Wow! Nearly 6 months has passed since my last post and boy how much has changed in that time. Let’s get up to speed. I have had a whirlwind move from the laidback, sun cream wearing days of island living to being squashed against the window of a tube door in a position usually only achieved my circus people. Yes… London!
After coming back and discovering to my horror that being a fairly well qualified, presentable, experienced, work ready person meant claiming jobseekers harder! It actually amazes me how all these people manage it. If only I would have hung around outside Job Centre Plus in a tracksuit, a Greggs dummy and a spot of Elizabeth Duke then my life would have been a lot simpler and strangely financially better off. Instead, I turn up in a full suit! Damn it, alarm bells should have started ringing when the security guard asked if he could help me and when I explained I was here for an interview, asked me what company I was from! Mistaken for the interviewer! Anyway turns out that finding yourself any kind of work, even a week’s casual work puts you on the bottom of the pile and you have outwitted the system actually securing work for yourself without being asked! And then when you have your first meeting to discuss your progress and claim your allowance, to inform the Assistant hat you have found work in London with a university! Well that just takes the biscuit!
I digress.
I am in London after a bit of a whirlwind move and managed to find a rather nice flat and a good job amidst the backdrop of rioting. Hmmm. Note to self “Avoid getting mugged”, whoops, too late, already happened.
Yes, walking home and being surrounded by four guys in hoods what was I to do, other than hand over my “Ashamed of your mobile?” mobile phone and my wallet (which did need actually need a good emptying out if truth be told) and having my watch and ring taken from my wrist and finger respectively. (The ring which I was too ashamed to admit to the WPC was actually a bit of vintage Elizabeth Duke circa 2002) The last thing to be taken was my bag. A red Dunlop bag that I was rather keen on. HaHA! Little did the criminals know that I was secretly trying to educate them as they will have found two copies of Anna Karenina within as well as a DVD (Eat, Pray, Love) (I know, hardly reaffirms my tough appearance) and my rusting, yes rusting, IPod complete with Frank Sinatra and Glee.
Well, that’s chapter one for now… more to follow. (I promise!)
