P.P.S.

And Hugh... Oops. J x

P.S.

Welcome home Sarah. J x

Sunday, Still a Grade 7

Hopeful that I'll hear tomorrow though. Watch this space.

Went to Liverpool last night to see the Klimt at The Tate. Nice pictures (I love the Beethoven Frieze) but the exhibition was padded out too much to disguise the fact that they didn't have that many original Klimt's to show (in my opinion). There was a lot of stuff about his patrons and also pictures hung that weren't even by him. Could have done better I felt. Went for a drink in the Pan American Bar first (OK) and The Azure bar afterwards (nice until they turned the music up). Impossible to get a coffee on Liverpool Lime Street Station at 2100 on a Saturday night which is frankly scandalous. And the train trip home was, let us say, interesting. Oh my God. The people getting on in order to get off at Deansgate Locks. It was never like that when I was a youngster... Liverpool has some really nice old buildings and will probably have some really nice new ones when they're finished. And somehow I expected that they'd have done all the building work before the Capital of Culture stuff so that visitors saw the best of the city not just a building site (which is pretty much what it is at the moment). Anyway, be nice to have the chance to work there (as a Grade 6!). That's all. J x

Expletive

Now been told that I won't hear until next week on the job. Can't anyone get anything right in this expletive Department? Oh, and someone who is already a expletive Grade 6 has applied for the expletive Team Leader job so providing they are suitable, no-one else will be expletiving looked at. Expletive. Expletive and double expletive. Off to do the helpline and be helpful and supportive now. That's all. J x

There's a Bright Golden Haze Over Ludlow

To Ludlow on Saturday to spend the day with my parents who are spending a long weekend there to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. DD came along too because she's one of the family now. Had a lovely day and the weather stayed fine. Ludlow is a lovely little town with an old castle. We had lunch in an hotel down by the river (which was running pretty high and fast on account of all the recent rain). Train journey a nightmare because we had to catch the Swansea train to Ludlow and, apart from it being full of Welsh people, it was small and overcrowded. Luckily we managed to negotiate ourselves seats between bookings although we did have to change at one point. This day is always one of mixed emotions for the family though because it is also the anniversary of Sally's death and we all still miss her.

Still can't remember a single question I was asked at the interview. Its bizarre. I'm used to having a bad memory but not this bad. Everyone says its because of the adrenaline. Its still an odd feeling though. I still think it went quite well and I think I acquitted myself as well as I could - certainly there are only maybe one or two things I might do differently next time round. Like mention "data security" for instance which, I see from the papers, is once again on the front pages. And HMRC always get a mention - even when, as on this occasion, its the Home Office that lost the bloody memory stick!

Hey ho, am attempting to clean the flat today as I have somewhat neglected this task whilst preparing for the interview. So far I've had a shower and fallen asleep on the sofa. Does this count? That's all. J x

Interview

Well its over. I did as well as I could (I think). Its now in the hands of the gods or at least the hands of Local Compliance. DD has taken me out tonight to celebrate getting through it. I am therefore a little pissed. Will post later on the whole experience but thank you everyone for your good wishes... That's all. J x

Fingers Crossed...

DD has just been round and grilled me for an hour and professed herself satisfied with my performance so I'm feeling OK about tomorrow. This will be my first competence based interview though so there's no telling what might happen. One thing we can be sure of though is that I probably won't be faced with the question "how do you propose dealing with the new post sorting arrangements and what are the implications for data security?" (this, as you might guess, was a DD special). That's all until tomorrow night when I'll post and let you know how it went. J x

Soon...

Have spent most of the afternoon and evening talking aloud. Trying to get my examples fixed in my head for Friday. And they just don't want to stick. Its not looking good at the moment. But its late so I'll probably feel better tomorrow. Off to bed now with Alexander Solzhenitsyn which should be very relaxing (thank you Jane). That's all. J x

Manchester

Back safe & sound. Journey home completely uneventful. Straight into interview prep now for Friday (although I just have to finish off the other application form tomorrow). That's all. J x

Swansea

Nightmare journey down - 6.5 hours on account of an accident on the M6 which meant I hit the roadworks outside Cardiff during the rush hour. Was somewhat frazzled by the time I made it to Home Sweet Home. However, Saturday was a largely peaceful day on account of it never stopping raining and a day spent on the sofa in front of the telly watching the Olympics (The Great Haul Of China as I believe the papers are calling it!). Had one brief break for a journey to Staples to acquire some index cards to prepare my crib notes to take into my interview on Friday - starting to feel a little nervous already! Today we went to The National Botanical Garden of Wales which is just outside Carmarthen. Its a fantastic place and I love going there although my parents always moan because I always insist we go there. A load more gold medals I see today. Unbelievable how well we are doing at the moment although I suspect it will all go horribly wrong very very soon.

Sorted out my travel arrangements for Venice today (and I'll do Madrid soon too DD, don't worry).

Back to Manchester tomorrow, setting off early enough so that I have the afternoon for more interview prep when I arrive. That's all. J x

An Interview!

I have an interview... Its for a Business Learning Manager post (essentially in charge of trainees) in either Liverpool or Warrington. I'd prefer the Warrington job for many reasons but I'll take either. Apparently they're interviewing 8 people for 3 jobs so keep your fingers crossed. The interview is on 22/08 at 1000. You will be among the first to know the outcome... That's all. J x

Hello, My Name's Jonathan and I'm an Addict

I can't stop watching the Olympics. Doesn't matter what's on: archery, boxing, rowing anything. All stuff I wouldn't dream of watching normally. But because its the Olympics I'm transfixed. I need help. I can't even concentrate on filling out my application forms... That's all. J x

No News

They didn't sift the application forms last week after all. No idea why. So they're doing it next week which means there probably won't be a lot of notice for any interviews. On the grapevine I hear that there have been 12 applications (no idea whether any level transfers) so I'm not holding my breath. Have already started filling out the next one...!

Book club was good on Thursday. 8 people turned up which was a record for the group this year. Shame the book was rubbish. Next meeting is in my flat - because we're doing Mockingbird and we'll be watching the DVD once we've discussed the book. Which means I need to get on with getting it finished. Which means I'm going to have to dump the builder. So it'll be changed locks this weekend and luckily Jane has the details of someone she has used who is really good and reliable. So fingers crossed...

Lots to do today and doing helpline and then out tonight so better get cracking... That's all. J x

Tatton

As usual fabulous music. Unusually it was dry. However it was a little chilly. And too many chavs. But we enjoyed it. However, we should make sure we book the premier parking next year. Fireworks are still the best I've ever seen... That's all. J x