Working For Free Now Are We?

As you may know I've been unemployed for a while now and last week had an interview for a place that seemed to go pretty well. I even had a voice mail from the guy who interviewed me today just to say he hadn't forgotten about me and that he hoped to call me later to offer me something if I was still interested. Great I though! However, instead I had a call from the Job Centre asking if I would be interested in doing a work trial for this company, basically working for free for anything up to 3 weeks so they could see if they liked me.

Hold The Phone! Working for free, this is what it's come down to now?

All I can say is congrats to the companies out there doing this. You get to check out the workers, see if you like them and give them a job if at the end if you do, a win win situation on their part. Or alternatively if you need a couple of weeks filing done, get one of the jobless in to sort it out and them part ways saying that they are just not suitable, filing problem solved along the way.

So what did I say to this job centre person who is after all only doing her job. I said yes of course! These are hard times and it seems I am willing to do a little for free, although it maybe more fool me in the end.

Worry Be Gone

I've decided I worry too much, therefore I'm going to do something about this and not worry at all. It is such a waste of time and energy to worry as 9 times out of 10 the results will be the same whether you worry yourself to death or not.

There was a brilliant quote in the film 'The Wedding Crashers' that I saw recently and it went something like this - We have no way of knowing what the future holds for us, all we can do is act based on what we know now. It's going to be fine, your whole life is going to be fine.

I'm sure that's not word for word right but I just love the sentiment behind it, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy :-)

Easter Bonnets

I had a brilliant time yesterday making some Easter Bonnets with my Mum! A surprisingly good time actually as I wasn't expecting it to be as much fun as it was. The bonnets were for my great Aunt and her friend who wear them each year for their Church's Easter coffee morning, there is a prize of an Easter Egg for the winner!

We made the bonnets last year as well but didn't win (I'm not sure what the winner's looked like as I don't actually go to these events), but I do think we have a good chance this year.

I will attach a pic, let me know what you think!

Terrible Lethargy

The lethargy has descended upon me lately. It's a terrible thing that sucks the energy out of you and I suppose it comes from me being unemployed for so long now. To be honest I'm surprised it's taken this long, I would have thought it would have got a firm grip on me long before now. It's rooted in doing application after application with minimal results I think.

My brother was home for the weekend this week and worryingly he said that not only had the NHS (where he works) put a freeze on all new jobs for outside applicants, but that some agencies will put your CV aside if they see more than 6 months worth of gap in employment on it.

I thought this recession was coming to an end!?

Anyway in order to combat the lethargy I am now going to attempt to get up each morning and take the dogs out for a walk. I figure this will get me refreshed and moving for the day and hopefully should help keep me fit etc as well in the process. A win win situation I'm hoping.

Today was the first day of this new regime and it's gone well, it was loving being out early with the dogs (well dog today, the other one wouldn't move from her basket, she is feeling the lethargy like me I think) but I'm sure it helped that the sun was shinning and it was a joy to be out.

Fingers crossed things go as well tomorrow. xx

Old Friends & Irritation

Does anyone have those friends or family members who irritate the heck out of them?

I don't know whether it's me but I have some people that literally even the first sound of their voice irritates me. For example I have a friend from uni (and I call him a friend because he really should be, we have never had an argument or anything like that), we have known each other for years now and I can't think how we have kept in touch so long.

I met Alex in my second year of uni through a mutual friend. We wern't in the same year or on the same course and as it was a drunken night out I didn't think much about him and went on my merry way but somehow, through this mutual friend we kept cropping up in the same places, as you do. Now I forget how he got my mobile number, but as I say there were alot of drunken nights at uni so this doesn't surprise me and technology being what it is now he also got on my msn and facebook and so everafter we have been in some sort of contact.

I can't bring myself to block him on msn or delete him from facebook etc because technically he has done nothing wrong but the fact remains that I can't remember the last time someone has irritated me so much. Without fail he will talk to me as soon as he logs onto msn and texts me randomly as well. For my part I try to keep contact to a minimum, for his sake as much as mine, I really don't want to be unkind to him but I just can't help being snappy or short. It's like something takes over and he rubs me up the wrong way completely!

Plenty Of Fish

Over the past month or so I have been a member of the plenty of fish website, this basically is a dating website but unlike most of the other's it's completely free.

I got into this via a friend who last year split up with her husband and joined so that she could meet new guys. I have been undecided about it for a long time, even though so many people meet over the net these days I just can't help but feel slightly seedy about it.

Anyway despite my reservations I gave it a whirl, but here we are a month on and I'm still feeling seedy about it. Today I have 'hidden my profile' for now at least. There do seem to be some nice guys on there but I just don't think it's the way for me to meet people, each to their own and all that.

Part of the problem might be that I couldn't help but put nice pic's of me up. Now I wasn't trying to gip anyone and all the pics were recent and really were me but I just couldn't help thinking what if I didn't really look like that in everyday life, lol I might sound nuts but I'm sure I look very different from one pic to the next.

Anyway unless I have a change of heart I'm staying off there. One good thing about it though is that it has shown me the sheer amount of guys out there looking for dates! Not ugly, desperate guys either, good looking, nice, normal people by the looks of things.

So onwards and upwards and lets see if we can find these guys in real life!

Marian Keyes - The Brightest Star In The Sky

This year my Dad decided to buy us presents for Christmas. Now the way I have wrote that makes it seem like he never get's us anything but actually we have alot from our parents, it's just that Mum does all the choosing and I'm not sure that Dad knows what he has for us until he sees us open things on Christmas Day. But this year he went out and bought a book each for me, my bro and my sis. Mine was Marian Keyes - The Brightest Star In The Sky.

What a book! I'm not usually a fan of people choosing books for me unless I give them a specific author but I have to say Dad came up trumps with this one. Bear in mind I'm only half way through but what I do know is that it's written from the perspective of an outside being, not human, more like celestial (exact nature hasn't been revealed to us yet). This being floats around 66 Star Street, an old house that has been converted into flats and observes the residents that now live there.

Each seperate story is gripping, there are 4 stories and each night I can't wait to read a little more about each person. The book is obviously counting down to something as well, each chapter is called Day 56, then Day 55 etc so I await with interest whatever it's counting down too!

Visiting Carla

Yesterday I arrived at Carla's for roughly a week long visit. Last night when I went to bed I felt more chilled than I have in ages. I'm not sure why, but I had some chilled family thoughts before I went to sleep and just drifted off nicely and actually had a good nights sleep too.

Carla really wants me to get a job here and move down. I think it could be fun so I'm looking for jobs here but I'm still looking at home too because I do like living there.

The new series of The Hils and The City started on the weekend and today I managed to catch the repeats of both. OMG how wicked is the new Hills! Lauren is gone and Kristen is back and I didn't think I would be pleased about this but actually the first episode was wicked! Kristen still seems to be a bit of a bitch but not in too overly a nasty way and boy does she mix things up! She does what she wants and lets everyone deal with that and while I recognise we can't all live like that I do think there is something to be said for it, it must be quite a chilled way to live.

The City I didn't think was as good, not by a long shot. Whitney still seems like a nice girl but there is a level of nastiness in The City that seems to be lacking in The Hills. Olivia is just vile and the new girl (I'm not sure of her name yet) seems to be going the same way. I'm not sure if this is a general difference between Hollywood and New York or whether the sunshine calms The Hills girls or something but I know where I would rather be.

On an exercise note I'm pleased to say I got up at 8 this morning to walk to work with Carla and I met her from work tonight so I'm chuffed I'm still managing to get my walking in.

Gramy's Birthday

I've just been shopping for my Gramy's Birthday which is on Saturday. I've decided to make her a card as it's more personal so I picked up some bits and pieces from Rhyman's, which I was in there all I kept thinking was - Popadopolys I'm contributing to your kids inheritance here lol.

For a present I've decided to get her something from the Yankee Candle range - http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/ We both share a love of all things Yankee Candle, the range is fab! I got a candle burner holder in the shape of a flower and some tabs to burn in it. While I was there I did notice they have the new Christmas range out and I am surprised to say I was disappointed in it. Normally the smells they have in the Yankee Candle range are lovely but these new Christmas one's just smelt odd so I stayed clear of those.

I am a bit worried about Gramy's Birthday to be honest. A while ago my mother fell out with my Grandma and as far as I know they have barely spoken since. I really don't want there to be any bad feeling on her Birthday.

X-Factor

The beginning of the live shows was ace! I know some people are really tired of it now but I still think it is brill. Music, live acts, bitchy judges - what's not to love. I only wish I had an ounce of musical talent and could apply myself. However in the absence of that I am glad that it's something I can recognise! I would hate to be one of those misguided few who are really really terrible singers but who believe they are great.

As for this year's contestants, I'm not sure anyone is really standing out for me yet but I do know that they twins don't deserve all the flack they are getting. They maybe a bit cocky and not the best singers but they are only 17 and great entertainers. Go the twins! I hope they stay in for a few weeks at least.

For X-Factor goss visit - http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/

Carla's Visit Home

Odd day. Carla came home for a visit, my very best friend since we were kids, she moved away after uni.

I haven't really done much socialising since I've been back from Nepal, I've half been saving money and half been concentrating on loosing the weight. But anyway it was really good to see Carla.

She has suggested looking for a job up by her and moving in to share her house. It's something to consider I think.

X factor tonight, I'm really looking forward to the start of the live shows!

Blast From The Past

I heard from an old boyfriend that I haven't spoken to in yonks today.

He's a funny sort that's for sure and I do actually remember how much I liked him at the time (about 5 years ago now), which I certainly don't for some of my other ex's. We have kept in touch despite now living about 2 hours away from each other but I can usually bet I will hear from him when he is newly single or something like that, I'm sure you all know the sort.

To be fair if he lived closer then I would probably meet up with him but I can't bring myself to travel the distance as it is and I'm not that keen to have him here either. This is harder to understand but I think it maybe something to do with having someone from the past interrupt my current life if that makes any sense. Not many of my friends now know about him since it was 5 years ago so maybe that's something to do with it?

The Big Sort Out

The state of my bedroom has been doing my nut in since I have come back from Nepal so i've resolved to have a big sort out and I've decided I must do this before anything else as it's so hard to concentrate in clutter. I'm sure it's being in Nepal and seeing how people with hardly any possessions exist and how even I can easily live out of a backpack when the situation calls for it that's bought this on.

The sort out is going quite well. I'm setting aside that which can be sent to charity, that which needs to be thrown out and that which is a possible sale item on ebay www.ebay.com and I'm feeling quite pleased with what I have accomplished so far.

I still have more stuff than any one person could possibly need but another change has come about since Nepal as well. I've stopped my random buying! I realise now that I used to buy so much stuff that I didn't need, no wonder my room is so full. But now I haven't really bought anything new since I got back and I don't plan on buying non essentials for sometime, which is handy as I don't have a job lol.

The biggest improvement I think so far is that I'm now able to write this from an actual computer desk rather than sitting in my bed balancing my laptop on my knee. It's great to have the space to work and I'm hoping it will make me more organised for my job applications too. :-)

Back from Nepal

He All,

We are back from Nepal safe and sound and it was amazing and terrible at the same time, mostly amazing. We ended up doing a couple of volunteer projects - teaching English and working on some conservation jobs as well. The people we met were fab and the country is naturally so beautiful but there is a definite difference between the living standards of Nepal and the UK that's for sure!

We have been back about a week now and are settling back to life in the UK, everything seems so luxurious here lol. I've really got to get down to the job hunting now I'm home. It was strange, while I was away I had a letter (an actual letter through the post) from a job agency. They were asking if I was interested in a certain job but the name of the agency didn't ring a bell at all which was a bit strange. Anyway I've been in contact with them now so hopefully something might come out of that.

Fingers crossed xx

2 Days Till Nepal

Only 2 days left until we leave for Nepal! I don't think i've mentioned this before in this blog so i'll just quickly tell you that me, my bro and sis are going over there for 3 weeks on a volunteering and adventure holiday. We have chosen to volunteer teaching english to kids / monks and it's very exciting.

I think we are nearly ready to go, we have had all our injections (8!), started taking our malaria tablets and bought a whole load of stuff including new rucksacks and walking boots. We haven't yet got our mosquitoe nets but we are hoping to get these at the airport.

Smear Test

Im feeling totally medical at the mo. Today I had my 2nd ever smear test and it was fine as it turns out. It did seem different to the last one but granted that was 3 years ago now. The last one seemed to have more of a sharp pain involved but this one was more a pushing feeling which is a bit harder to describe. I had been on a few forums before hand and someone had mentioned that they now use plastic instruments instead of metal so maybe that has something to do with it.

The nurse (who was lovely) did say that I had a small cervix! Im not exactly sure what a cervix is but this is something I have long suspected, I think she described it as cherry like. I asked if there were many different sizes and apparently there are, plus things like having a baby (I have no kids yet) can make a difference, so maybe in the future I will have a slightly larger cervix lol.

The nurse also talked more about checking breasts this time which I don't remember them doing last time. This is something I do pretty much regularly anyway so I wasn't too worried about that.

Well I should have the results in about 6 weeks apparently so hopefully, much like the cylamidia test everything will be fine. I have a trip to Nepal in the meantime to take my mind off it :-) I do wonder if thats the last medical related thing for a while?? lol

Negative :-)

Good news! The Chlamydia test came back negative - phew. Thats a big weight off my mind @I can tell you.

Considering the fact this is not something I had ever worried about before, as soon as I took the test I really started to worry. Every now and again it would pop into my mind and even though it seems like its pretty easy to treat I was freaking out about the long term effects it can have on a persons fertility.

Luckily now all thats behind me :-) I can safely say I do not have Chlamydia, yay!

Chlamydia Test

My friend (the same one who I joined Match along with) has worried me about never having been tested for any STD's. We got merrily drunk the other night and some how got onto the topic and she was saying how she got tested after she found out about her cheating husband. I have to admit she worried me slightly, it's not something I have ever thought about doing before and now thinking about it im not sure why as I did have a bit of a time in my early 20's and perhaps wasn't as careful as I could have been.

Anyway Chlamydia seemed to be the most worrying as its the one that can effect your fertility and also has the double whammy of not always showing any symptons. Did you know that you can send away for home tests for all sorts of things now? This amazed me and I found a funky place online called the STI clinic http://www.thesticlinic.com/ There were shed loads of places that offer to send you out a home testing kit which you then pee into and post back for them to analyse, most then either post your results on a secure webpage or post you out the results.

I decided to go with the STI clinic for a couple of reasons even though at £30 they were one of the most expensive.:

They posted out the testing kit in discreet bubble wrap envelope with no mention of the STI clinic anywhere on it.

They send the kits out the same day if you order by 4.30 and you can get the results within 2 days (by far the quickest I found).

They dont have to post the results back to you, you can log back into their site and get the results online, plus they will text you when your results are ready.

If you do have chlamydia, hey will send you the treatment (in pill form) by next day courier for no extra charge.

So sure enough the kit arrived and this morning I peed into it! Some interesting facts - they prefer first thing in the morning pee and you must collect the first part of the pee thats the important part apparently! No idea why but im sure they have their reasons.

I posted the kit back today and as it's a week day hopefully I should have the results within a couple of days. What worries me however is that if it does come back positive then goodness knows how long I have had it because after that blip in my early 20's I have been careful ever since so it won't be a newly aquired thing if you get what I mean. Eeck! I really hope it's negative. xx

Match.com

Hey All,

Well I have joined Match www.match.com today. A friend has recently been going through a break up with her husband and decided to join as she wants to get back out there and i've joined along with her. I have a strange mixture of feelings about it, half thinking it's very very sad and half thinking it's quite exciting!

All I've done so far is set up a profile (most of which my friend wrote I have to admit) and uploaded as many pics as it will let me, which is something like 25. 25 seems like a shed load to me and having a quick browse it doesn't seem like most people upload the full 25 but I thought what the hell! I wanted to get a good range on there as it would be scary enough meeting someone for the first time, let alone if I had only put up one very flattering pic!

Fingers crossed all progresses well! xx

My General Ramblings Blog

Hey All,

I thought I would start this blog as I have alot of things going around my mind at random times and it would be good to have somewhere to put everything down. Also hopefully some of it may be of interest to someone else out there! xx