Job Jinx

Good Afternoon My Dears,

The life of leisure is starting to pale for this lady.  I have been back in Edinburgh for two weeks and though I have had a couple of interviews, nothing has panned out on the job front.  In fact,  I was told this morning by an agency that the position I interviewed for last Wednesday had in fact been filled that Tuesday.  BEFORE I even interviewed.  The agency that told me that said that one of their candidates actually got the job.  Apparently, the candidate who got the job had 10 years of accounting experience in a construction firm.  As the role was for Miller, the largest builder in the UK, I get that they were more qualified.   This agency is not the one that go me the interview, however.  I actually haven't heard from that one, AT ALL.   A wee bit unprofessional, in my opinion.

However, I am not really ready to throw in the towel yet.  There are a couple of other roles that have come up, both temp and perm.  The most interesting one in a business analyst role at a bank.  However, if the temp one comes up, I am just going to take it no matter what else is going on.  After all, I need to finance the writing career.  I am going to write The Great American Novel.

I did promise an account of my writing on my last post.  So here goes.  In contrast to my anti- joiner mentality, I have gone and joined the Edinburgh Creative Writing Club.  I have attended two meetings, and while I have not read anything yet, I am working on something to read, probably next week.  Also, my sister wants me to collaborate on a story having to do with our family's immigrant experiences and her own.  I am not really sure that I am truly qualified to write that kind of a story or that it has a market. My sister, wise soul that she is, pointed out that Frank McCourt did just that.  So perhaps that is the way to go.  A biographical novel would be a challenge for me.  I have not ventured into that type of writing before.  However, she has gotten a back up writer whose toes I may be treading on, especially as they may have already gotten a good start.  Well, Al?  The other piece of writing that I am currently working on ventures into the Juvenile Fiction realm and is a story set in Scotland with a young female protagonist.  There will be magic and mayhem but the wizards are Welsh.  We will see how it all plays out.  The characters are currently clamoring to be heard and they are giving me a headache.  You never know, I may be the next JK Rowling.

In other news, an ash cloud has curtailed most Scottish travel.  This does not affect me as I have no plans to go anywhere any time soon.  I am hoping that the ash cloud encourages people to go out and find things to do in Edinburgh.  I have joined  a New in Edinburgh group as well.  This evening I am going to go to a movie with 20 people I have never met before.  Should be an interesting experience, luckily there will be drinks beforehand.  That might make things extremely amusing at least.  Goodness knows I don't hold much expectation for a good show for the fourth installment of the Pirates franchise but it is something to do.

I am off to contend with the characters in my head with some fast writing.

Next Up: No Plans, so its sure to be a grand time.  Stay Tuned.

Cheerio for Now,

Tina

The Bright Side of Edinburgh

Good Afternoon My Dears,

I am sorry for the massively long silence but the time got away from me a bit.  When last I wrote I was celebrating two birthdays in Greece.  A friend's on May 1 and my sister's on the 10th.  The birthday events were lovely and a grand time was had by all.  At least, I hope so.  You see, I made the mistake that when I booked my ticket for Greece I booked the return for 6:50 am on the 11th of May.  My sister felt compelled to take me to the airport.  I did offer to take a taxi but she was not having it.  I am not sure if she has forgiven me yet.  I also met her boyfriend, who is quite nice.  I spent a lot of time with my aunt, uncle, and my cousin Brighitta who is a fantastic photographer in London who I see once every couple of years.  It was lovely getting to know her a little as an adult.  My sisters birthday also resulted in a summer job offer.  The jeweler where I bought Alex's birthday gift needed some website help, which I was happy to do as it passed the time a bit.  He wants someone to work in his shop for the busy season so that he can concentrate on making more pieces to sell.  Needless to say, it was a very attractive offer, but for reasons that will become apparent shortly, I have not given him an answer, nor have I closed the door.

Things in Edinburgh are picking up a bit.  I have settled quite nicely into the new flat and am exploring Edinburgh from the perspective of living in town.  I can't get used to separate hot and cold water taps.  It makes all washing up an annoyance, whether it is dishes, faces, or bodies.  It also makes taking a bath an exercise in burn prevention.  I have an electric shower that is not working, so it is imperative that I figure out how to take a bath with out sustaining third degree burns.  I  have decided that I love the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh and that if I stay in Scotland, I would eventually like to move into that neighborhood.  If you have read Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries, you will already be familiar, if not, read the series anyway it it quite well written and a joy to read.

I have found the Edinburgh Swing Dance Society and went to their thursday night free dance.  That was an interesting experience because it was not solely swing dancing. I also plan on attending their Sunday Afternoon Tea dance, at which I have been told there will be cake.  I will travel anywhere for cake. I have also found the Edinburgh Creative Writing Club that meets every Monday evening at 7 in the city center.   Apparently, one does not need to read if one does not want to, which is good as the only thing I am currently writing is this blog.  Also, they encourage writers to bring copies of their work.  A bit of a problem that, as I have no printer.  I am still going to go and see what is to be seen.  I also joined a New in Town group to try and meet new people.  I am also looking for a book group.  I have joined a reasonable gym and it has been good getting back into a workout routine.  As well, it lend a little bit more structure to my day.  Phew, I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

On the job front things are brightening up a bit as well.  I had an interview for a real estate firm called Braemore Lettings and I think it went quite well.  I really like the people I interviewed with and the job location can't be beat, it is right in the center of town on Dundas Street, which is also featured in Mr. McCall Smith's books.  I sincerely hope I get that job, but if it doesn't work out, I have an interview next wednesday with a company called Miller to do some basic accounting.  I also had to turn down a temp job with a place called Dobbies Garden Center, which is not too far from my house, because it was for a month, due to start on Monday, and if either of the two jobs above come through then I want to be available.

Lest you think that it is all coming up roses, let me assure you that is not the case.  There are things I miss about home, not the least of which is seeing my family and friends.  I really, really miss clothes dryers, maybe even more than I miss you all.  Do you know how frustrating it is to do laundry here? I live in a country where the average temperature in June is about 65 degrees.  In JUNE.  Happy freekin' Birthday to me.  It rains somewhere in Edinburgh at least once a day and the winds that blow off the North Sea make it feel like December in DC.  It is May, people.  In this climate, people do not own dryers, unless they live in a retirement community, like Laura's parents do in Dalkeith.  They either hang it outside for the 10 minutes it isn't raining, or they dry clothes inside on airers (clotheshorses).  This process takes 4 days, and that is after the washing is done which takes 3 hours.  Have you ever heard anything more absurd in your life?  Not I, McFly.  If anyone wants to get me a really super birthday present they can spring for an electric airer which costs 79 pounds and is available from a housewares store called Lakeland.

It is a wonder to me that dental professionals don't all flock to the UK for work.  People seriously don't take care of their teeth here.  This was brought home to me the other day when I had to go into three different stores to buy dental floss.  Of course the other side of that is that there are no jobs in the dental profession BECAUSE people don't take the best care of their teeth.  If I was a dentist, I would encourage everyone to eat candy and get cavities.  I would always have work then. That's all she wrote, folks.

Next Up...join me for the 3 R's: Reading, Riting, and 'Rithmatic.   I promise a rousing good read.

Cheerio for Now,

Tina

May Day - The Worker's Holiday

Good Morning My Dears,

April showers have brought May flowers to Greece.  We had been experiencing some rather nasty weather  in Crete of late but hopefully that has passed now.  May Day in Greece is actually an acknowledged, if not a celebrated holiday here.  There are apparently enough workers, even here, to justify the acknowledgment. Unlike in the US whose free market leanings tend to shy away from any notion of a working class, Greece does allow communist principles to peacefully coexist in the political firmament.  In the US in contrast, we have decided to change the name to Law Day.  It just does not have that nice a ring to it, does it?

 I am rather like the US, in that I would prefer to put blinders on to the fact that there is a working class as I am currently not a part of it.  And unfortunately, it is back to the drawing board for me when I get back home to Scotland on the 11th.  When Last I talked about the actual job search I had had an interview with a    software company to supervise their accounting setup.  Alas, that was not to result in a job.  It is just as well as it was not located in the best of areas and the commute would have been a little difficult.  I also applied for two jobs at the Scottish National Gallery in their accounting departments.  The first was for Manager of all their retail shops, including the accounting side.  The second was for a manager of the trading company that would link the accounting sides of the retail shops with the sales side of the Royal Scottish Academy which sells local art to the public.  I didn't even manage to get interviews for those as there are a lot of fully qualified accountants applying.

Since applying for accounting jobs does not seem to be working, I am going to change the resume to a more administrative focus and see if I can get something that is secretarial in nature.  After all, Scotland doesn't have to be a career starter, I am here to have fun as well.  So I think I am going to try for any job, including retail, just to have enough income to cover my expenses.  I am also thinking that if I can get a part time job then perhaps I can do a little bit of volunteering.  We will see how I get on.

Right now I am off to celebrate a friend's birthday.

Next Up...Another birthday Bash and then Homeward Bound.

Cheerio for Now,

Tina