Ok, well let's start this post with the bad news, which is that I didn't even get an interview to the Brits School job. 70 people applied for it and, like Dorking Halls, among the candidates were previous box office/theatre managers; just my luck. To make things worse, I also lost my quarter finals men's doubles match at my badminton club. Except for a few wayward serves, I doubt I could've played any better than I did on the night.
It doesn't get much better this week, sadly. A work colleague has taken the entire week off sick on compassionate leave, and I've plugged every available gap to the tune of 56 hours. I write this as I have just got through my front door after 35 consecutive hours of work. With shifts finishing at 10pm and having to be back at the office by 8am the following morning, there just isn't time to socialise in between and find that oh-so-elusive female company, which is a shame as that's obviously one key component of evolving and developing my pathetic life. It's all I can manage to make dinner, eat, glance at the news, and collapse into bed.
Perhaps it's time I tried Prozac, or as they call it in the industry, "artificial happy"?
Friday, 27 February 2009
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
like a human resource
Deploy me as you see fit.
Give me a number instead of a name.
He is employee [ ] with password [ ] at store [ ] with NI no. [ ]
Electronic resources: the internet. online libraries. email interviews.
Human resources: people. in cattle grids.
Making bleating noises and such. Over and over.
I'm a PERSON. not a human resource.
Give me a number instead of a name.
He is employee [ ] with password [ ] at store [ ] with NI no. [ ]
Electronic resources: the internet. online libraries. email interviews.
Human resources: people. in cattle grids.
Making bleating noises and such. Over and over.
I'm a PERSON. not a human resource.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
continuum
Whilst sitting in my room with nothing better to do and nobody to be around, I dug this up from my blog archives: the following was written five years ago to the day.
"I hate today. The worst thing about it is how bad it makes you feel when you see all the smug happy couples out around town."
Isn't it bizarrely fascinating to conclude that I personally feel no different towards Valentine's Day now than I did when I was 19? Or does it just mean that I remain the eternal sociopath? Perhaps, in time, the unthinkable may happen and my world view may alter unrecognisably. But in the meantime, it seems that solitude is here to stay.
"I hate today. The worst thing about it is how bad it makes you feel when you see all the smug happy couples out around town."
Isn't it bizarrely fascinating to conclude that I personally feel no different towards Valentine's Day now than I did when I was 19? Or does it just mean that I remain the eternal sociopath? Perhaps, in time, the unthinkable may happen and my world view may alter unrecognisably. But in the meantime, it seems that solitude is here to stay.
Friday, 13 February 2009
no news is good news?
As far as my application to the BRITS school goes, it certainly seems that no news may be good news. Like most other companies at this time of year, they have had to contend with a larger-than-normal amount of staff sickness, which means that nobody at their end has sifted through all the applications. I may not have an interview offer, but I haven't been outright rejected either.
However, news regarding the band is extremely heartening. Rehearsal went very well today; I definitely think today was one of our better rehearsals. As you may already know from glancing at my Facebook page, we will be playing a short set at the Cricketers pub in Kingston on the 20th February, at approximately 8.30pm. (Hint: Navigate to my Myspace page, look up the 'Upcoming Shows' to find a little surprise!)
We will then follow up our little stint at the Cricketers with an entry to the Battle of the Bands contest, to be held at the Kingston Hill campus of Kingston University. Bands are required to play three original songs. The first song we will play is Beseechingly, written by me. The second song is .... shhh, it’s a secret. The final song is written by our wonderful talented singer Dee McGruddy. Cross your fingers for us! There will be a music industry expert in attendance. First prize is £400 to spend on band gear and the promise of headlining more local gigs.
However, news regarding the band is extremely heartening. Rehearsal went very well today; I definitely think today was one of our better rehearsals. As you may already know from glancing at my Facebook page, we will be playing a short set at the Cricketers pub in Kingston on the 20th February, at approximately 8.30pm. (Hint: Navigate to my Myspace page, look up the 'Upcoming Shows' to find a little surprise!)
We will then follow up our little stint at the Cricketers with an entry to the Battle of the Bands contest, to be held at the Kingston Hill campus of Kingston University. Bands are required to play three original songs. The first song we will play is Beseechingly, written by me. The second song is .... shhh, it’s a secret. The final song is written by our wonderful talented singer Dee McGruddy. Cross your fingers for us! There will be a music industry expert in attendance. First prize is £400 to spend on band gear and the promise of headlining more local gigs.
Friday, 6 February 2009
stupefaction
Hi all. This is a real spur-of-the-moment thing, as I thought it was high time I actually wrote something engaging.
How the hell is it February already? Seems that January has roared on by, in my usual alcohol/work/sleep combination. I'm in perfect sync with the rest of the nation's workforce - chained to a job by the need to meet rent and the usual multitude of bills. Pay something off and something else will undoubtedly spring up in its place.
I'm on 58 hours this week, as the manageress is on holiday and I have to cover. There's this inescapable feeling that I should be doing something better, something altogether more purposeful with my life. Unfortunately, this is the worst possible time to try and find alternative employment, because the
unemployment count is nearing 3 million. Nobody is recruiting new blood.
Money is the perennial problem; I know it's tricky for everyone to manage at the moment. It just seems that if I'm not working, I'm probably (a) sleeping, (b) staying at home, (c) watching tv or (d) on the computer. I don't have nearly as much spare money as I would need to go out and enjoy myself a bit more. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year so I suppose that would be the first one.
When you get into the vicious retail cycle, you end up praying that there's some light at the end of the tunnel - because all those long hours combined with low disposable income ultimately mean there's hardly any time to go out even for a social drink. Sometimes I finish work at..10pm..- by the
time I get home, shower, change, and head back out it will be almost..11pm...This makes it almost impossible to socialise or dare I say find female company.
I guess I should be grateful that, unlike an increasing number of the population, I still have a full time job. Yes, it may be below average earnings, but it's still something. The obvious depressing counterpoint is that it will take months, if not years, to find something I would actually enjoying
doing that simultaneously pays well. Truth be known, I've had enough of retail. Nobody should ever have to do it for more than 5 years, and I've already done it for 7, albeit on and off.
In an effort to be more positive and end these posts in a more upbeat manner, I'm going to try identify some silver linings:
1. Holding a managerial job for this length of time will probably look good on a CV when the right job does come along.
2. House is soon going to be syndicated on Channel 5.
3. This month's paycheck will be very good, because of all the hours I've worked. (Shame it will still go on bills!)
4. I am free to move out of my current houseshare at the end of June - this will probably be the subject of a later post.
5. If this government ever get back in at the next election, I'm emigrating.
Parting advice: wrap up warm, the forecast is for more snow over the weekend.
How the hell is it February already? Seems that January has roared on by, in my usual alcohol/work/sleep combination. I'm in perfect sync with the rest of the nation's workforce - chained to a job by the need to meet rent and the usual multitude of bills. Pay something off and something else will undoubtedly spring up in its place.
I'm on 58 hours this week, as the manageress is on holiday and I have to cover. There's this inescapable feeling that I should be doing something better, something altogether more purposeful with my life. Unfortunately, this is the worst possible time to try and find alternative employment, because the
unemployment count is nearing 3 million. Nobody is recruiting new blood.
Money is the perennial problem; I know it's tricky for everyone to manage at the moment. It just seems that if I'm not working, I'm probably (a) sleeping, (b) staying at home, (c) watching tv or (d) on the computer. I don't have nearly as much spare money as I would need to go out and enjoy myself a bit more. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year so I suppose that would be the first one.
When you get into the vicious retail cycle, you end up praying that there's some light at the end of the tunnel - because all those long hours combined with low disposable income ultimately mean there's hardly any time to go out even for a social drink. Sometimes I finish work at..10pm..- by the
time I get home, shower, change, and head back out it will be almost..11pm...This makes it almost impossible to socialise or dare I say find female company.
I guess I should be grateful that, unlike an increasing number of the population, I still have a full time job. Yes, it may be below average earnings, but it's still something. The obvious depressing counterpoint is that it will take months, if not years, to find something I would actually enjoying
doing that simultaneously pays well. Truth be known, I've had enough of retail. Nobody should ever have to do it for more than 5 years, and I've already done it for 7, albeit on and off.
In an effort to be more positive and end these posts in a more upbeat manner, I'm going to try identify some silver linings:
1. Holding a managerial job for this length of time will probably look good on a CV when the right job does come along.
2. House is soon going to be syndicated on Channel 5.
3. This month's paycheck will be very good, because of all the hours I've worked. (Shame it will still go on bills!)
4. I am free to move out of my current houseshare at the end of June - this will probably be the subject of a later post.
5. If this government ever get back in at the next election, I'm emigrating.
Parting advice: wrap up warm, the forecast is for more snow over the weekend.
these are the days
Hi all. This is a real spur-of-the-moment thing, as I thought it was high time I actually wrote something engaging, rather than merely copy and paste a memento from another wild late-night poker session.
How the hell is it February already? Seems that January has roared on by, in my usual alcohol/work/sleep combination. I'm in perfect sync with the rest of the nation's workforce - chained to a job by the need to meet rent and the usual multitude of bills. Pay something off and something else will undoubtedly spring up in its place.
I'm on 58 hours this week, as the manageress is on holiday and I have to cover. There's this inescapable feeling that I should be doing something better, something altogether more purposeful with my life. Unfortunately, this is the worst possible time to try and find alternative employment, because the unemployment count is nearing 3 million. Nobody is recruiting new blood.
Money is the perennial problem; I know it's tricky for everyone to manage at the moment. It just seems that if I'm not working, I'm probably (a) sleeping, (b) staying at home, (c) watching tv or (d) on the computer. I don't have nearly as much spare money as I would need to go out and enjoy myself a bit more. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year so I suppose that would be the first one.
When you get into the vicious retail cycle, you end up praying that there's some light at the end of the tunnel - because all those long hours combined with low disposable income ultimately mean there's hardly any time to go out even for a social drink. Sometimes I finish work at 10pm - by the time I get home, shower, change, and head back out it will be almost 11pm. This makes it almost impossible to socialise or dare I say find female company.
I guess I should be grateful that, unlike an increasing number of the population, I still have a full time job. Yes, it may be below average earnings, but it's still something. The obvious depressing counterpoint is that it will take months, if not years, to find something I would actually enjoying doing that simultaneously pays well. Truth be known, I've had enough of retail. Nobody should ever have to do it for more than 5 years, and I've already done it for 7, albeit on and off.
In an effort to be more positive and end these posts in a more upbeat manner, I'm going to try identify some silver linings:
1. Holding a managerial job for this length of time will probably look good on a CV when the right job does come along.
2. House is soon going to be syndicated on Channel 5.
3. This month's paycheck will be very good, because of all the hours I've worked. (Shame it will still go on bills!)
4. I am free to move out of my current houseshare at the end of June - this will probably be the subject of a later post.
5. If this government ever get back in at the next election, I'm emigrating.
Parting advice: wrap up warm, the forecast is for more snow over the weekend.
How the hell is it February already? Seems that January has roared on by, in my usual alcohol/work/sleep combination. I'm in perfect sync with the rest of the nation's workforce - chained to a job by the need to meet rent and the usual multitude of bills. Pay something off and something else will undoubtedly spring up in its place.
I'm on 58 hours this week, as the manageress is on holiday and I have to cover. There's this inescapable feeling that I should be doing something better, something altogether more purposeful with my life. Unfortunately, this is the worst possible time to try and find alternative employment, because the unemployment count is nearing 3 million. Nobody is recruiting new blood.
Money is the perennial problem; I know it's tricky for everyone to manage at the moment. It just seems that if I'm not working, I'm probably (a) sleeping, (b) staying at home, (c) watching tv or (d) on the computer. I don't have nearly as much spare money as I would need to go out and enjoy myself a bit more. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year so I suppose that would be the first one.
When you get into the vicious retail cycle, you end up praying that there's some light at the end of the tunnel - because all those long hours combined with low disposable income ultimately mean there's hardly any time to go out even for a social drink. Sometimes I finish work at 10pm - by the time I get home, shower, change, and head back out it will be almost 11pm. This makes it almost impossible to socialise or dare I say find female company.
I guess I should be grateful that, unlike an increasing number of the population, I still have a full time job. Yes, it may be below average earnings, but it's still something. The obvious depressing counterpoint is that it will take months, if not years, to find something I would actually enjoying doing that simultaneously pays well. Truth be known, I've had enough of retail. Nobody should ever have to do it for more than 5 years, and I've already done it for 7, albeit on and off.
In an effort to be more positive and end these posts in a more upbeat manner, I'm going to try identify some silver linings:
1. Holding a managerial job for this length of time will probably look good on a CV when the right job does come along.
2. House is soon going to be syndicated on Channel 5.
3. This month's paycheck will be very good, because of all the hours I've worked. (Shame it will still go on bills!)
4. I am free to move out of my current houseshare at the end of June - this will probably be the subject of a later post.
5. If this government ever get back in at the next election, I'm emigrating.
Parting advice: wrap up warm, the forecast is for more snow over the weekend.
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