Why is it that those who drive the smallest cars are the worst when it comes to parking?

I refer to the neighbour who has a small japanese box-on-wheels, who constantly parks around three inches from my front bumper. In a space that must be 20ft wide. AND she has reversing sensors!

I wouldn't mind too much, but she lives on the opposite side of the road. Which has a regular space of similar size, and a drive which no-one parks in.

Bah.

Current Mood: confused

You could have fooled me.

I spent three years and a not inconsiderable amount of money to retrain as an electrician, and I have over three years experience through self-employment, yet *still* cannot get a job with ANY company, even as an electricians mate! It's like they're all too busy making money to invest in anyone. 

Well, f*ck it. I'm going to look for an alternative employment opportunity. 

All suggestions welcome.

Current Mood: cranky

Went to a car boot sale today. Seeing as I have bought a number of books recently (ok, seventeen!) I was determined NOT to buy any. 

I bought five.

But! They were very good books for not alot of money. I bought:

Applied mechanics in engineering - self explanatory (!)
The private life of the brain - about, hey, the brain (also it's influence on personality)
Secret Chamber - about the exporation using robots of the disputed 'ventilation shafts' in the Kings Chamber of the Pyramid of Khufu.
Body Farm - a book about the farm that has dead bodies purposely left in different areas in order to further forensic science.
Hitlers Tuetonic Knights - pictures and 'infield' reports on the experiences of german tanks and crews in WWII .

Which may seem a somewhat bizarre series of purchases, but I have an interest in all of the subject matter.

Should keep me busy for a while...

Current Mood: geeky

My niece wrote me the following story the other day (sic throughout) which read:

Outside my house is my dog his name is Max I car for him. 
I feed him. I give him water. 
I let him out side. 
he is a dalmashan

When I pointed out that Max is a Black Labrador, she replied quietly

 'I know, but I can spell Dalmatian'

Current Mood: amused

Well, got to the interview yesterday ok after a 5am start.

Got up, showered, pressed shirt and polished shoes. Set off at 7.15, in order to drive the 1hr 30 to Wakefield, and traffic wasn't too bad, really - the usual convoys of trucks trying to pass each other by going just 1mph more. Got to the massive industrial estate in plenty of time, and found the site using a borrowed Garmin sat-nav set. Sat for 10 mins to compose myself, intending to call at reception with 5 mins spare.


So off I go, drive through gates, and the guy on them says he's never heard of Christian Salvesen! Can't give me directions, doesn't know where they are. Bugger. 4 mins to go.

I find I'm sat in a truck lane bordered by two-foot tall kerbstones, and the guy wouldn't let me through the gates, even just to turn round, the bastard. So I reversed back down the truck lane, and did a three-point turn. 2 mins to go.

Zoom down the length of the estate, still can't find any signs of the depot. There aren't any directions or signs on the estate, so I turned round and went back along the way, finding myself back on the B666 or something - it was a nightmare heaving with traffic. 0 mins to go.

Exit B666, back onto the Industrial estate, and decide to call the depot. Battery dying on mobile - despite the fact I had it fully charged. Make the call, and find the numbers not for the depot I'm going to, but one over40 miles away. -2 mins to go.

They eventually give me the Wakefield number and I call them, apologise and explain the situation. They give me directions and I arrive at last. -5 mins.

So I was late. Damn. 

The interview, to be fair, didn't go that bad, except the job wasn't even as described by the agency. The guy effectively told me that I was over-qualified for it!

So I'd wasted £20 of fuel and got up at 5am just to be told that.

Current Mood: pissed off

Well, I managed to get the interview arranged for Tuesday. I only know that it is taking place in Wakefield as yet. No time, no location, I will be given that info beforehand. Sounds like I'm trying to contact the Cosa Nostra!

I really need to get this job sorted, and then hopefully the other pieces will start to drop into place. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Current Mood: optimistic
Current Music: The Horrors

Well, went for the other interview today - in the exact same building as the one I went to last week! Different floor though.
Went ok, did the usual 'what have you done, before, what would you like to do, where do you see yourself in five years...etc', and I ended up with an interview (well, if the guy can arrange it in time - first interviews are Monday, second later that same week)

Jobsearch not going too well. Got a call from an agency on Monday, and want to interview me to see what position is best for me, and so they can send me the most suitable jobs. Makes sense, I suppose. Except that all the engineering-type agencies are in Newcastle! I've already been to one, but it was a waste of time, they were looking for salespeople, which is the last job I want to do!

Keep applying though, as it can't be a bad thing to have a few 'irons in the fire', especially when it comes to looking for work.

Also looking at a position in a car parts place, as a stop-gap, at least it will bring in some money in the meantime. The only thing is, I feel bad about getting job, and then (possibly) leaving within a short period - dad reckons I should think about myself, and that people do it all the time...

Current Mood: confused

Isn't it great to have a weekend where you can do what you like? 

Saturday I managed to get some time devoted to the Mini project, stripping some parts down to raise some cash. Going to an autojumble in May, so I decided to get the parts up to scratch. Just got in and an workmate rang, so went round his with some drink and eats, and had a good old chinwag, got the latest news from work and sat and watched some old Spaced and '300' on dvd. Was really cool, eventually got in around 3 on Sunday morning. 

Got up early, around 7.50 (why does that always happen on a Sunday?) and decided to get out for some fresh air, as the weather was nice and warm. Called up my mate and set off. Went up to Hadrians Wall, visisted a couple of stops, and set off for a decent walk along the lanes, and talking nonsense as usual! Had a good day, and dropped him off home, where his brother was visiting. Got talking about planning a 4 day bender to Download this year, so if I can save up some cash, I might get there this year - cool!

Current Mood: cheerful

Had an opportunity to catch some sunshine today. I know it's not very goffick, but in the summer I'm usually crawling around someones manky attic, so it was a nice change.

Got let down on a timber delivery for the attic conversion, so I spent all afternoon cleaning out the work horse, and it needed it! Bits of plaster, bricks and electric cable alles uber das platz... still, sorted now. Must get my bike fixed up and get out some evenings too.