Interview preperation and a grandfather clock...

It’s been a stressful day and I’ve spent a fortune in Staples. Oh, and the Sky remote isn’t working either!

It’s the last day before my interview and I did my interview prep with a friend yesterday evening (I was terrible but it was really useful and helped loads). I finished off my presentation this morning and am now just doing some research. When I do a presentation, I always do extra copies to leave with the interview panel so they can go over the presentation afterwards. So I popped along to Staples this morning to get some nice presentation folders and some more paper because to run out of paper would have been a small disaster! I looked at ink cartridges but we had bought ink very recently and so I moved on...

That was until I got back home, realised I did indeed need to change the ink cartridge and couldn’t find where we put the new ones. Two phone calls to my partner with no response and I realise (a) she’s in a meeting and (b) I was wasting time and just had to get back in the car and go to Staples. Again. This time I also bought a few other bits.

I got back in time to meet the delivery men who had brought the grandfather clock, that we have inherited from my partner’s grandfather (funnily enough), up from Hove. Luckily they put it back together quickly and efficiently and then it was off out again this time with the dogs who were demanding to know what the hell had happened to their morning walk. The walk was nice – someone had a bonfire and it smelt lovely – and I began to calm down. The dogs ran around like lunatics and now we’re all back home on the sofa with two thirds of us asleep, one third of us snoring, and a remote control that refuses to do what it’s told. I also have a pile of research (thicker than most novels) I need to get through, preferably before my partner gets home because I need to also do a huge – and I do mean huge – pile of washing up. Put it this way, I had to make my coffee with a chopstick this morning and that’s not an easy thing to do...

I also need to eat at some point, pack a bag and maybe even try to fit in some rest and relaxation. Although there seems to be fat chance of that so far!

Update on Pluto and the vet

Just a quick update because I’m up to my nipples in fishermen and dog psychology – don’t ask – but I realise I left my last entry on a cliffhanger. Pluto went to the vet and he’s absolutely fine! In fact he’s lost 3.5kg (which is a good thing because as a chunky breed – or breeds – he needs his weight lept in check).

Dogs do sometimes lose nails, it can be a little sore but as a rule, if the area is dry and free of blood and yuck, if the dog isn’t limping and he or she seems in fine spirits, you keep a close eye but let nature takes its course. But of course, that fine and sensible advice goes right out of the window when it’s your own beloved pooch...

Pluto loves going to the vet and they seem to love seeing him. I guess if you get animals that are pissed off and anxious about being there day in day out, being treated like a long lost family member cheers you up. So P bounded in full of the joys and I lifted his heavy old ass onto the treatment table. He didn’t like his paw being examined particularly but was very good and definitely earned the treats the vet gave him. Yes the nail is broken, but really, it’s nothing to worry about. To justify the £17 for 4 minutes of the vet’s time, he also weighed Pluto and that’s when we discovered he’s lost some puppy fat. So all in all, a good visit: I didn’t need a small unsecured loan to pay for it and Pluto is absolutely fine.

We did nothing yesterday, we’re both a bit under the weather (my partner more so) and tired and so we slept and mooched. I did a bit of ironing and polished the shoes I’m wearing for my interview and finished off the photos I did for my photo shoot on Thursday evening (which went really well). And then we cooked a nice meal and watched Run Fat Boy, Run in the evening, which was hysterically funny! Today I’m working on my presentation and doing a bit of dog psychology homework, but I’m hoping my partner will be making pancakes shortly to keep me creatively fuelled!

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!

Working for a living

It's Sunday and I've been working in the garden since 8.30am. I've had to come in now because both me and the laptop are over heating.

This presentation is killing me. It doesn't help I really, really want the job as well!

Back to it I suppose, let's hope it's all worth it.

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!