OK, Enough Already...
Alright, I get the message...
Loyal readers, who are obviously still out there, with as much of an abundance of time as I've had lately - cheers for the 17 comments affixed to my last post. I think that's pretty much a Rakish Richard's Record. Ranging from the lyrics to Lady In Red, You Are So Beautiful (to me), Postman Pat - through to a job offer, the recently arrived Steve's caustic wit, proclamations of recently shaved sideburns, to a picture of Sinatra blowing a mean horn; I recommend you all drop by and have a read. It's better than anything I've tapped out over the wire.
I propose a toast to the art of procrastination.
It's been a heady MONTH since my last poast (it's like poaching, but with brown crispy bits,) during which I talked with Berin about the possibility of making a true gravy 'boat' (including a standing poseable turkey wearing a Horatio Nelson admiral's hat), and moved into Londinium and housesat while Sarah and Sam were in Morocco. Seems my efforts to find work under my own steam have essentially come to nothing - but the moment I signed up with an agency, progress has picked up like the ascending major lifts in nasty house tunes.
I sent out 22 CV's, all printed out perty like, to a range of different firms (I toyed with the idea of sending all 22 to one company - for a kind of all out assault - but chickened out at the last minute due to staple shortages), and then enjoyed three weeks of gentle let downs, varying from;
"Dear Richard,
Thank you for your CV, unfortunately we have no suitable positions at this time.
Good luck!
Regards,
Wedon't Wantyou Architects"
to the paradoxically encouraging;
"Dear Richard,
Further to our conversation today I'd like to thank you for taking time to send in your CV; the range of your experience and samples of your work were very impressive.
Unfortunately, etc etc..."
I must truly have been at a low, when I garnered great encouragment and satisfaction from the improving quality of my rejections, until I finally signed up to an agency
For an industry that invented itself - then made itself indispensible - recruitment does appear to have tangible benefits. Suddenly the exact same CV that I'd been posting out starting looking a lot better, and I have since attended my first serious employment interview in 6 years. I've gained a bit of momentum since moving into London, and now have time to use hyphens more than I ever have. So positive are things looking, that I think I'll start peeking around for a room tomorrow. The long commute from Bec and Mikes in Maidenhead will only make it more difficult to get into interviews, and I'm getting a long lost feeling of 'living somewhere' after only two weeks in the Willesdon Massive. The next poast will follow far closer than this one, I promise...
Jules continues her quest across India, and her latest email recanted the details of her long stay in an Ashram, enjoying complete silence, yoga (in silence), cleaning (in silence), lectures (...), and more yoga. There are 53 days left until she hits London again, so there's still a lot of daily emails yet to be published.
I leave you, retreating on bended knee in apology, this cold Friday night in London (I tooootally could have gone out, but I didn't wannu man...). Dambusters is a good read, but Cryptonomicon is really twisting my melon at the moment. Be good, and if you're in Britain - don't forget Mother's Day.
Your man with his trusty volleyball 7,500kms away,
Arch :)
