Merchandising, Merchandising...

Oh yeah.

New Glasses

Well I finally managed to get some new glasses after several months of scouring stores and troubling my opticians to order in countless frames (5 actually). Hugo Boss frames, which I got for £91 plus the lenses. I think they'll take a bit of getting used to but they look pretty sweet in a suit.

Cycle training

Well I suppose I have started training - 17 miles offroad around Clyne if you would believe such a thing, although rain and mud took their toll on my ability to stay on the damn thing, especially uphill. Having said that, the new Panaracer Trailraker rear tyre I have put on was amazing - never lost traction no matter how bad it got and got top marks for clearance too. Hopes are working well too, although I do see what reviewers mean about the squealing when they get wet - earsplitting. Still, I'd rather be alive than quiet. I enjoyed my mud beard though.

A101

Another factor in my change of heart lies with the band - no matter how long it lasts its a great thing to do and I want to enjoy it as much as I can. Martin finally got back from upt North with his drums and my trainers so we have a new dimention - although losing Sean in the other direction is kindof annoying. Hopefully we can find someone to fill in for a bit.

Still, we are getting pretty tight on the Pistols songs - but they are getting a little repetitive to play so I want to try and expand our repertoire a bit. Tricky without a guitarist though.

More Job Update

Well in the end they offered it to the other candidate, who to be fair had more direct experience in the student finance field, so I was pretty happy all around really. Plus I can claim my expenses back (although I think the £75 curry for two Matt and I had might stretch that!).

In hindsight, while I am technically looking for a new job, I have realised that it isn't wrong to put my personal life first for once and enjoy the position I have for a bit, frustrating or not. In Swansea I can play football and basketball, go cycling in some stunning places, live in a nice flat and live comfortably. Cath and I might even manage to go on holiday (although we will probably go to Reading fest. as well!).

Sweet.

Job Update

Well the interview seemed to go pretty well, aside from the fire alarm just before(!), and everyone seemed really nice, and the campus is nice. Most importantly I don't think I looked like a tit, despite my somewhat sketchy and hastily acquired knowledge.

Despite all of this I had a phone call this morning informing me I was one of two candidates still under consideration, so evidently 'actually knowing anything' wasn't a major part of the job lol. I should hear over the next few days but if I'm honest I don't know if the role is for me, or even if I actually want to leave Swansea (!)

With a bit of luck they will offer it to the other candidate then at least I can say I did pretty well without having to make a difficult decision (some manager hey!!)

Still - they seemed happy that I liked Heavy Metal...

Job update

Rather surprisingly (and amazingly) I have been offered an interview at Reading Uni for the Student Financial Support Team Leader post. This is the one I thought I was leaset likely to hear from, and probably least likely to get as a) the application form wasn't as good (both my completion of it and the form itself) and b) I don't have much direct experience in that side of student financial aid. I'd better get researching!

A101

Did I mention about the new band? No? I'm in a new band!

So far big Shaun (Vocals) and Irish Sean (Lead) and I (Bass) have got together, with Martin "Captain Tap" Fawcett to join us on drums. We have some songs up over at www.fizzwizz.net/band and a Facebook page already!

So far we can bash out the following reasonably well:

Pretty Vacant
Holidays in the Sun
Anarchy in the UK
God Save the Queen
So What
Babylon's Burning (The Ruts)
Jilted John

and we are working on:

Streets of London
Sound of the Suburbs
BiG A Little a (Crass)
and a few others.

We have also just written a song, yet to be named. Stay tuned.

New Job?

Arrrrghh well I have actually gone and done it and applied for some new jobs - 2 in Cardiff so far!

Head of student record sounds pretty cool - lots of work to do there I think, the second is in the med school, pretty much what I'm doing now, but with a bit further to go to get to where we are (they do have a lot more students!). If they do interview me and make me an offer, I think it might be a little more money, but to be honest that job would be more of a personal thing, as lots of the 3rd and 4th years have wanted me to go and sort Cardiff out for ages.

We shall see...