Devon

We’re in the middle of Devon near a place where you would be forgiven for thinking that a huge battle between the Scottish and English might have taken place in 1746. You’d be wrong of course, that was Culloden, this is Cullompton. Easy mistake to make!

We saw a gorgeous sunrise this morning and have just had a lovely breakfast at Newcourt Barton B&B. Nice rooms and Wi-Fi too. It was a little further away from Exeter than we realised but otherwise it’s perfect.

Yesterday we saw the house I mentioned in a previous entry and we’ve decided to put an offer in! It was as lovely as the pictures suggested. 3 beds, dining room, living room, sun room, great location... we would have liked a bigger garden and a slightly bigger bathroom but these are minor issues and there are far more boxes ticked than unticked...

Buying a house seems very daunting and already we’ve made several phone calls soliciting advice, but I think the idea is you just have to throw yourself into it and hope for the best, which brings me neatly onto my job interview in a couple of hours. I’m less nervous than I was at my last interview so I’ll just throw myself in and try and do my best!

Spare room chaos

I’ve sorted out the spare room. Sort of. I bought two ginormous plastic storage boxes and the bed which previously looked like a small nuclear warhead had gone off scattering laundry, clothes in the ‘don’t know whether to keep or give to charity’ pile, stationary, a large plastic windmill, a badly hidden Christmas present, tea towels, a wooden bowl and some camera equipment all over the place, now has the aforementioned items in the aforementioned storage boxes and for the first time in three months, the bed looks like a bed. It’s still chaos, but a neater more orderly form of chaos.

I haven’t heard from the job I interviewed for so I’ve reconciled myself to receiving a letter in the post in the next couple of days saying thanks, but no thanks... It’s a huge blow but there’s nothing I can do. Back to looking for suitable jobs and filling out dreary, soul sucking forms in which the eager job seeker gets to prostitute their skills, experience and enthusiasm to complete strangers. Not that I’m fed up with the whole process you understand.

Bess is snoring so loudly on the sofa that it’s hard to concentrate on typing and I’ve given up on trying to hear what’s happening on Murder, She Wrote. Good job I’ve seen every episode several times over. Maybe that’s my cue to get up and do the washing up anyway...

Who knows!

I had my interview yesterday, and honestly, I don’t know how it went. For some reason I was incredibly nervous which didn’t help. Some answers I was bang on, other answers...

It was the hardest interview I’ve ever done. I wouldn’t be surprised if I didn’t get it – I am missing a qualification they want, but they still seem really interested in my skills and experience. So who knows!?

After the interview in Bristol I headed to the Cotswolds to stay the night with a friend. It was lovely to see him. We had dinner in the pub and caught up on all the news. I also picked up my Toledo Mud Hens (baseball) t-shirt that his partner got for me in the States. (I’m wearing it now, very cool!)

Our friend is moving over to Baltimore for six months next year (his partner - who got me the tee - is currently out there working until next July) so I spoke to the missus last night and we might try and plan a trip in the new year, which will be fantastic if it happens.

Today before heading back home I decided to go to Bath for the morning. It’s one of my favourite cities and I have a soft spot for the Bath rugby team as well (who incidentally I saw training at their training ground and I was so excited I almost swerved off the road!) I went for a lovely veggie breakfast and then had an amble round the shops and admired the autumn foliage; which was stunning. I didn’t spend much (very unlike me) but I did buy a present for my partner and a little something for her grandmother as well. Then I headed back to the car via the river. It was such a beautiful morning and I really enjoyed the couple of hours I spent there. Then it was back in the wagon and home. I got back to two very excited dogs and a big box from the Open University. It was my course materials! (I’m doing a course in Environmental Science so I can apply for environmental jobs – like the job I interviewed for yesterday).

The interview keeps going round in my head and I forgot to ask when I might hear one way or the other. I wonder if I can email and ask? Anyway, I can’t keep over-analysing everything or I’ll go mad, so for now I’m going read through my course book and then later, make dinner for my gorgeous wife...

Cream tea

Well I had another interview – it went really well (especially my presentation) but of course I won’t know how well for a couple of days! All I can say with certainty is that I did my very best and they seemed to like me, but then I did my very best and they seemed to like me at the Falmouth interview also, and we know how that ended up!

The interview was down in Hampshire and afterwards, realising how near I was to the New Forest, I decided to go for a little drive to really make the most of the day and it was a very good decision! The weather was a bit rubbish but the Forest is one of my favourite places (I used to live very near). I ended up in Burley and had a cream tea and did a bit of shopping before reluctantly getting back in the car and heading back home.

I got a lovely welcome from my partner and the dog who seemed to think that regardless of the outcome of the interview I was still a bit of a super star!

I haven’t been sleeping well because of everything that’s happening and last night was no exception, I got 2.5 hours and everything is a struggle this morning. At least I can sleep in tomorrow which will help but I do wish there was a switch I could flick to stop my mind racing along and keeping me up till all hours…

This evening I am having a suit fitting. I’m having a bespoke suit made for the wedding which I’m very excited about. It’s very decadent because bespoke costs an arm and a leg (actually you would need bespoke if you didn’t have an arm and a leg I guess…) I’ve got the shoes, and will also have a nice white shirt made as well and that’s me all gussied up and dandy.

Anyway, I don’t seem to have achieved much this morning so I shall need to crack on… before I drop off…

I still don't know...

The drive down to Plymouth was good – no traffic and I arrived at 4.45pm. I’d bought some champagne because I thought whether or not I got the job I was being interviewed for the following day, it was worth celebrating that I had got this far!

I actually slept that night. It could have been the champagne, or it could have been because I had been up since 3am and had done a morning of work and then a five hour drive!

I didn’t really hang around the next morning, the girls had already left for work and I was out of the house by 8am. Lunch (followed by the actual interview) started at 12 noon, the drive was approx 2 hours, but in the meantime I wanted to check Falmouth out. It’s a lovely place, lots of interesting shops and cafes... I actually ended up parking somewhere quiet and letting my mind drift so that I felt more relaxed at the interview.

There were three of us being interviewed, myself and two blokes, and after a light lunch where we meet the interviewers who all seemed genuinely nice, and the principal who also seemed really nice, there was a bit of wait before my interview and then I was called in!

I did really well. In fact if I had the chance to do it all over again, with the exception of the nerves and I would have liked to have been a bit more succinct on a few questions, I wouldn’t change much else. My presentation was well researched and interesting and the one thing I think that really came across was how passionate I am about Cornwall and wanting this job...

We were told that we would hear on Friday. Thursday crawled by, Friday crawled by and eventually I called HR at about 5.15pm. It seems a decision has yet to be made! They told us they were making a decision straight after the interviews, but it seems we have a split jury and I THINK it’s between me and another candidate, we’ll call him Mr Slick. I am a slightly less obvious choice for marketing and PR because I’m not slick and polished. But I do have an uncanny ability to market things extraordinarily well and my communication skills are second to none. The other guy looked like he could schmooze. I mean, really schmooze. And he currently works for a university so comes from the relevant background. This is all supposition of course (or maybe even wild fantasy!) but I suspect the battle is between him (safe choice, less creative) and me (slightly unconventional but more creative and passionate and with a good track record). Of course I could be barking up the wrong tree and they could be deciding between the two other candidates! But really, the other bloke was just weird.

Monday cannot come soon enough!

But honestly, I won’t be surprised if I get it, but I won’t be surprised if I don’t get it. I think it’s too close to call. What I can tell you though, is that I am proud of myself and what I’ve achieved thus far. I did my best and I think my honestly and passion shone through. Let’s hope it’s enough, but if not...onwards and upwards, always onwards and bloody upwards!

I came home to a letter. Another job interview! I laughed my head off. I have sent off three job applications and received three interview requests! The first job if you recall was to get me back into the swing of applications and interviews. Really weird company though. I think I blogged about this, the staff were all grey and looked like the life had been sucked from them. I decided before the interview even started I couldn’t work here. I just had this strange instinct that it really wasn’t for me. It would have been like giving a child with ADHD some orange squash and a drum and shoving them into a library filled with people suffering from acute nervousness. So I just got through the interview as quickly and as efficiently as I could.

Of course on Monday, there is the small matter of a house auction in Cornwall that we will be attending...

We’re driving down on Sunday to stay in Plymouth with our friends again. Such supportive and lovely friends that on my last visit they gave me a key! To be fair, we do live about 250 miles apart and this is my third visit in three weeks, lol!

Today (Saturday) we’re doing nothing. Stress levels are through the roof, so we’re tackling them from the bed. My partner is still asleep, so is the dog, even the chickens are quiet. So after typing this, I will be shutting down the laptop and trying to get a bit more sleep myself...

Night night Jon boy...

Dangly earrings are a no-no

I’m happy. Well, I’m knackered actually, but happy also. I worked like a dog yesterday on my presentation and actually think it’s pretty good! I rewarded myself by getting tipsy on pinot… today I am doing a few finishing touches, but the great thing is I haven’t re-read it with fresh eyes and thought SWEET JESUS WHAT WAS I THINKING?! I still actually think it’s pretty good…

I think I have my interview outfit sorted. Now there’s a big old mine field. I always remember reading something about top tips for job interviews years and years ago. Unfortunately, the only thing I can remember is “don’t wear dangly earrings which might distract the interviewer”. For those of you not in the know, I’ve never worn a dangly earring in my life!

The dog still has blue go faster stripes down his left flank, and in his ear, on his tail and the tip of his whiskers. He decided to lean on the chicken run before it was dry. Now not only does he act like a rebellious teenager, he also looks like one.

Tonight I need to pack and run through my presentation one more time, but after that I plan to sit in the sunshine and try and relax. If nothing else I can focus on how excited I am to be heading south west again so soon after the last time!

The weekend

Pluto is currently chasing a fly around the front room, I'm feeling refreshed after a bit of a lay-in so all is well...

I'm trying to take life a little easy because we have two very long journeys coming up next week (about 12000 miles in all), plus all the emotion and stress of an interview and trying to buy a house and then there's work etc. This weekend we're going to dinner with friends, I need to repaint the chicken house and run and work on my presentation but that's it - when I'm not doing one of the aforementioned things I will be sitting around, possibly with a beer, probably with a book, doing bugger all.

Right now I need to sort out breakfast and get on with some work. I plan to take Pluto down to the woods and we're going to dinner with my partner's bro tonight.

It's not as sunny today as it has been, so I'm keeping everything crossed for a hot, sunny weekend.

Presentation

Another gorgeous day! My commute was actually not too bad this morning. I had lots of people smiling at me, which is always nice. No one tried to crash into my car, cut me up (OK once, but if it’s less than three times in London it doesn’t count), or rear-end me.

I received a card from Royal Mail yesterday saying that I had a letter waiting for me at the sorting office that needed signing for. I couldn’t think what it was, but decided to pick it up this morning – and I’m very glad I did! It was my job interview pack from Falmouth. I need to do a presentation which I’m pleased about because I’m confident I can do a good presentation. Plus it confirmed that I really do have a job interview and it wasn’t all a pleasant and exciting dream…

We also got news that our mortgage is approved yesterday. And finally, if that isn’t enough thank you very much, my partner had a job interview yesterday and got the job!! Well done her!! (It’s a managerial position in the organisation she works for.) I was very proud and bought her some flowers to celebrate.

Can’t wait for the weekend, I think sitting in the garden with a book, the chickens, the dog and some cold beer might be on the cards… oh, and preparing a sooper dooper presentation that will get me this job!

Goddaughters and job interviews

I’m up to my bloody eyeballs in research, which isn’t easy after a weekend with a very excitable 4yr old. It’s safe to say I’m exhausted!

I’m doing research for my job interview in Cornwall and have loads of good stuff. I will get my confirmation letter this week and I may end up having to do a presentation at the interview so it’s probably a good idea I’m doing lots of research!

My partner’s goddaughter, B, stayed this weekend (with her mum) and we had a fantastic time. Yesterday we went to the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. It was great! It has lovely gardens, a pet’s corner, lots of different exhibits, interactive sessions for kids, a cafe and shop and an aquarium and it’s all free! (Well, quite rightly you are encouraged to make a donation which we were happy to do.) We stayed for hours, but that wasn’t enough, the goddaughter wanted to be taken to a park afterwards (the rest of us wanted a nap!) and then when we got home I had to watch a film with her (no opportunity to doze as she kept asking questions), then she wanted to see the chickens again and we sat in the garden for an hour engaged in a thoroughly confusing numbers game the rules of which only B knew and which kept changing anyway...

They went home today and it was sad to see them go. I was left wondering how people cope when they have children 24 hours a day 7 days a week... can you get plugged in to the mains to top up on energy?!

Now I’m looking forward to a big dinner (some days you just need a big dinner) and a big glass of wine (some days you just need a big glass of wine) and then an early night.

Really not looking forward to work tomorrow. I’m trying to remain positive – I’m hoping the wine will help ;0)

Perfect day...

We went down to Bromley registry office this morning to register our intent to get married. The registrar was lovely and apart from the £60 price tag, the whole experience was very pleasant. And then I get a call from a job I really, really want telling me I’ve been shortlisted and can I attend an interview in 2 weeks time!? Er, yes!

What a day...

Now I’m just hoping Ken gets back in as Mayor and it will be damn near perfect!

Chickens, singing lessons and a new job?

Last night I had my first singing lesson! It was fun and instructive. I have, apparently, a good ear and a nice tone. Get me! Although it is difficult after only an hour, and then only doing exercises, for a teacher to judge how good the voice is. I have exercises to do and I need to breath deeper. As an asthmatic my breathing is quite shallow and I need to breathe deeper, to give my voice better range and power. I’m a deep alto… in case you were wondering…

And then today I went for my job interview. I will find out at the end of next week whether I shall be called for a 2nd interview. I think it went quite well, but it’s so difficult to judge. I waffled on some questions and was bang on with others but as I haven’t done an interview in over 3 years I was pleased with my effort. The people that interviewed me seemed quite nice, but the staff were a little glum – no eye contact or smiles, which seemed odd.

We think we might be buying a chicken coop this weekend! How exciting! (I forgive you if you’re not excited – keeping chickens is not everyone’s idea of fun.)

It’s been a strange and exciting week so far and it’s only Tuesday!

What to do, what to do?!

Another big project on the horizon… I had a good but very technical website meeting this morning. The technical bits made my head hurt but we made a lot of progress. And I actually felt good about work for the first time in a while, so I was put in something of a spin to get an email asking me to attend a job interview! It would be a step up, slightly more money and is a very interesting prospect. There’s so much to consider that I’ve decided to consider none of it and just take one step at a time. After all an interview is not a job offer.

We had a friend over for dinner last night. We haven’t seen her in an age so it was wonderful to catch up over beer and good food – courtesy of the missus, although I will point out I chopped the onions, tomatoes and cauliflower. Our friend bought us honey vodka from New Zealand (she can come again) which I’m very excited about. Apparently it’s award-winning and there is a passion fruit and a kiwi variety too. Good enough to eat, well, drink…

What made us puff up with pride was she noticed how much calmer Pluto was, and how much more ‘in control’ he seemed to be. We are working hard on this aspect of his behaviour and to have it noticed made us feel good. Especially as I can’t exactly go into people’s homes offering to help them and their dogs if my own is a lunatic!

I realised last night that next weekend is Easter bank holiday so we have the Friday and Monday off, plus I get what is called a recess day (a local government thing I think. Because we are unable to receive financial bonuses we are given extra annual leave). I’m not sure what we’ll do; we went camping in the New Forest last year and had an absolutely fantastic time. We briefly flirted with the idea of going camping again but have decided to stick closer to home. Maybe a combination of day trips, lazy days and chocolate!?