Well it has been an interesting time this new year. I had a wonderful time over Christmas in Spain thank you Tony & Gill even better when i got home I was expecting a speed camera fine as I was flashed as I came off the M5 to Bristol airport, so thank you Somerset & Avon, perhaps there was a Christmas amnesty ( it was at about 3 in the morning, clear road, no other cars for miles). As our funding at work had been withdrawn a couple of weeks before Christmas I spent a portion of my time in Spain applying for jobs. This is not as bad as it may sound there is something about sunshine that makes you more optimistic. I had thought of going to the local restaurant for Christmas day dinner, an all you can drink 6 course extravaganza complete with opera singing Elvis impersonator but in the spirit of these austere times I made my own dinner and sang along to Elvis on the MP3 player, very satisfying. Marta the more sensitive of the dogs hid under table.
So home just after Christmas and arrived to find a nice fire laid by Gilly & Nigel my favourite cat sitters. It seems I had missed the worst of the cold (despite it still being below zero). As there was no food in the house the Indian provided supper. I decided to apply for job seekers and get my council tax paid as this is the first time in 40 years i have been unemployed. I had seen a long succession of clients on my training workshops who had been made redundant and so know the chances of finding something quickly are low, mind you so is winning the lottery and as they say " It could be You". I was frustrated in this claiming thing by the long British holiday. I had got used to Spain where they do not go over the top everyone is back to work on the 26th. I couldn't claim until the 30th. What transpired was an interview on the phone full of odd questions such as do you rent or own your home? Own. Do you live in sheltered accommodation? Do you receive any benefits? Err no that's why we are talking. I know it is not the interviewers fault they are just following the rules and regulations but you start to see the idea of simplifying the system of benefits is a really good idea. Especially as some of the questions are so obscure it is very easy to give a wrong answer and you then may be accused of making a false claim!!! However I have to say within the constraints they have the staff at the Job Centre are very nice and deal with you efficiently.
So now the good news I have an interview tomorrow. It came from a small company that got back to me before the New Year was here which bodes well. Had an interesting chat with the owner so fingers crossed.
There is one other job I have applied for that tickles my fancy which is with the Princes Trust but have not heard back from that one, strange I have many of the types of experience they are looking for, we will see.
The other option is to look at re-training to add in a skill needed by businesses such as bookkeeping that would provide the bread and butter to a business advice service. This may be more practical now that many of the services such as Business Link are being withdrawn and as yet the replacements are not clear. Perhaps this is a good window of opportunity.
