I cried all the way down the M1. No work, no money and I just found out the bloke that owns the house next door is threatening me with legal action for blocking a redundant right of way in my garden. He doesn't even live there.
If I don't remove the decking within 28 days I'll be served with 'injunctive proceedings', whatever they are. "All costs associated with any action will be claimed from you".
Good luck with that one.
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Saturday 28 February 2009
Thursday 26 February 2009
EVERY DAY'S LIKE SUNDAY
It's five months today since I got made redundant and to celebrate this anniversary I bought a 6-pack of Tennants Super, 20 Regal and didn't bother getting dressed.
Not really. I'm doing my best not to become a sterotypical doleite, but as the days merge into months it's difficult to remain optimistic. Every day's the same. Sunday's aren't special any more because they're the same as every other day. And despite all the news about the thousands of people in the same boat as me, I don't know one other person who's been made redundant.
I'm at my parents at the moment in Northamptonshire. Staring at their 4 walls instead of mine. Wallpaper instead of Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath. I came up here to meet the creative director at the company I've applied for a job with, but I just found out they've pulled the budget and there's no longer a job. Typical. I've still got my fingers crossed for the one in Dubai but haven't heard any more. No doubt that's gone tits-up too.
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Not really. I'm doing my best not to become a sterotypical doleite, but as the days merge into months it's difficult to remain optimistic. Every day's the same. Sunday's aren't special any more because they're the same as every other day. And despite all the news about the thousands of people in the same boat as me, I don't know one other person who's been made redundant.
I'm at my parents at the moment in Northamptonshire. Staring at their 4 walls instead of mine. Wallpaper instead of Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath. I came up here to meet the creative director at the company I've applied for a job with, but I just found out they've pulled the budget and there's no longer a job. Typical. I've still got my fingers crossed for the one in Dubai but haven't heard any more. No doubt that's gone tits-up too.
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Friday 20 February 2009
PESSIMISM PORN ADDICT
Having successfully fought the car crash TV addiction so far, I have another problem. I'm addicted to the news. The bad news. The doom and gloom coming from BBC News 24 all day, every day as I sit here looking for work.
It can't be good for the soul. If it's not redundancies and company's going bust (Barratts shoes yesterday – where will I buy my winkle pickers now?), it's natural disasters like the tragic bush fires in Australia. And I can't turn it off.
I haven't mentioned this to anyone before because it seems kind of perverse. I should be listening to something more uplifting surely? But it's not just me. I read in a magazine that it's becomming an epidemic. Someone in New York has identified this and named it Pessimism Porn.
Gordon Brown and all those bankers – porn stars. Who'd have thought it?
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It can't be good for the soul. If it's not redundancies and company's going bust (Barratts shoes yesterday – where will I buy my winkle pickers now?), it's natural disasters like the tragic bush fires in Australia. And I can't turn it off.
I haven't mentioned this to anyone before because it seems kind of perverse. I should be listening to something more uplifting surely? But it's not just me. I read in a magazine that it's becomming an epidemic. Someone in New York has identified this and named it Pessimism Porn.
Gordon Brown and all those bankers – porn stars. Who'd have thought it?
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Tuesday 17 February 2009
A PRICEY TRIP TO THE CINEMA
One of the agencies phoned on Friday evening with a potential brief for this week. I kept everything crossed all weekend but by 4pm on Monday I still hadn't heard anything. Desperate to get out of the house, I'd gone into town to meet Claire for lunch. She had the day off and had just bought half of Topshop with her 15 year old niece.
After lunch we had some time to kill and not much money to spend so we decided to take advantage of the off-peak cinema ticket and see Jennifer Aniston's new film, 'He's Just Not That into You'. I'm not generally a cinema fan but I like a film I can relate to (!), so off we went to the horribly Blackpool-esque Trocadero near Picadilly Circus for a couple of hours of switch off your brain (and your phone) girly movie fun.
It was the most expensive film I'd ever seen because when I came out 2 hours later and switched my phone back on, I had 4 messages and a couple of texts trying to confirm me for the rest of the week at an agency in Farringdon. By the time I got back to them it was too late. They'd found someone else. I wouldn't mind but it's the first time my phones been off all year.
Lesson learned: Mobile phone's have silent/vibrate mode for a reason. Use it.
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After lunch we had some time to kill and not much money to spend so we decided to take advantage of the off-peak cinema ticket and see Jennifer Aniston's new film, 'He's Just Not That into You'. I'm not generally a cinema fan but I like a film I can relate to (!), so off we went to the horribly Blackpool-esque Trocadero near Picadilly Circus for a couple of hours of switch off your brain (and your phone) girly movie fun.
It was the most expensive film I'd ever seen because when I came out 2 hours later and switched my phone back on, I had 4 messages and a couple of texts trying to confirm me for the rest of the week at an agency in Farringdon. By the time I got back to them it was too late. They'd found someone else. I wouldn't mind but it's the first time my phones been off all year.
Lesson learned: Mobile phone's have silent/vibrate mode for a reason. Use it.
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Friday 13 February 2009
I THINK I'M QUACKING UP
I signed on today. The woman was very friendly. It occurred to me that it was the first face to face conversation I've had with anyone this week. How depressing.
Afterwards I went on my daily trip to the park. Running makes me feel better. When I’d got round the lake today I felt so much better I heard myself say hello to a duck. Yes - I actually acknowledged a duck by saying hello to it. Not “hello me duck” or anything like that. Just a cheery “hello” and a wave.
X
Afterwards I went on my daily trip to the park. Running makes me feel better. When I’d got round the lake today I felt so much better I heard myself say hello to a duck. Yes - I actually acknowledged a duck by saying hello to it. Not “hello me duck” or anything like that. Just a cheery “hello” and a wave.
X
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Wednesday 11 February 2009
TEA & BISCUITS
While I wait for the imminent lottery win, I popped into Iceland for some teabags. I couldn’t help noticing the 5-pack of 4-finger KitKats for £1. I don’t even eat chocolate but at that price I might start.
The work situation is so dire I’ve been casting my net a bit wider. Every day I look through Brand Republic, Guardian Jobs and all the others. I’ve been hitting ‘apply’ to creative vacancies everywhere. Two recruitment agencies have phoned regarding permanent jobs. One in Northampton, the other in Dubai. I grew up in Northamptonshire and I’ve been to Dubai a few times. Two of the most undesirable places to live in my book, but I guess if I have to up sticks and leave my home, it may as well be sunny. Fingers crossed for Dubai then.
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The work situation is so dire I’ve been casting my net a bit wider. Every day I look through Brand Republic, Guardian Jobs and all the others. I’ve been hitting ‘apply’ to creative vacancies everywhere. Two recruitment agencies have phoned regarding permanent jobs. One in Northampton, the other in Dubai. I grew up in Northamptonshire and I’ve been to Dubai a few times. Two of the most undesirable places to live in my book, but I guess if I have to up sticks and leave my home, it may as well be sunny. Fingers crossed for Dubai then.
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Monday 9 February 2009
THE SECRET
The three days work last week were good. It was great being back in town and working for a grown up agency (although I did hear someone use the word ‘fandabidozee’).
No more work on the horizon though. I phoned round all the recruitment agencies again today. It was the usual story. No one answered apart from one, who asked me why I sounded so despondent.
Someone recommended that I read a book called 'The Secret'. I’ve heard of it before. It’s about manifesting what you want in life. Once only known by an elite few scholars who were unwilling to share their knowledge of ‘the secret’ to obtaining anything you desire, this woman has discovered it and is now kindly revealing it to all and sundry in the form of a book that costs 12 quid.
Although it’s not a very long book, it’s 12 quid well spent because it’s so easy. All you have to do is think about what you want. Think about it hard and REALLY believe that you’re going to get it. Picture yourself with all that you desire and really believe in it. Keep doing this for a while and apparently the universe will give it to you. Simple as that.
Bloody brilliant. Forget the job. I REALLY believe I’m going to win the lottery.
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No more work on the horizon though. I phoned round all the recruitment agencies again today. It was the usual story. No one answered apart from one, who asked me why I sounded so despondent.
Someone recommended that I read a book called 'The Secret'. I’ve heard of it before. It’s about manifesting what you want in life. Once only known by an elite few scholars who were unwilling to share their knowledge of ‘the secret’ to obtaining anything you desire, this woman has discovered it and is now kindly revealing it to all and sundry in the form of a book that costs 12 quid.
Although it’s not a very long book, it’s 12 quid well spent because it’s so easy. All you have to do is think about what you want. Think about it hard and REALLY believe that you’re going to get it. Picture yourself with all that you desire and really believe in it. Keep doing this for a while and apparently the universe will give it to you. Simple as that.
Bloody brilliant. Forget the job. I REALLY believe I’m going to win the lottery.
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Wednesday 4 February 2009
WADIN' UP WEST IN ME WELLIES
I managed to get into town on Tuesday. The snow was really deep. I’ve never seen anything like it in London. It reminded me of when I went to New York at Christmas. Apart from the lack of snow ploughs clearing it.
There were four trains an hour but the tubes were still chaos so I walked to Tottenham Court Road in the snow. I’ve had three days work now, filling in for someone who’s on holiday. Designing, artworking, eating Hula Hoops – whatever needs doing. It’s nice to feel human again.
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There were four trains an hour but the tubes were still chaos so I walked to Tottenham Court Road in the snow. I’ve had three days work now, filling in for someone who’s on holiday. Designing, artworking, eating Hula Hoops – whatever needs doing. It’s nice to feel human again.
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Monday 2 February 2009
SNOWED UNDER
I couldn’t believe it.
My first day’s work this year and I’m snowed in. This is the scene that greeted me at the station this morning. The whole country has ground to a halt.
Apparently it’s not the wrong kind of snow this time. There’s just too much of it.
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