October update...

Hello people... How are you all?

Thanks for all your emails over the past few weeks/months (how long has it been??). I apologise as I have been royally crap at email of late. Personally I blame the early mornings and travelling to and fro from Slough. On a good day it takes an hour and on a bad it takes two hours! Luckily I can now car share with my mate Helen as she works with me now, so we take it turns to snooze on the way in!

As you may gather I am still contracting in Slough. Working for an e-Learning company and learning lots of new tricks with animation software packages. People are cool and its a nice company to work for. This week I was deputising for the Lead Graphic designer as she was on holiday. It was a wee bit stressful but I think I coped okay. Its just weird getting used to how other companies work having been in my old place for so long. I've enjoyed what we've worked on so far and so far they like our work (Helen and myself respectively). So much so that we both had the good news last week that they are extending our contracts until the end of the year. Plus they are already talking about projects in the new year that we both seem earmarked to work on... so thats a good sign. Fingers crossed... don't want to appear like I'm jumping the gun. I am just grateful to be working.

Another bit of good news I got today is that I got an interview for the OU (Open University) for a full time Media Developer role. A lot of us applied from my old place and I was successful in getting an interview. Am already a bit nervous as its with a panel of 3 people. I have been incredibly lucky in my career that effectively I have only ever had about 5 interviews. 2 formal interviews for Tescos, 1 formal for a Graphics company in MK and 2 really informal interviews/chats for the 2 jobs I got (Tescos doesn't count...!). My old job's interview was "have a cup of tea, what sort of stuff do you know, can you use a PC - ok you have the job" and the place I'm contracting in now was just an informal conversation about my experience in the industry. The OU one will be my first 'Proper' grown up one.... eeek! I have until the 2nd of November to practice. Plus I need to update my portfolio, get a website up and running and buy some interview clothes as I don't have any! (hey I'm a Graphic Designer... casual is my middle name!). I may do well, I may not, but am chuffed to have got this far. I can only be myself, not bullsh*t and hope I do okay. The job seems interesting and it has some good benefits such as pension, training etc. Failing getting that, I will continue contracting until I'm told otherwise or I find something else. I still have some additional freelance work left over from my old company too. Only problem now is being on contractors rates means I am being taxed heavily (the bar-stewards!!). At least I think so as my first weeks pay was like "Woo-hoo... I am minted" and the next paycheque was "where's the rest of it??". I must check up and see if I'm not being ripped off by the taxman! Mind you, one of the downsides of contracting is that you get paid sporadically when they feel like it. I've worked 6 weeks and only been paid for 2 of those. Again, hopefully more will come soon as I sure need it!

I had a lovely 30-fffo... birthday (too old to recall my age!). Had a lovely meal one weekend with my folks. Dad did some DIY for me too. Bargain! The following weekend, I ate out with my best mates and we then went to the cinema to see The Departed (very good film - recommended). We were supposed to go see a singer called Imogen Heap but her concert was cancelled due to a sore throat. Nevermind, the meal and cinema was excellent too. Tried a restaurant in Aylesbury that I thought for ages was a dodgy pub, but in fact has been converted into a fab retro pub/restaurant. Food was lovely and really reasonably priced. We are going again next weekend for Helen's birthday!

Maddy is fine too. Lovable as ever.

Anyway, I hope you don't mind me 'mass' mailing this way. It's just an easier way of giving you the goss as I tell most of you the same news :O)

If any of you have holidays planned, can I just say "you lucky gits". I would love one but just don't have the time. I can afford it too now (well.. when I'm paid) but obviously can't go mad in case I'm out of work after contracting here. As I'm in Slough, I see the flight path of Heathrow. I often daydream and wish I was jetting off to the Canaries for a short break as I sure need one! My brother is off to 'Noo Yawk' between Xmas and New Year. He's dead excited. If I do succeed in getting a permanent job, my contracting wages earned will definately treat me to something nice next year!

... some quick personals:

- Gill, apologies I missed our meet up date. Memory like a sieve. My weekends now are mostly spent sleeping in as I'm knackered most of the time. Oct is a birthday month for me too. Hopefully Nov or nearer xmas we can catch up.

- Una, hope the love life is going well. Any goss?? Hope so. Thanks for all your emails :O)

- Rosie... where are you? Are you okay? Have you rebuilt your house yet :O)

...everyone else, a big hello and hope you are well

Hope all of you are well. Don't work too hard.
Much love to you all & keep in touch

S x

PS - total toilet humour but you have GOT to check out this website. If any of you watch Most Haunted on Living TV, this is a parody called Most Farted. Its totally crass and stupid but very cleverly done and I laughed til I cried watching it. I emailed it round work and the lead software guy couldn't speak he was laughing so much... anyway, enjoy:

http://www.mostfarted.co.uk/home/
(click Play All - the Holly Valarse video is good too)
As you can see, my humour is definately gutter level! Enjoy :O)