Whappen?

and suddenly by accident I have interviews for 'real' jobs. 2 infact. I said I wouldn't be mercenary and do a geofiz job just for the money, but after talking to my dad I got to thinking... applying skills I already partially have, having my evenings and weekends free (wheh the thesis is written), being able to afford my own place... doesn't sound all bad does it?

I don't mean to brag but this is the email I got from one geofizz company:

Chris,

Quite the best email I have received in a long while. Shall we say we are keen and would like to get you up for an interview as soon as convenient to both parties.

It is Nick's old company though, so it doesn't exactly come highly reccomended! I quite like the 'Fine City' though.

My other interview is in Surrey. Not as cheap as Norfolk, but then they do have an office in Houston... Put the kettle on, Sam :)

Cairngorms Photos

Left: Luckily I noticed the stowaway before I packed my sleeping bag.









Right: Ben and Laura smile bravely through a nasty case of arse frostbite








Left: I'm smiling because I had no idea that in a few minutes I'd be wearing 7 mountaineers as a belt. It's ok guys, internal organs are overrated.











Right: The Highland Games gets off to a cracking start










Left: Rich doesn't think much of Ben and Helen's new winter home














Right: Snow clouds over
the ski runs





















Left: the descent




We all had a really good time. We managed to get to the hostel sucessfully, even with some creative navigating by some of us. On Saturday it was faff factor 10 as we failed to get up on time, set a new record for slowness in sandwich making and had to fight with other groups for mugs. We finally got on the hill to find some gorgeous fluffy snow to play in. High avelanch risk, but gorgeous and fluffy. Howard got us to pack the snow down more by sliding down it shouting weeee... I hadn't realised the course would be that much fun. We then learned how to use our axes to break in different positions, which cumulated in some free style hurtling down the hill, trying to avoid ripping ourselves open on the pointy bit of the axe. We also learned how to move on snow- downwards mostly in my case. On my arse. On the way back to the car park we tried out the crampons, and all set off down the hill walking like John Wayne. That night we had haggis and tatties and tried not to fall asleep face down in the food... winter walking is pretty tiring.

Sunday we made snow bollards... well, some people did while Cathy and I made a snow fish. Having realised it wouldn't hold an anorexic hamster, we spent some time decorating it with an eye and fins. Unsuprisingly, it failed. Our ice-axe anchor was a lot more sucessfuly. We also learned absailing and belaying techniques.

We spent sunday night sleeping in Glasgow ariport (even though I was getting a train. Go figure), with only colouring in and repacking to entertain us.

Everyone had an awesome time, and I have some cool pictures and squishy blisters as souvineers.

Tranmere

I got paid fifteen quid, a free hot dog and a cup of tea to watch Tranmere last night. Maybe they should bribe more fans :). I also got to wear an orange jacket and shout at children.. all good fun :)

A job :o)

Hurray, I have a job at last :o). Assuming my referees lie a bit and make me sound like a nice person, I will be starting as a part time care assistant in the very posh Caldy Manor nursing home soon. It could be the start of something great, or it could be something that I don't enjoy but at least it pays off some debts.. Who knows? What matters is, I am trying to get my life back on track and this is an excellent start.

..and, unlike the other home I had an interview in, it didn't smell of wee :o)

Update

Is it healthy to spend around 6 hours a day reading god-awful tabloids while dressed in pyjama bottoms and a football shirt? Probably not. Dad pointed out I'm only a tightly scraped back hairdo secured by a scrunchy away from being a contender for 'Miss Birkenhead'.

So I haven't exactly had job offers pouring in, and even if I did I'm not sure what I really want out of this life. I haven't seen any of my friends, and I haven't done much thesis writing. My life is a series of badly written tabloid articles, web browsing and faffing interspersed with sport..

The sport is going ok though- I'm training for a 10k and I've just posted my application for the Anglesey marathon. I will decide on a charity to run for nearer the time. I think under the circumstances MIND might be appropriate, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm going to have a go at football (soccer to you americanised peeps- I'm not investing in a helmet and shoulderpads just yet) too.. all distractions are welcome :-). I need to do some climbing too, but I might wait until summer, brrr... can't Russia send it's unwanted wether somewhere else?

I'm happy, it's just my life seems pretty hollow right now. I will sort it out- get up at a sensible time, keep my mind focused on anything for more than 3 seconds at a time, get a job, get fit... It's funny, I have an idea for a novel that has a central theme of 'does what we do define who we are', and I was going to argue that no it doesn't, but I seem to be proving that it does.

Sorry, I'm rambling on now. Love to the few friends that read this, you are all very nice and important people xxx

Jetboil

Should I be worried that my lovely boyfriend bought me a present that includes the phrase 'may explode' 7 times in the instructions?

I love my jetboil, but I'll freely admit I'm scared of it. Dad was brave enough to try it, even though we were using the wrong king of fuel- it's pretty tough to get hold of the right fuel here. Dad reasoned that if the canister fits on the stove it couldn't be TOO dangerous. Luckily, we didn't have to reflect on the irony of his words later- no explosion ensued...

Other stuff... hmm, well.. I was second choice for the USL job. As the enigmatic Roy Walker used to say 'it's good, but it's not right'. I'm currently looking for alternative employment.. stacking shelves, filing, polishing toilets or bum wiping.. we shall she what fate has instore for me this time (can't be worse than a geophysics phd can it?)

I'm also back in training, and actually enjoyed running the last few times I went. That can't be right, can it?

Belated happy new year...

Left: A cold new year piccy taken by Andy.

Feliz nuevo ano! (Of course there should be a tilde over the 'n' in 'ano'- I'm not actually wishing you all a happy new anus....

We did the cheesy Times Square new year thing... Seven hours of standing in a cold, dull square watching a pot noodle gently steam, for 2 minutes of going 'wooo' as a disco ball slid down a flag pole. It's a funny old world. We weren't without entertainment- we did have a woman with the most amazing inflated lips to goggle at for a few hours. We did get to see Puddle of Mud, P.O.D. and OK Go, all of which made being forced to sit through a Mariah Carey song a little more bareable.

When I got back I had a job interview for a tech post at SOC. It went ok, but I'm not expecing to be offered the job. I should know this week, so they aren't keeping me in suspense for too long. I may have to start looking for a job here this week- debts to pay, usual story.

I managed to see friends, both in London and Southampton. Jac and I went and giggled through March of the Penguins.. It's visually stunning, but audiably atrocious. It's like a cross between Pingu and a depressing wildlife documentry. It's beautiful though- go and see it but take a walkman.