This weekend will see me and Tash return back to the travelling life, when we doddle off to Spain for a little while.
It will be slightly different from our last jaunt away, as we will have a place to stay (free of charge - yay), and we won't be living out of a bag quite so much.
While out there we will be concentrating on finding a job for when we get back, and will also be painting the villa thst we're staying in for a bit of money to help us.
Recently, I've made slight progress with the writing thing. I've been doing some work for my sister's mobile phone website, www.knowyourmobile.com, and also have taken over the writing for the Charlton blog at The Offside. Also, I have recently had an interview with Nick Hammond, the Director of Football at Reading FC, which will hopefully be making an appearance on the When Saturday Comes website. All things that I can put on my CV at least.
Most of all though, I think the time away will do us, as a couple, some good. We'll be able to have some time together on our own, which we're used to and we do better with. Things have been a little bit tough recently and its time to get back on track.
I can't wait.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
I'm now officially a job-hunter
Well, trying to anyway.
The first issue I have is my CV. The second issue is the quality of my CV. There is nothing in there that will make me stand out. I have no experience and the rest of the content I have is stuff that every Tom, Dick and Harry has on their CV. Even my girlfriend who I have never seen run in my life makes it sound like she was some sort of athletics champion when she was 12 years old! Everyone lies yes, but can people lie about stuff which doesn't make my true stuff sound like lies?
I need to somehow send out through a piece of paper that travelling was a mind-widening, life-changing, lightbulb-switching adventure. Which it was. But you can talk to me and I'll tell you, but how to express that in something as uniform and dreary as a CV? Especially one which only has a call centre job and educational achievements on it! Tips will be appreciated.
Onto a more positive outlook, I recently caught up with some friends that I hadn't seen in years. It was fantastic to be back with people that I grew up with, and still after all this time, feel so in tune with. University was an amazing time, but when it comes to friends, with a few notable exceptions, friends from school will always seem to be the hardy ones.
So it needs to happen more often really. Unfortunately finances are so tight at the moment, I cannot afford the cost of going back home. I've been invited out this weekend, but I simply cannot pay the £15 for the train and the added cost of going out etc. Its a shame because I would love to do so.
So we come full circle. To see my friends, I need money. To get money, I need a job and to get a job I need to sort out this weak, fluffy CV and get somebody to read it with interest.
Wish me luck.
The first issue I have is my CV. The second issue is the quality of my CV. There is nothing in there that will make me stand out. I have no experience and the rest of the content I have is stuff that every Tom, Dick and Harry has on their CV. Even my girlfriend who I have never seen run in my life makes it sound like she was some sort of athletics champion when she was 12 years old! Everyone lies yes, but can people lie about stuff which doesn't make my true stuff sound like lies?
I need to somehow send out through a piece of paper that travelling was a mind-widening, life-changing, lightbulb-switching adventure. Which it was. But you can talk to me and I'll tell you, but how to express that in something as uniform and dreary as a CV? Especially one which only has a call centre job and educational achievements on it! Tips will be appreciated.
Onto a more positive outlook, I recently caught up with some friends that I hadn't seen in years. It was fantastic to be back with people that I grew up with, and still after all this time, feel so in tune with. University was an amazing time, but when it comes to friends, with a few notable exceptions, friends from school will always seem to be the hardy ones.
So it needs to happen more often really. Unfortunately finances are so tight at the moment, I cannot afford the cost of going back home. I've been invited out this weekend, but I simply cannot pay the £15 for the train and the added cost of going out etc. Its a shame because I would love to do so.
So we come full circle. To see my friends, I need money. To get money, I need a job and to get a job I need to sort out this weak, fluffy CV and get somebody to read it with interest.
Wish me luck.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Here we go then
Well, its been a fair while since I wrote on this blog (I'm terrible at this blog malarkey) and I've just discovered it again. Time to write.
Not only time to write, but time to start living also. I've just come back from 5 months away, travelling the world. Its only really starting to sink in what an incredible trip I went on. So many things I've seen that I would never see any other way, and such an eye opener to other, less fortunate places in the world. Has it changed me? I don't know, I would imagine yes, but I think it is too soon at the moment to define that change. As the weeks go by I'll find out.
Today two big news stories on the football front. First, England fail to win the bid for the World Cup in 2018. I always had a feeling that it would go to Russia and the way it went, it looked as though the Fifa members were determined to make that feeling come true.
I don't think this was a decision made today. It looked to me that it was weeks, maybe months in the makings. Panorama didn't change anything. It may have been the difference between us getting through the first round and not, but the end result would be the same. It seems that a few voters "backstabbed" the England bid by changing their mind. It's as if this vote became similar to a wrestling angle - Jack Warner pretending to be someones partner, before costing them the title in a big match.
Questions really have to be asked about Fifa's integrity. The problem is that they are unaccountable to anyone, and basically can do what they want. I think everybody with any interest in the global game knows that Fifa executives are corrupt, but nobody can do anything about it. To have any chance of "getting on" with these people, we would have to resort to similar games that they play. Personally, I'm glad we don't, and maybe one positive from us losing out might be our scorned press looking to dig out the truth about just how corrupt Fifa are.
Russia have not hosted a European Championships, and they have stadiums that need to be built. The games will take place in different time zones, and the distances between host cities are so large, fans will have to travel by plane or face a 10 hour train journey to travel between. Along with this, and perhaps a slightly more worrying prospect, is the inherent racism that still has such a strong presence in Russia.
Ask Peter Odemwingie what he thinks of Russian fans. There was an interview on the BBC with an African player who plays in Russia before the announcement today. He said he didn't want the World Cup to be held in Russia, and said playing was an ordeal. How can it be that a country is rewarded for being behind the times with human rights? Why should it be seen as a chance for Russia to put that behind them, as I've heard today and will no doubt hear again. Surely a better thing to do would be to not consider a bid from that country until incidents involving signs with a banana on just do not happen. Until any European team with black players can play a match in Russia without having monkey noises made at them. I find it disgusting really that UEFA and FIFA took no action against the fans who made and supported that sign, and instead swallowed the (pardon my french) bollocks that they were fed about "having a banana" being a phrase for a bad performance.
What will happen when the Ivory Coast or Nigeria play Russia in 2018? I'd love to see Blatter squirm when that happens, but unfortunately for him to squirm would mean he actually cared about anything other than himself and his wallet.
The selection of Qatar is worthy of a few Roger Moore eyebrows too. Here is a country with no footballing pedigree or history (not even qualified for a World Cup before), is approximately 50 degrees at the time the World Cup takes place, and currently has no football stadium with a capacity of over 20,000. Questions HAVE to be asked over why they have been chosen. Their bid was classed as high risk, the lowest scoring technical report. They have crazy ideas of weather machines and air conditioning in the stadiums, and stadiums that can be taken down and reconstructed elsewhere. FIFA keep talking about "legacy". Well, all Qatar's legacy will be is a few empty plots where football stadiums once stood, and increasing the bank balance of Blatter, Warner et al. How can they, in all seriousness, be selected to host a World Cup?
I have heard of a story of Jack Warner having an interest in a construction company. I wonder which construction company will be used to build the required stadiums in Russia and Qatar.
The second big story of the day is that Richard Murray, Chairman of Charlton Athletic has accepted a takeover bid. Details are sketchy at the moment, but ex-CEO Peter Varney is fronting the bid, and that is making the whole Charlton community far more optimistic. We know Varney, we also know Murray, and neither of them would let us down with something as huge as this. Hopefully this will be the catalyst in propelling us back up the leagues without the threat of administration or just plain lack of money holding us back.
Not only time to write, but time to start living also. I've just come back from 5 months away, travelling the world. Its only really starting to sink in what an incredible trip I went on. So many things I've seen that I would never see any other way, and such an eye opener to other, less fortunate places in the world. Has it changed me? I don't know, I would imagine yes, but I think it is too soon at the moment to define that change. As the weeks go by I'll find out.
Today two big news stories on the football front. First, England fail to win the bid for the World Cup in 2018. I always had a feeling that it would go to Russia and the way it went, it looked as though the Fifa members were determined to make that feeling come true.
I don't think this was a decision made today. It looked to me that it was weeks, maybe months in the makings. Panorama didn't change anything. It may have been the difference between us getting through the first round and not, but the end result would be the same. It seems that a few voters "backstabbed" the England bid by changing their mind. It's as if this vote became similar to a wrestling angle - Jack Warner pretending to be someones partner, before costing them the title in a big match.
Questions really have to be asked about Fifa's integrity. The problem is that they are unaccountable to anyone, and basically can do what they want. I think everybody with any interest in the global game knows that Fifa executives are corrupt, but nobody can do anything about it. To have any chance of "getting on" with these people, we would have to resort to similar games that they play. Personally, I'm glad we don't, and maybe one positive from us losing out might be our scorned press looking to dig out the truth about just how corrupt Fifa are.
Russia have not hosted a European Championships, and they have stadiums that need to be built. The games will take place in different time zones, and the distances between host cities are so large, fans will have to travel by plane or face a 10 hour train journey to travel between. Along with this, and perhaps a slightly more worrying prospect, is the inherent racism that still has such a strong presence in Russia.
Ask Peter Odemwingie what he thinks of Russian fans. There was an interview on the BBC with an African player who plays in Russia before the announcement today. He said he didn't want the World Cup to be held in Russia, and said playing was an ordeal. How can it be that a country is rewarded for being behind the times with human rights? Why should it be seen as a chance for Russia to put that behind them, as I've heard today and will no doubt hear again. Surely a better thing to do would be to not consider a bid from that country until incidents involving signs with a banana on just do not happen. Until any European team with black players can play a match in Russia without having monkey noises made at them. I find it disgusting really that UEFA and FIFA took no action against the fans who made and supported that sign, and instead swallowed the (pardon my french) bollocks that they were fed about "having a banana" being a phrase for a bad performance.
What will happen when the Ivory Coast or Nigeria play Russia in 2018? I'd love to see Blatter squirm when that happens, but unfortunately for him to squirm would mean he actually cared about anything other than himself and his wallet.
The selection of Qatar is worthy of a few Roger Moore eyebrows too. Here is a country with no footballing pedigree or history (not even qualified for a World Cup before), is approximately 50 degrees at the time the World Cup takes place, and currently has no football stadium with a capacity of over 20,000. Questions HAVE to be asked over why they have been chosen. Their bid was classed as high risk, the lowest scoring technical report. They have crazy ideas of weather machines and air conditioning in the stadiums, and stadiums that can be taken down and reconstructed elsewhere. FIFA keep talking about "legacy". Well, all Qatar's legacy will be is a few empty plots where football stadiums once stood, and increasing the bank balance of Blatter, Warner et al. How can they, in all seriousness, be selected to host a World Cup?
I have heard of a story of Jack Warner having an interest in a construction company. I wonder which construction company will be used to build the required stadiums in Russia and Qatar.
The second big story of the day is that Richard Murray, Chairman of Charlton Athletic has accepted a takeover bid. Details are sketchy at the moment, but ex-CEO Peter Varney is fronting the bid, and that is making the whole Charlton community far more optimistic. We know Varney, we also know Murray, and neither of them would let us down with something as huge as this. Hopefully this will be the catalyst in propelling us back up the leagues without the threat of administration or just plain lack of money holding us back.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Day off from work
I really want to write. That’s what I tell myself every day. But then the day passes and I’ve still not managed to get any writing done. Is it a lack of subject matter? Well I don’t think I live the most interesting of lives, but given the amount of blogs written out there on the interweb, I’m sure I must have something more to offer than some of them. I must have something to say. I don’t think it is subject matter. I think if you write something in the right way then you’ll always be able to get someone’s attention.
Writing about Charlton can sometimes be quite tough, as a lot of the day is already invested thought and reading-wise.
It sums up the wonders of the internet. You can find out the answers to any question you might have. Today’s question was “What are the squiggly lines in my eyes when I look at the sky?” You can find out details about any band that has ever existed, what their albums are like and even listen to some of the tracks. Today’s band was The Atomic Bitchwax. You can also waste time reading the results of a poll conducted on a Charlton fansite. Today’s poll - who was a more pathetic excuse for a football manager during their time in charge, Muppett Number One Alan Pardew, or Muppet Number Two, Iain Dowie. Pardew is currently beating Dowie at the moment, though general consensus appears to be that “we” would rather have David Blunkett in charge that have one of those irritating berks back. Even whilst unable to see, David Blunkett wouldn’t have spent £2 million on Djimi Traore or Luke Varney.
Anyway, finding the energy to write about Charlton can be tricky when you’ve already been brought down to the depths that only following a football club can bring before you’ve even got the sleep out of your eyes. Perhaps if Charlton managed to raise a smile then that would help.
Still there are other things to write about. My life might be the best best. Its not the best at the moment, but it will get better. I absolutely cannot wait to go travelling. The idea of travelling round the world armed with a pen and pad seems exciting and if I can’t make a story out of that, then I may as well never touch a writing accessory ever again.
As long as I don’t go near somewhere where I can access information about Floaters in my eyes, stoner/jam rock bands and perhaps most of, Charlton bleedin’ Athletic.
Writing about Charlton can sometimes be quite tough, as a lot of the day is already invested thought and reading-wise.
It sums up the wonders of the internet. You can find out the answers to any question you might have. Today’s question was “What are the squiggly lines in my eyes when I look at the sky?” You can find out details about any band that has ever existed, what their albums are like and even listen to some of the tracks. Today’s band was The Atomic Bitchwax. You can also waste time reading the results of a poll conducted on a Charlton fansite. Today’s poll - who was a more pathetic excuse for a football manager during their time in charge, Muppett Number One Alan Pardew, or Muppet Number Two, Iain Dowie. Pardew is currently beating Dowie at the moment, though general consensus appears to be that “we” would rather have David Blunkett in charge that have one of those irritating berks back. Even whilst unable to see, David Blunkett wouldn’t have spent £2 million on Djimi Traore or Luke Varney.
Anyway, finding the energy to write about Charlton can be tricky when you’ve already been brought down to the depths that only following a football club can bring before you’ve even got the sleep out of your eyes. Perhaps if Charlton managed to raise a smile then that would help.
Still there are other things to write about. My life might be the best best. Its not the best at the moment, but it will get better. I absolutely cannot wait to go travelling. The idea of travelling round the world armed with a pen and pad seems exciting and if I can’t make a story out of that, then I may as well never touch a writing accessory ever again.
As long as I don’t go near somewhere where I can access information about Floaters in my eyes, stoner/jam rock bands and perhaps most of, Charlton bleedin’ Athletic.
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