Monday 28 November 2005

Christmas, Jobs and Family History.
I have managed to buy most of my Christmas presents already. So I should have beaten that mad rush of people with any luck. It was bad enough going to the shopping centre last Saturday!

The job search goes on. No new interviews, a couple companies have received my CV. Other than that, no news. After Christmas I shall get a job. I haven't decided what type of company, but I doubt it will be relevant and/or useful experience.

As for family history, I'm on 560-ish people. I have cracked my Mom's "brick wall", and I have traced the company we thought an ancestor had set up. I'm learning much about the family from a couple of contacts I've made. Kind of takes the pressure off me if you know what I mean.

It has just started snowing.

Monday 21 November 2005

Awards 2005
I. Was. There.

In a magnificent town hall, surrounded by my fellow former students, surrounded themselves by proud friends and family, all facing the front of the hall where, beneath an amazing organ, sat the upper echilon of the University joined by some of our former lecturers.

Outside it was a crisp and sunny autumnal Yorkshire morning. You could see your breath but the sun soon warmed up the black gown and dark suit. Not that I or, for that matter, anybody else noticed the weather.

We had had to wait since June for this day - the weather didn't come into it.

With only the slightest twinge of nerves I stood up from where I had been sat and walked toward the stage. When I heard my name called out it was like hearing it for the first time - it didn't sound whiny or small, it sounded proud and distinguished. I had never ever thought my name would sound as good as it did that day.


Our time on stage was brief, but for me it felt like returning to an old home. Our Chancellor put us all at ease as we, one by one, walked across the stage, shook hands and departed the stage. All that preparation for such a brief moment. But what a moment.

Then, after the honorary awards and Chancellors speech, it was all over. Me and my audience - my parents and my former landlady - went off to have a lovely lunch. Expensive, but absolutely lovely.

We spoke of many things, including some of the impressive speeches we had heard. I conlcluded my business in Yorkshire and we set off on the long journey home.


I have further pictures available on my photo website. I expect that all who have been through a graduation ceremony will have felt the same as I did. There was even a strange sort of respect from the public. Oh I got stared at, but I felt nothing but pride and accomplishment. I was suprised when two passer-by's both said well done to me. Even if one person did then add "whatever all you lot in funny hats have done".

Wednesday 9 November 2005

Image from RedDwarf.co.uk Red Dwarf, Job Interview and Stuff.
Well I've wathced everything but the episodes with commentaries switched on. Great DVD - well worth whatever I paid for it.

In fact, I have an ammusing story to tell...

Let me take you back to Monday morning. I was lying in bed (in that state where you're just waking up) when the phone rang. I answered and it was a recruitment consultant who wanted to offer me an interview. He asked me to customise my CV and send it to him. So I did that and then settled down to watch my brand new Red Dwarf DVD that had arrived that morning.

I started watching and then people wanted to intermittently talk to me about food, family history, TV and various other things. So I get all that out the way and sit back down to watch the DVD (I was on the second disc by now). Then the phone rings - it's that consultant wanting more detail. So I take just under an hour to quickly edit my CV again. Then send that off and get back to watching the DVD.

About an hour after that (this is about 17:00hrs ) I get another call from the consultant - I have an interview booked for 4pm the following day. In Reading. So, halfway through the fan-films, I rush off to buy a new suit (it costed £175). I get back, have some tea (it's now nearing 20:00hrs) and finish watching the fan films before going to bed.

Not that I slept well in bed, I was too excited. I had a plan: Get up 08:45, have hair cut at 09:15, iron shirt and set off by 10:00 to allow a good 4 hour journey time in case of bad traffic. Well I got up on time, got my hair cut, but didn't set off until 11:00.

I had a good journey - little traffic and I made good time. I got there at about 14:00, so I had some lunch, put the radio on in my car and waited for 2 hours until it was time for the interview.

The interview lasted 20 minutes.

To be fair, the interviewer tried to take me seriously. The veil slipped a couple times, but he tried - and that's the point surely? After a brief chat - that he found more awkward than me - I sat a brief test. The test was on a subject matter that was far more advanced than what I had ever had to use. You can imagine what was going through my head at this point. So we ended the interview - he didn't need to be quite so, er, fatherly (it wasn't quite being patronising because he seemed genuine).

So I returned some calls that I had received during the day about other job opportunities and tried to ring the consultant who had put me forward for this position. I think he may have been avoiding me. I left a message on his voicemail that was polite with a hint of annoyance and a speck of sarcasm.

So I started back home. It was now nearly rush hour. And now it was raining heavily. I stopped at a service station along the way for tea. I felt pretty bad by this point so I wasn't my normal friendly self. I smiled at someone who looked how I felt; they smiled back but probably thought I was a weirdo.

I finally got home at about 20:30. I caught up with a letter I had received regarding family history (which was very interesting), watched a bit of disc 3 of Red Dwarf, watched Stargate then went to bed.

What a couple of days!

Sunday 6 November 2005

Himley Hall Fireworks and Bonfire

This is where I went last night. It was absolutely brilliant. I don't know the exact number, but somewhere between 25,000 and 50,000 people went.

The theme was War of the Worlds. They had extracts of the musical arrangement and the fireworks tied in with what was happening in the story. There was even a big 'alien tripod' that housed a laser and searchlight that really added to the show.

The bonfire was pretty incredible in itself. It was a mock-up of the current Houses of Parliament, with the guy leaning against the clock tower. When the bonifre was lit, there were modest fireworks set off actually on the bonfire itself. There was even a Catherine wheel where the clock face should have been.

Aside from this, there was a big fair (I didn't go on that, though I did have bite to eat) and Beacon Radio were there to provide some entertainment to us people who got there nice and early. I have to say that most of the acts were a little on the crap side, but that didn't stop them and the presenters trying their best so it's a shame they only got one or two people involved. That said, there was this one young lad who actually had some singing talent - not suprising then that he got a couple hundred people applauding and cheering. Well done whoever you were!

At the end I expected horrendous traffic and a crush of people leaving Himley Hall. But this was not the case. Yes it was a bit crushed at times but cars seemed to be flowing fine - making slow but steady progress. I did notice that a lot of cars had lost their wing mirrors where people had been walking though.

Food and rides were pricey - but you'd expect that wouldn't you? But the entrance fee was only £6 adults, £3 concessions and I think it was orphans that went for free (some group went for free). Compare that to a smaller fireowrk display I went to on Friday that charged £5 and the fireworks only lasted 20 minutes (not allowing for the long pauses).

So, in conclusion, a fantastic night out that has most definately left me satisified. After all, I have had to wait for 4 years for this.

Thursday 3 November 2005


This is good news. Though it isn't actually released until the 7th, and it shouldn't arrive before, there is still hope.

Wednesday 2 November 2005

Yeah Baby! I can do pictures! This one is from my game. That will be all I've done today. No family history (at 490 relatives) and no job hunting. Though I did still manage to be turned down for a job?!

How I did that I DON'T know!

Sister changed the channel on the digibox so stargate didn't tape. Not to worry though as it repeats on Saturday. Hardly the biggest thing happening in the world though eh?

I'm having tuna and pasta bake for tea tonight. Just as soon as I can be bothered to go into the kitchen, pout a new binbag in the bin, tidy the kitchen up and then start tea. I'll do it after Futurama.

Tuesday 1 November 2005

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:
7.4
Mind:
7.4
Body:
8.2
Spirit:
7.3
Friends/Family:
3.8
Love:
7.7
Finance:
7.4
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

What a difference a weekend makes.

From the above graph, I would've thought spirit would be higher. The whole thing is interesting none the less. I got the link from Shaz over on LJ.

Well I think I should mention the family history research seeing as I don't intend to do any job hunting today and I didn't do any yesterday. On Sunday I was suddenly given a mammoth task: 150 new relatives to enter into my family tree. Mum and Dad are going to get a shock when they come back from holiday. I've advanced both their efforts and filled in the trees for distant cousins (not that the latter interests Mum or Dad).

I've entered all of my Dad's tree, and am part way through Mum's. Mum's folder is a little less organised than Dad's so it takes a little longer - but I'll get there. So, I reckon I can break the 500 relatives mark by the end of the week (that's 500 relatives held in the family tree).

Waking the Dead has finished. Spooks has two episodes left. Good job the two Stargate series have started else I'd have nothing to watch. 6 days until RD VII DVD is out - but look at this.