I have been rejected for three more jobs (two of which I interviewed for) and spent 17 hours on trains with the Princess since I wrote last. It’s no wonder I’m too depressed to pick up a keyboard.
Also did have a very nice week with my parents in La Rochelle where the Princess learned to love the ocean (provided that she was not immersed above her chubby knees) and continued her love affair with sand. However, my memories are hazy as all of my brain power was required to keep my sanity on the 10 hour train ride home.
Princess update perhaps not of interest to the general reader. She continues to stand occasionally but resolutely refuses to walk. She loves slides and was able to go down one all on her own in La Rochelle. Very thrilling. She has now extended her vocabulary to say “baby” and “all gone”. The latter sounds like “aga” when she says it but we know what she means. She will now also say “ta ta” when given something she wants, provided it’s done in good time. Any delay in giving her what she wants is met with fury. Quite terrifying. If you say “where’s your choo choo” or “where’s your doggy” she will crawl off and retrieve those items. She blows kisses. She imitates. So when I said “shush” on the epic train ride and put my finger to my lips she did the same to all of our long suffering fellow travellers. If I sigh, she will sigh back. She beats her chest and makes tarzan noises which is something, I would like you to know, that I only do in the privacy of my own home. She’s fantastic.
(Homepage)
on 06 July 2004 at 16:20
If I owned a company, I would hire you in an instant! And then I would constantly come over and force you to leave your desk and talk babies and books and beer with me. (And, of course, I wouldn’t let the pesky managers fire you because of all the time you spend away from your desk talking babies and books and beer. Because, you know, I own the place!)
on 06 July 2004 at 16:40
Sorry about the interviews – something will come up in the end (I know that’s a horribly annoying thing to say, but it IS true – keep the faith…though not necessarily in a Bon Jovi-esque way).
As for the Princess update – it’s all very impressive. A career in method acting awaits possibly, with all the sighing and inner fury. I’m at a bit of a loss with the beating of chest however….whatever keeps you happy in the confines of your own home I suppose. 
on 06 July 2004 at 21:29
Hang in there, ‘waf.
You only need a bit of luck to make that breakthrough: and it will come. And as Locotes says, don’t lose perspective: it will all fall into place soon enough 😉
Princess updates are much enjoyed…
on 08 July 2004 at 13:23
Thank you, thank you. I feel all virtually supported. Frankly, I need all the support I can get. One of the interviewers offered feedback to unsuccessful candidates. I got my feedback yesterday. Can I offer a little tip here: if you didn’t get the job, don’t bother with the feedback, it’s just too depressing.
on 09 July 2004 at 00:27
nooooo you must get the feedback; at the very least it inconveniences the buggers, epecially if you ask for notes and jottings from the interview board. 🙂
on 09 July 2004 at 21:04
I know what you mean Jack and that was entirely my original motivation but the humiliation is CRUSHING.
on 10 July 2004 at 11:40
Only if you let it be. I’d suggest you make a list of the things they said and then rate each – in a balanced, honest way – as either A: ‘they may have a point here and this is something I can work on’, B: ‘perhaps, but there’s noting I can do about this’ or C: ‘stupid jerks they lack vision on this, so sod them’. Then set about fixing the A’s, don’t apply for jobs that need B’s and be proud of your C’s.
Not too scientific, but it works… 😉
on 11 July 2004 at 22:31
Yes, but it’s so hard not to feel that all their comments are Cs even though I know they can’t be really.