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It hasn't been a particuarly easy few months, since I got back from Greece. I began serious job-hunting in October, but without success as yet. I've been depressed at how little there is out there that is both interesting and worthwhile, that would also still pay me enough. I've found jobs that pay okay, but are either dire, or involving skills or experience I don't have; and I've found jobs that sounded great, but were only part-time or temporary, or only paid peanuts. But the intersection of "This sounds like a good job" with "I can do all those things" and "I could live on that salary" has proved dismally elusive.
And I'm not looking for a large salary, by the way! My core skill set, after all, is in customer service, a field we undervalue badly, and given that, I know it's unrealistic to set my hopes high. But I'd like to earn enough to live on.
I finally have an interview on Monday, anyway, so that's a start. It's a job at Richmond Theatre, which would be great - and getting it would mean I was joining ATG, which could also be great. So cross fingers for me. It'll be good interview experience, anyway.
Meanwhile, my back-up plan was to do lots of writing while I was out of work. But I've been struggling with that; indeed, a lot of the time I've been completely blocked. It's nightmarish when that happens, but I've been there before and I know that all I can do is soldier on and get through it; it always does end, eventually, so it's the soldiering-on that I have to focus on. Just recently, the last couple of weeks, there've been signs of a breakthrough on that front, which is fantastic. I've been re-reading some of the stuff I've written in the last few years and have been pleased to find much of it is better than I remembered. I'm working on some re-writes and using that to coax the Muse into coming back for a longer stay.
What other news? I turned fifty in December, shock horror. Luckily the birthday itself was fine, but the number is a bit shocking just the same.
I've lost 25% of my body weight since last March, though, and have now stabilised at just over 12 stone (12 stone 1lb - I can't seem to shift that last little scrap!), and I feel healthier physically than I have done in years. The doctor has even taken me off the diabetes medication for a trial period, to see how I get on with managing the condition just through diet and exercise.
I took a touch-typing course, and am working rather slowly at trying to improve my speed and accuracy. I'm not great yet, but I'm getting there. Slowly slowly, as my Nana used to say.
I've also taken up fencing. The sport, not the garden skill. I just finished a beginners' foil course and tonight is my first-ever time with the main club practice session. The idea of walking in this evening and just looking for someone who'll fence a few hits with me is frankly bloody intimidating. But I've started buying the kit, so I really can't back out now. It's tremendous fun, anyway; I'd hate to stop. I never thought I'd find a sport I enjoyed this much - never been a sporty type at all...
Otherwise, not much is going on. Need to get on with the writing and find a new job. End of update. Ciao!
And I'm not looking for a large salary, by the way! My core skill set, after all, is in customer service, a field we undervalue badly, and given that, I know it's unrealistic to set my hopes high. But I'd like to earn enough to live on.
I finally have an interview on Monday, anyway, so that's a start. It's a job at Richmond Theatre, which would be great - and getting it would mean I was joining ATG, which could also be great. So cross fingers for me. It'll be good interview experience, anyway.
Meanwhile, my back-up plan was to do lots of writing while I was out of work. But I've been struggling with that; indeed, a lot of the time I've been completely blocked. It's nightmarish when that happens, but I've been there before and I know that all I can do is soldier on and get through it; it always does end, eventually, so it's the soldiering-on that I have to focus on. Just recently, the last couple of weeks, there've been signs of a breakthrough on that front, which is fantastic. I've been re-reading some of the stuff I've written in the last few years and have been pleased to find much of it is better than I remembered. I'm working on some re-writes and using that to coax the Muse into coming back for a longer stay.
What other news? I turned fifty in December, shock horror. Luckily the birthday itself was fine, but the number is a bit shocking just the same.
I've lost 25% of my body weight since last March, though, and have now stabilised at just over 12 stone (12 stone 1lb - I can't seem to shift that last little scrap!), and I feel healthier physically than I have done in years. The doctor has even taken me off the diabetes medication for a trial period, to see how I get on with managing the condition just through diet and exercise.
I took a touch-typing course, and am working rather slowly at trying to improve my speed and accuracy. I'm not great yet, but I'm getting there. Slowly slowly, as my Nana used to say.
I've also taken up fencing. The sport, not the garden skill. I just finished a beginners' foil course and tonight is my first-ever time with the main club practice session. The idea of walking in this evening and just looking for someone who'll fence a few hits with me is frankly bloody intimidating. But I've started buying the kit, so I really can't back out now. It's tremendous fun, anyway; I'd hate to stop. I never thought I'd find a sport I enjoyed this much - never been a sporty type at all...
Otherwise, not much is going on. Need to get on with the writing and find a new job. End of update. Ciao!
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