I'm suffering lack of motivation because I've been trying hard for the past few weeks, but haven't heard anything from anyone. Still, giving up isn't going to help matters, so must get back into it again.

In better job news, my boyfriend had a telephone interview this afternoon. He'll find out how it went on Monday, and if he gets through then he'll have a face-to-face interview.

Off to the pub tomorrow with my parents. Tis one in the village my nan lived in, and it closed for a while, but has reopened so we're going for a visit. Havent been for years. Going to go for a walk up the hill as well if it isn't raining. All sounds like more distractions to me, but will find time to be good... hopefully.

Back from many days at the boyfriend's house. Very much enjoyed it, and he apologised a lot for being a bit of an arse the day before I'd got there, which was good, got rid of any awkwardness that there may have been. Went to Chatsworth (as we always seem to do when I go there, and it's a lovely place, but personally I prefer variety) to see the sculptures which was really interesting. My favourites were Ariadna I by Manolo Valdés, and Buddha by Niki De Saint Phalle (and from behind), but there were lots of ace ones... and some which, in my opinion, were not so great.

Also went for a little walk on the Peaks which we really must do more often. Having a car and being able to drive would be oh so useful. Just generally had a lovely time with him, and yes his mum was as overly fussy as usual (the food is fine, but if you keep asking me if it's ok and then commenting on everything wrong with it, then it will mean I don't enjoy it. So be quiet) but I'm trying to be lovely and chatty anyway, even though that's something I find near impossible.

Anyway, job search progress: very little as I haven't been here. Heard nothing back from any job applications.
Since being home I've registered to a couple of job agencies. Don't hold out much hope for them, because I've got lots of other things to be applying for to be bothered chasing them up as well, but if they contact me then that's just grand. Half way through my application for the Sheffield college job. There are some gaps, I don't think I've had enough office experience really, but it's not too bad. Not going to give up on it, and will finish it off and send it tomorrow.

The parents have put an offer in on a house they like. And are putting down the price of our house again. Get us out of here now please! Lovely house and all, but moving would be an ideal chance to get rid of lots of stuff, and it would be great to do it before I get a job and move out. But however long it takes me to get a job, I'm sure they'll still be living here. It's been up for sale for years.

I'm so bored of being unemployed that I'm looking forward to tomorrow simply because it's the day that Sheffield council update their job vacancies. Fun life, eh?

Have almost finished filling in the civil service application. Got one more question to answer. Have to think of an example when I had 'drive'. ...I can't think of one. Still, it's only got to be 200 words long, so hopefully I'll think of something in the morning and send it off before I go to the jobcentre. Talking of, I really bloody hope it isn't too patronising. A group meeting about how to look for jobs? What do they think I've spent the last few months doing? Still, I have £60 left in my bank account (that is, £60 until I reach my overdraft limit, I actually have -£940) and a £22 train journey to make on Thursday, so I guess it's worth being patronised for £101.

Joined lots of communities earlier to make my reading page a bit more exciting. Not that that was difficult. Most of them don't seem to be updated very often, but still, that just seems to be the way here. I suppose it's all still relatively new. Friends would improve things, but I don't expect anyone to watch to read about my job search, so I'll treat myself to friends once I'm employed!

Once again, that is all the excitement I have to report.

Daily job progress:
Finished filling in all of GORS application form apart from the 'competencies' section, which I plan to work on over the next couple of days, so I can submit the application on Wednesday.
Also registered for emails of new civil service jobs in yorkshire, because whenever I talk to my Jobcentre woman she tells me I should be going for a job there.

Not done much today, but that's because I've spent most of the day (from 11am-7pm) sat outside chatting. Or, if you prefer, watching cricket. I haven't been for years because it used to bore me stupid, but my dad was presenting an award at the end of the match and so had to sit in a special area, so I went to keep my mum company. Also, someone who went to the same school as me was playing, so that was kind of interesting. Straight after the game he left and flew to South Africa to join the England team to replace someone who was injured. Would be far more exciting if he was someone I actually knew, rather than just recognise.

Going to visit the boyfriend on Thursday, so in the next few days I'm going to have to work hard on this job searching business to make up for the days of laziness which will follow.