Thursday, July 21, 2011

Moving On......

So, this is my last night in the convent.
I am not leaving the sisterhood, I was merely an honourary sister I suppose(cept without having to do the whole religion/chastity thang). I have been living here since last October and am getting kicked out.
Well it's not that dramatic (they need the room), but effectively i shall be homeless.
So both my esteemed chum and I are both now without abodes. Though I will get to sleep in an actually bed as apposed to a couch, which mo lady seems to have come quiet attached to (see previous blogpost!).

So nine months have gone by and boy have things changed. From bad to rock bottom to pretty damn good, the only blip being my soon to be homelessness.But i imagine it will give me a sense of freedom and set my spirit free to wander.....right?!hmmmm....do they allow people to pitch a tent in the park these days?

What a difference 9 months can make. Generally of course after 9 months many people get landed with a sprog.....lousy.
For me, the past 9 months have been spent finally achieving something that I have wanted for years now, and of course becoming myself again.

Even through poverty and homelessness my compadre seems cheery at her plight and still optimistic and loving her new city which I think is pretty damn inspirational. (Also, send me on your address you fool so I can send you some rice, dried fruit or a carrot or something).

So things have changed for the both of us in the past 9 months. Both of us have gone 9 months without getting a baby at the end, huzzah! We are both in new cities that we enjoy discovering/getting lost in (Ahem, you may never diss me about getting lost again smellyhead).

Things didnt look so rosy 9 months ago......I was a shell of my former self and my amigo was getting forced out of Canada. But we found each other again and through laughter, cinema drinking, talking about Daly beind her back, drinking, licking, drunk diarying.....did I mention drinking, we dug ourselves back up again.

And now, the next 9 months are full of opportunites and new adventures. I am starting back in college again which will make my heart whole once more and mo lady has the whole of london as her muse and will get a job that recognises her talent and rewards her handsomely for her efforts!

So here's to the next stage..........may we remain baby free, careless, maybe not homeless, wine drinking, wise, happy and not too far from each other.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

This is being transposed - practice for my administrative dreams. Also because I'm waiting to go into the job centre. I'm at a cafe - its like the ones you see on tv... the dodgy ones but that's perfect because the tea was 90p - which is good for a number of reasons.
- Cheap tea is virtually impossible to find in any city, especially London.
- I am extremely broke - like can't afford tube or phone credit broke.
-This tea is disgusting.
He poured it from a large steel kettle then added hot water - so I didn't have high hopes.
I walked here and gave myself a lot of time since I constantly get lost in London. I think not being able to take the tube will be good for me. I'll finally see what streets lead to where. Also will be good for my hips. AND before (or after more than likely) you throw your eyes to heaven. I DO need to work on this because my stoney brokeness sent me merrily on my way to Iceland and as you can imagine I have chips, onion bhajees, fish fingers and garlic bread in the freezer, I also have two packs of hobnobs (not my favourite biscuits but at two packs for £1 - I had to). So I can't afford any fresh produce...
So anyway outside job centre and I'm hoping they'll be bale to get me a secretarial course or something that way I'll have an extra qualification, it'll help with getting administrative work as well as learning stuff - A great plan don't you think?
Well hopefully they'll be able to help. I've sent off two job applications today and I'm working on one for The Old Vic. I would LOVE to work there. In saying this I would be completely on the breadline but I might get to meet Niamh Cusack and Kevin Spacey... Also I'd be a shoe-in for other jobs if I got this. The trouble is the competition is so fierce here, but at least there are jobs going - Which makes a nice difference from home.
The boys are amazing. OK I never see James but when I do we have a laugh and when I don't I get his room =) (though I love my couch - I prefer it to the room if I'm honest but it is nice just to have a little privacy or feel like I'm not in the way. They NEVER make me feel like I'm in the way - which makes me feel even more guilty.
Seanan is wonderful - he has this brilliant sense of humour - that's completely dry so he says something and I think he's serious and then he reminds me - the wonderful thing about his humour is that deadpan usually has a touch of nastiness or coldness, Seanan doesn't. I haven't read his plays but I imagine this is a great asset as a writer.
And Henry - Maaaaannnn I love Henry. No not in love (just incase the coc is reading this).

Jesus just took a swig of tea its getting worse - Also owner of cafe (presumed owner) is watching me write - he probably thinks he's getting inspected. He would get 10/10 for friendliness and service. 10/10 for hygiene (they were cleaning as I walked in, its immaculate and though dodgy looking on outside an effort has been made with the table outside) and umm well I can't rate the tea.

But Henry is wonderful and really helpful. He gives good job seeker advice, helped with the National application (the one I REALLY wanted, and heard nothing about) and generally we just have nice chats. I really like living with all three (well two it's not like I live with James).
In saying this I really need to not live here. I mean its been 3 months - I feel like a horrible useless sponger ( I am a useless sponger but I do keep the place tidy and do a bit of cleaning). So yeah here I am hoping Jobcentre plus is going to answer my dreams, give me the leg up I need. Oh and one of the 12,000,000,000,000 or so jobs I've applied for might actually reply.
-Le Sigh

- Hope this doesn't come across as depressing. I'm loving London. There are so many free shows and the boys sometimes take me or give me tickets so I've still pretty much seen a show a week since I've been here. =) That's all I need to keep me happy and chirpy!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

The Art of a Good Cover Up

Well, would you believe I've been applying for jobs wrong for like... a decade? I think, in all honesty, working in retail/ bar work/ customer service/ general dog's body/treated like crap you don't need to focus on CV - you just note that you've done this before, smile and then you get the job. But with real jobs, officey - paid properly - lots of competition - type - jobs this kind of crap is really important.

Well holy mother of Mike... I had no idea an application letter should be that long, I would never have thought to put in separate headings and in general I don't really like spouting about what I'm good at (unless its drinking or quoting movies, I take pride in my ability in each - note all previous blogs) so the whole thing is uncomfortable...

Anywhoodle I don't suppose this makes for interesting reading but it does clear up the reason I can NEVER get interviews except the one time I had a connection. It also helps that I think I'm ok in person, I mean there's always the chance I'll fuck it up on the day or, of course someone is simply a better candidate but I do think I have some chance if I can just get in the door. Prior to this I could never get in the door- now I need to see if this is going to work.

I hate doing cover letters and CVs, selling yourself and it takes aaaggggeeesss. But I'm still on a couch. I love the boys, really like living with them, but I would like to be able to contribute and also have my own room (more the contributing funnily enough, I feel so guilty and I hate that. I love the couch though, super comfy and I get up early cos there's all busy-ness around me and sun glaring through the blinds, without that I can't help but sleep in). So roll on the job applications and hopefully some interviews.

So hopefully a new page has been turned in the life of reflections and to celebrate I'm going to have a cider and watch a film!