Car Wash Day.
Yesterday I thought to myself "I know, I'll wash my car tomorrow morning". Well up I get at 09:00 and guess what? The bloke up the road is washing his silver car.

So I have my breakfast (porridge if you're interested) and get the hosepipe out and fill a bucket with soapy water and get on with washing my lovely green car.

Lately I've noticed a funny smell - somewhat like the smell of the bloke who fixed my car recently. So I have taken the seat covers off and am at this moment washing them.

Well I just went outside to get some photo's for todays blog and guess what I see? Another neighbour washing his silver car (pictured). His drive is somewhat nicer than ours (as is his car) so I took a photo of him.

Some might say that such a photo is voyeurism. I would say that you can't tell who he is and I gained no pleasure from taking the photo. Though I did laugh when I thought he was hiding from me.

Anyway, I've still got to hoover my car and clean the windows. Shouldn't take too long, but I'll wait until after dinner. I think I shall have ham sandwiches today with a pork pie on the side. Large glass of vimto and lemonade and I'm sorted.

I watched Question Time last night. It was an edition from Moscow and was being broadcast on BBC World. It's worth a watch (and you can watch it again online for the next week) mainly because there was quite a debate to be had. As with all Question Time's, they never last long enough. Well, the good one's don't last long enough - the ones where people are actually passionate about their subject matter.

In the absence of any job news or anything else quite frankly, I shall tell you about my dream last night...

My dream was set in a mansion that was once the childhood home of some bloke. I was a journalist or something similar and followed him as he returned to the place he grew up. I must have been making a documentary or something.

The bloke got very excited when he noticed a hidden door was still there and he ran, with me and the homeowner, down a secret corridor into a room that seemed like time had forgotten it. He was so happy because he had had to leave in a hurry and hadn't taken lots of stuff that he now wished he had. And it was all in this room.

Well after all that excitement, I needed the loo so I went off and somehow ended up upstairs in my Nan's house using her bathroom.

Well, I'm off to make me butties. Have fun today won't you, whatever you're doing, wherever you are. It's Friday and that means that time for relaxing can (and should) be made. Take care.

Good News or Enjoy It While It Lasts.
Hello there. I'm pleased to report that yesterday's interview went well. Sounds like a fun job. Stressful, but fun. I have to wait a week or so to hear back from them.

So, next week I have an interview on Tuesday. While I was out I got a call regarding an interview on 10th/11th April.

So last night I enjoyed the confident, successful feeling that seldom shows its face these days (that's not to say I don't feel happy - after a 30 mile bike ride; I feel damn proud of myself). I went to a pub with Trace and had a nice meal of scampi and chips.

When I got home later I watched the latest episode of Battlestar Gallactica (yes, I thought it had finished, but it hasn't - blame Sky). I then went to bed and watched Green Wing and then Ghost Squad before falling inot a gentle slumber. I slept well until my lovely sister woke me up asking me for money. Like I'll have any money - she's the one who works!

Have I mentioned that I've bought a new computer game? It's upstairs and I'm buggered if I can remember the name, but I'll get a link for you should you get that bored.

You know what, just as I was giving up hope, up come 4 interviews in quick succession. There's a lesson here - it goes something along the lines of "keep trying".

I'm sure there's loads more I could say; but my teeth need brushing, I feel like playing games and I want to read some other blogs. Oh, and I have trapped wind, but you don't need to know that.

TTFN

[none]

Just to let you know, Ill be fine. Tomorrow Ill focus
and suddenly regain my confidence and all will go
well. Until they ask me if i have any questions. Every
time, without fail, most of my questions have already
been answered. Just how nosey am i expected to be?!

Right, ill switch me phone off and get some kip. Night
all. Hope things are going well your end.

__________________________________________________
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[none]

Hello. A message from my mobile this evening. I dont
do this very often cos it takes ages to set up.
Anyway, to my point...

I have another informal interview tomorrow afternoon.
Im currently lying on a bed, watching a documentary
about kids who dont try when theyre at school. Its got
me feeling nervous and guilty. Im questioning whether
im really trying as hard as i could; asking myself
what more i can do. Then wondering why im doing all of
this half heartedly.

This keeps happening you know.

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Persistence.
It takes a special type of person to keep fighting the wind. Day in, day out. Pushing onward against a relentless storm.

That aint'nt me - I'm just too stubborn to move.

38 CV's (pictured) going out tomorrow. I went to a shop the other day to buy my stamps and I emptied two tills of their stamp supply. The lass serving me was completely unphased, I was impressed. It's not every day you get asked for 54 stamps.

My informal interview went well. Still no word on those other two though. I haven't emailed them today like I was going to. I don't know if I want to - where is the line between me showing an interest and them making me interested in joining them? I have to try a bit more - I've barely scratched the surface of effort.

Oh, I hear back in a couple weeks from the interview as to whether there could be a job for me or not.

No personal, family history or other news from me I'm afraid. Mainly cos there isn't any news of the former types. I'll be going to bed shortly. I suggest you do the same. It's cold out and the commonwealth games will be repeated during the day.

Night all.

Interview Eve.
No, not some lass by the name of Eve - I mean it's the day before an interview. I'm not going about any particular role - more to have a look round and see if there's anything for me.

So I've not been able to do any specific research of the company. Sure, I've read about what they do and I know how big they are and I know what sort of role I'd like at the company.

Other than that, I've not done anywhere near as much as I should have. I've got what I want to say sorted in my head, but I haven't rehearsed much. I'll only change what I'm saying to fit the situation anyway.

I went for a reccy today. Went up to where the interview will be held and also drove around their other sites too. So I have a plan for tomorrow morning - I'll need to get up before 08:00 which shouldn't be a problem as I've been waking up at 08:22 each morning anyway.

I'm not that nervous - a few butterflies but all I have to remember is how well my last interview went. The only thing bugging me is that it's not a job I could walk straight into - I would need a short perios to get up to speed. However - isn't that the same with all first jobs? I come pre-programmed with an overview of my field and it is industry where I will specialise and look at a specific subject in detail?

I've not sent out any more CV's and I've not been out cycling. Weather is nasty out , so there's my excuse. I have now had 10 replies; 3 of which were hopeful. Talking of those three, I have no new news regarding the informal interviews I've been invited to. One company is acting quite odd in my opinion. The other hasn't called me yet so I will call them on Monday. I have one application going through an agency which I should hear back about next week.

You know, I never envisaged that after leaving Uni I would have to apply to so many companies. I have days when I wonder why I am bothering. But I always pull myself up and keep trying. It is common sense that if I keep going to interviews and dealing with companies then I will gain experience in selling myself. So over time I will improve to the point where I eventually find a company willing to take me on.

It's coming up to a year since I last did anything electronics related. My knowledge is getting rusty and my cognitive competence has been steadily decreasing despite my best efforts to keep my brain ticking over.

Some members of my family ask why I haven't got a part time job yet. My answer is simple; if I get a part time job I wil still be in the same position I am in now. The only difference will be that I have extra commitments. I couldn't earn enough on a part time basis to support myself and so to my mind a part time job is pointless. If I were to get any old job I would want to do it full time, support myself and make a career for myself in that job.

The obvious answer to this is that earning some money is better than earning no money. But I do believe that my being immediately available is a strong selling point that gives me an edge over other applicants. I don't see how working part time for Sainsburys is going to add to my appeal.

So the search goes on, I still play Sudoku and chess to keep my brain warm and I just scrounge off my parents. What a life.

Grrrr...
I hate being fobbed off.

So last Friday I got a phone call. Told to organise a date for an informal interview on Monday. Got a call Saturday, telling me to do the same.

So Monday I call the companies back. One, at time of writing, is busy - I'll try later. The other, and bear in mind I spoke to a different person this time, just wanted me off the phone as quick as possible.

I didn't give up without a fight though - managing to finally get a half decent response out of her. She will be pestered over the coming days. Two weeks indeed. My arse is it two weeks - lumping me in with "other" applications she can't be bothered processing. I emailed her first thing this morning and she only read it after me prompting and pointing!

I did get another call though today. A third company - interview on Friday, details in the post. Now that's more like it!

Good Morning.
It is silly o' clock and I can't be bothered finding a nice picture to go with this post.

Did 12 miles today - tackling another of the big hills of the area. Did it quite quickly - about an hour and a half, but then, apart from one or two very steep hills, it was relatively flat and I could get some speed up.

15 or so applications sent out yesterday. Today, will see 6 applications sent off. Add to that the one nice recruitment consultant *shudders at thought* and you have 7 jobs applied to in one day.

Time is all mixed up in my head. I am going to bed now. I will get up at 9, feeling groggy and dizzy. But I shall percivere (or however it's spelt). Breakfast, post CV's, bike ride, shower, dinner, applications, tea, print CV's.

I'm not trying to sound ungrateful - I enjoy being wanted in different places. It's just that I've been trying to pack quite a lot of time consuming tasks into one day. When all runs "to plan" I can get to bed before 23:00. Still, I'm two hours earlier than last night.

So, until tomorrow...

Another Busy Start to the Week.
That's right - you read correctly.

Monday I went for a 12 mile bike ride; tackling one of the largest, steepest hills in the area. Completed that in about 2 hours so I'm very pleased with myself. Even if I was nearly blue by the time I reached the summit! But I did it - no stopping either. Dead chuffed.

Well I then had a shower, like you do, then went out to buy Dad's B'day presents. I also did a little search for companies before heading over to Tracy's house to make sure she got her work done.

She did very well and I was impressed. She also was kind enough to cook me some tea, which was very well done. Especially considering that her last effort involved chips and a cremation.

Well I got to bed about midnight and had some strange dreams - one involved riding my bike in the nude. Scary.

Then Tuesday, today, came along. No bike ride as I spent the morning printing of 6 CV's for the companies I found yesterday. I then went to the library after dinner and continued looking for relevant companies. I managed to compile a shortlist of over 100 companies that I thought deserved checking out. I'm now in the process of printing out another 15 CV's.

I've missed loads of TV lately. Well, I say loads - there was Planet Earth from Sunday, Watchdog from today as well as today's Stargate episode. I need to catch up on Battlestar Gallactica too.

I mentioned a while ago that I had given blood. I don't know if I've ever mentioned how I seem to have two active accounts with the NBS - meaning they don't have all of my donations on one record. I've asked for them to merge the accounts but I'll have to ring up again later in the week to check up on them.

I plan to go riding tomorrow. Another challenging route this time. Then, again, shower and off to library.

I'm in the process of building a list of all the companies I've applied to for Electronics jobs. I won't put it up for a while yet though. I aint'nt silly you know.

Take care all. Sorry for my recent absenteeism - hopefully you can see why.

What a Week.
Not that anything in particular has happened, I just couldn't think of a good title. Though I have done a bit this week...

First of all, cycling. Knees have been hurting so I've been taking it easy. Did a 5 mile ride on Wednesday in 45 minutes but gave up due to pain, cold, wind and snow.

So not wanting to waste time I ploughed my efforts into sending my CV off to companies. Yes, actual companies rather than going through agencies. YAY!

I went to the library to search the directories and I have so far shortlisted about 80 companies whose websites I had a look at to see if I would like to work there. Of this 80, I have sent my CV to 25 relevant companies.

While I was reading these directories I had an idea. You see, believe it or not, it's pretty tricky trying to find the names of companies who employ Electronic Engineers. There are web based directories but their classifications are pretty loose and others are just plain dodgy. So, to make it easier for future people, I'm going to compile a list of all the companies I've applied to and make it available on my website.

In car news I now have a new wheel rim and tyre. So car is runnable, but I need to sort out a permanent spare tyre - that's just a case of swapping tyres and wheel rims.

A little bit of family history news - One of my contacts on Genes Reunited has discovered that I share two ancestors with him. I know it was bound to happen sooner or later, but this is the first so I thought it deserved a special mention.

I have also noticed that my body suddenly seems to be getting hairier. That or my hair is darkening again.

I need to say well done to people who have been getting results back from exams / assignments etc. There's quite a few of you and, on the whole, you've done well. So a YAY goes out to you.

TTFN