So long, Dr Phil

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!

So I won't be staying at home watching bad daytime television anymore.

Yay!

Talking to myself and feeling old....

It's Monday and it's raining. Well, it was raining this morning and it's still overcast.

I'm entering my 6th week of unemployment, starting to think that the whole quitting business was the wrong idea....of course, had I stayed I would have gone bonkers, and may have ended up being forced out, but at least they would have paid me for a while longer.

People keep asking if I have enjoyed my "break". It has been nice not having to do much except sweep the floor, do the occasional load of washing and look for a new job. But those of you who know me well will be aware that I'm not usually an unrelentingly positive person, especially when it comes to my own abilities. And the Suncorp job knocked me around. Being unemployed has actually been fairly depressing.

So I've got to hope that it's nearly over. I got called back for a second interview last Thursdsay, and I think it went really well. The recruitment agency called on Friday to ask for a list of referees so they can do a reference check. I heard from one of my referees today that she had been contacted, and asked to reply by today if possible. My fingers are crossed, because at this stage, I think good references = new job. I hate this part where I have no control over it. All I can do is hope that it all comes out positive.

I will be going for a walk this afternoon. There are two parcels waiting for me at the post office. I think it's the knitting wool and cotton I bought on eBay. All I've got to do now is get that job to pay for it!

I hope the Mamas and Papas are wrong.

"Monday, Monday, can't trust that day,
Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way....."

Good Morning, Lexy!

I got a call from the recuitment agent yesterday (a new, better one, not the long walk and blister-inducing agent of the 17th of April)- could I attend an interview today at 11.30am? (Silly question!)

When I cuddled The Boy and said goodbye this morning, I said to him "Are you going to say Good Luck to me for my special meeting this morning?" He turned to me and said "Good boy, Lexy!". "Don't you mean Good Luck?" I asked. "Good Morning, Lexy!" he answered. So when The Man kissed me goodbye, he said "Good Morning!"

I think the interview went quite well, and hopefully I should hear something soon. They indicated that they do second interviews for everyone they employ, so hopefully there will be a second interview soon.

Song of the day is the Silhouette's 1957 classic "Get a job"

Sha na na na - sha na na na na
Sha na na na - sha na na na na
Sha na na na - sha na na na na
Sha na na na - sha na na na na
Dip dip dip dip dip dip dip dip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job
Sha na na na - sha na na na na

Happy Birthday, Dougie.

Oh, how I wish it would rain down.....

Okay, so I've been listening to Phil Collins today. It's been overcast and cloudy and threatening to rain for a couple of days and we had a couple of drops earlier, but nothing more.

I did frog (rip out/pull apart, for the non-knitters) that blue top. This is what it looks like now.



I'm making progress on my Picovoli. (I decided to leave off the picot edging, so I guess it's technically a Tivoli). Here's where I'm up to:


It looked pretty good when I tried it on, but it's not long enough to cover my bra yet so I'll take photos of me wearing it when it's a little longer!


And just because I can, here's a gratuitous shot of The Boy taking his plastic table apart this morning when we got home from his swimming lessons.

To rip or not to rip....

I've been working on this top for about two years. It's the Fitted Rib Top from Amanda Griffiths' One Thousand Sweaters, and it's in Cleckheaton Click Clack Cotton - in a gorgeous blue-grey that I've had in the cupboard for years since buying 10 balls for $20 at Wisteria Crafts (Miranda Fair) when the yarn was discontinued.

I've been getting near the end of the back in the last couple of days and it's started to feel really weird. You can't see the back in the picture in the book so I guess I hadn't really thought about it, but it gets quite narrow and would go right up to the neck in line with the shoulders....

This morning I tacked the sides together and tried it on and..... while it's not really awful, neither is it particularly attractive. I imagined it as soft and clingy and slinky and sexy, but it looks a bit saggy and too long and not that sexy at all. And it would definitely show my bra at the sides under the armpits, so it wouldn't be appropriate to wear to work, which would make it almost useless. It also didn't seem to have much structure to it - the fabric felt flabby, and I'm told cotton sags even more after it's been washed. It would seem that 2x2 rib is not the best stitch for this yarn, perhaps.

So I'm definitely going to pull it all out and see if I can re-use the yarn for something else, perhaps it will be better in stocking stitch... I have a cute little pattern for a wraparound dress for a baby girl....... But I think I will start instead on my Picovoli by Grumperina with the beautiful Paton's Zhivago I bought on Tuesday. Either that or the beautiful Ballet Camisole.

OMG. Don't tell The Man, but I think I need more yarn.....

Alexia's thought for the day

Is that you shouldn't take a long walk around Brisbane in high heeled shoes.

I had an interview with a recruitment agent this morning. I don't think it went all that well, and I didn't feel all that good when I came out so I started walking. I walked along the river from Customs House round to QUT and then up through the city. By that point my feet were really really sore, so I ended up going to Big W and buying comfy shoes and socks for the trip home (which involved a bus trip and a 1km walk). I now have a blister the size of a 5c piece on the ball of my right foot and a slightly smaller one on my left foot. Ouch.

One good thing about my enforced "holiday" is that I'm getting lots of knitting done. I've finished another baby cardigan and I'm working on a baby jacket, a singlet top for me, and a pair of booties. I bought yarn today for another blouse for me which I nearly started this afternoon, but I really should try and finish some of the things I've started......I guess.

Get a haircut and get a real job...

Well, I don't actually need the haircut, and indeed, probably can't really afford it at the moment, but I do need the job. I am now officially unemployed.

I finished up at Suncorp on Friday - got as much work finished and neatly handed over as I could, had a farewell drink, gave everyone a hug and went home. Nuff said, really.

Today I had my first driving lesson with the lovely, patient Ali. While I've driven before (a long time ago), it was my first go at driving a manual car, and I'm very proud of the fact that I didn't stall or bunny hop, and only had a few minor mishaps. I did drive verrrry slowly, which probably annoyed a few people in the back streets near where I live, but I got through the lesson quite well, I think. I have another lesson booked for Monday week, which was the first time Ali had in his diary.

Now all I have to do is find a new job so that I can pay for my driving lessons.....Oh, and the ski boots I'm buying next week!