IT'S LIKE BUSES

One of the recruitment agencies called this morning about some work next week at Canary Wharf. Then another one called and asked me to go in and register with them. Then the library called. They want me Monday and Tuesday next week. What to do?

I juggled for a while but I needn’t have worried. Canary Wharf fell through so it’s yes to the library and the other one can wait.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JO'S GONE TO ICELAND

I haven’t worked for over a week despite calling the recruitment agencies begging for freelance every other day. Most of them are “on the other line” every time I call. In fact there’s only one that has the decency to actually take my calls. She's a major player in the business.

I watched the news. Apparently we’re not officially in a recession yet, but Flash Gordon is going to reduce VAT from 17.5% to 15%. That means a medium salad from Sainsbury’s salad bar will be £1.94 instead of £1.99.
x
Crack open the champers.
x
To celebrate the news, I decided to make like Kerry Katona and head to my nearest Iceland. There’s one round the corner from my house. I’ve been there before to buy milk and frozen peas. I decided that since I don’t know when I’ll next work, and I didn’t receive any redundancy pay (wasn’t entitled), I’d better tighten my belt and stock up on prawn rings and the like.

I was very pleasantly surprised. I bought 6 bottles of water, a packet of super noodles, two salmon fillets, a bag of frozen peas and some cottage cheese and it came to a fiver. Five quid and not a frozen pork faggot in sight.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISASTER

There was no Coronation Chicken at the Sainsbury’s salad bar today. I’d been looking forward to it all morning. I asked the girl behind the counter if they had any more and she disappeared for 20 minutes and came back with 
a large tub of chicken & ham pasta. I nearly cried.

I consoled myself with a look around the Cancer Research shop and bought 
a Joseph dress for a fiver.

No news on the pitch back at the library. And they don’t need me next week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUIET PLEASE

I’m back at the library this week. It’s nice work and the people are lovely. Heads down and get on with it.

I’ve developed an addiction to Sainsbury’s salad bar. There’s not much choice in the way of eateries round here and I don’t like supermarket sarnies. My first trip to Sainsbury’s salad bar was for want of something better to eat. Now I can’t stop. The coronation chicken is amazing, as is the pesto pasta and the mixed nut sprinkle. I have it all together in a medium sized pot and eat it whilst listening to Jeni Barnet on LBC in my car.

I think I may have lived on my own for too long.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PITCH-TASTIC

I worked today at the local agency. It’s in the next town – about 20 minutes drive. I didn’t know what to expect as these non-London agencies can be a bit ‘different’ as I've discovered.

I needn’t have worried. The pitch they were working on was familiar. 
We’d pitched for it at my last place just before my departure but didn’t win it. These guys were down to the last two and had to produce more work.

They were all very nice. There was a distinct air of serenity and non-panic. 
I have never known such cool-headed calmness in the face of a pitch. Normally you’re still waiting for the brief at 6pm and you know it’s gonna be pizza for tea. I’m not sure if the lack of music contributed to this peaceful vibe, but I can only liken it to working on a pitch in a library.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKINNY JEANS AND PUMPS

I went into London today to register with the two recruitment agencies. I’ve got cramp in my right hand from filling in forms. So many forms. Forms with questions like:

“On a scale of 1 - 10, how do you rate your Microsoft Word skills?”

Despite my lack of Microsoft Word skills, they liked what they saw and were positive about getting me work. On the way home, the creative director from the local agency phoned and asked if I was free to work on Friday. Forget showing my book – they’re busy. There’s a pitch on and they need me next week too.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I SEE A LIGHT

Two recruitment companies called and said they liked my work, my CV was great, and could I go and meet them.

“Of course” I said.

I’m going in to the Big Smoke tomorrow to register properly. I have to take my passport. They need a copy of it to make sure I’m not an illegal immigrant. 
Do I look like an illegal immigrant?

Also, one of the local marketing agencies got back to me. I’m going in to show them my book on Friday.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY I AM MOSTLY... WAITING FOR THE PHONE TO RING

The phone is silent and my inbox is empty, apart from friends being nice 
and a load of junk mail. I feel terrible.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SHOCK, HORROR... THOUGHT YOU WERE REALLY BUSY?

Everyone is shocked at my sudden change of circumstances. They’ve all been most helpful, sending me loads of contacts and the names of the best recruitment websites and agencies.

Today I registered online with several agencies. Judging by their websites they all have creative jobs in abundance and are crying out for freelancers. 
I emailed all my friends in advertising, joined Creative Pool and signed up for job alerts. I applied for about 10 jobs on Brand Republic and did a search for local marketing companies. There’s quite a few in the home counties, although I’ll probably have to go back into London. Need to get my head around that one. Might have to have hypnotherapy to deal with the train.

A friend came round from ex-work and I burst in to tears again at the unfairness of it all. By the end of the night I looked like Bea Smith from 
Cell Block H.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------