holiday, Parkhouse, house and Uni
It feels like an absolute age since I last wrote on here. So much has happened, lots of it is a blur and I don’t really know where to begin. Upon reflection of my last entry, I’ll start where I left off:
My holiday. Well, Crete was, as my six year old self would say in my diary which I have recently rediscovered, good and bad. It was great to get away, to learn how to relax, to read in the sun and spend time on the beach and by the pool, however it wasn’t without its down points. The place we stayed at, Malia, was like Skeg Vagas with lots of people trying to get us to go into the pubs and clubs. Me and rossy were more interested in seeing the sights, but it turned out we had booked our place on the most commercial side of the island. Some days it felt like we saw more English ppl than greek! We didn’t go out drinking as we didn’t see the point on wasting our money on that and listening to shitty music, so most nights we would have a lovely meal and wander back to the apartments to drink there. On the whole I enjoyed it, and I feel I bloody deserved it! Still, I don’t think we’ll go back again.
The day before we went off on hol, I got a call from this job I went for. I’d applied for so many jobs that I had gotten to the point where I had forgotten what I had applied for. The previous week I had been asked for an interview, but I couldn’t remember what job it was for! I very nearly didn’t go as I had so much on, but for some reason I did attend. It was a bit arquard when he asked me ‘So, why are you applying for this job’ and I had to blag it and blather on about how I had just finished uni and am more than capable! Eeek! Anyway it turned out that the job was for a receptionist/ PA at the company Parkhouse Evans. We chatted about books, literature and writing, and I left the interview feeling good about it, really wanting the job, but somehow not sure that I’ll get it.
Anyway, they called me, and I got the job! I was really happy, it seemed like the right direction for me, and if I do well they’ll get me doing copywriting and it will eventually help me to get into the publishing industry. I’ve had to wait over a month for my start date, but it finally arrived last Monday. And I’m sorry to say that the job isn’t what I thought it would be. Its much more complicated than that. Because I am the only receptionist there (its for a graphic design company) I am in charge of payrole, invoices, credit notes, ordering stock, print buying etc. All things I have never done before, and all financial jargon. I’m being trained by the current receptionist Vicki, who is leaving in two weeks, and what makes it worse is that the building is a three story terrace building, much like the one I live in now, and the rest of the staff are three flights of stairs up. I’m going to feel very lonely, and if I mess up there is no one there to help. Its also hindering me from getting to know my work colleagues as well as I would like, and I’m a firm believer in a job is made by who you work with, because in effect you see them more than your partner or family. I spent the whole of Monday and Tuesday thinking ‘oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck, I can’t do this’. After a full week there, I’m still not sure. Its getting better, but some of it is totally over my head. I haven’t even quit my Sat job at Bairstow Eves because I want to be sure about Parkhouse. Which means I’m working six day weeks at the moment. Not good.
We’ve found a house and move in on the 1st of July. Its not the nicest, not by far, but it’s a two bed terrace with G/C/H and double glazing, which were our two must haves. The kitchen is really shitty but the garden is nice. The thing I remember most about the place however is the decor. Granny granny busy wallpaper, clashing garishly with granny granny busy carpet. Yuk! Still it was silly to say no to a house because of its wallpaper, and we were struggling, so we took it. The other problem is that because of rossy’s bad credit rating, we (and by we I mean I, since he has no money as always, and now neither do I) have had to put a deposit down of £850 plus pay the first months rent £425, plus application and inventory fee £180 and £60. Its been a real strain and I hate feeling this financially unstable. Am now broke beyond a joke and not happy about it.
Now for the good news. I was deliberating whether to put it on here or not but fuck it. I’d have to tell you guys sometime, and god knows when I’ll see most of you. I haven’t been home in such a long time and have sacrificed so much for this. I’ve felt in shock, odd and shy, but I worked so hard. So. Here goes.
I got my uni results back the other day:
Creative Practice A-
Responsibility A
Dissertation A
Short Stories Portfolio A+
As I said, I’m still in shock. It hasn’t sunk in. At all. Part of it is that I don’t want to gloat, part of it is that I don’t want to seem arrogant. Part of it is that I don’t know how to handle my own achievements. And perhaps I don’t believe it. But they’re real, so I’m told….I don’t really know what to say.
My heads all a muddle of mixed emotions. What I should be feeling and what I’m actually feeling….
My holiday. Well, Crete was, as my six year old self would say in my diary which I have recently rediscovered, good and bad. It was great to get away, to learn how to relax, to read in the sun and spend time on the beach and by the pool, however it wasn’t without its down points. The place we stayed at, Malia, was like Skeg Vagas with lots of people trying to get us to go into the pubs and clubs. Me and rossy were more interested in seeing the sights, but it turned out we had booked our place on the most commercial side of the island. Some days it felt like we saw more English ppl than greek! We didn’t go out drinking as we didn’t see the point on wasting our money on that and listening to shitty music, so most nights we would have a lovely meal and wander back to the apartments to drink there. On the whole I enjoyed it, and I feel I bloody deserved it! Still, I don’t think we’ll go back again.
The day before we went off on hol, I got a call from this job I went for. I’d applied for so many jobs that I had gotten to the point where I had forgotten what I had applied for. The previous week I had been asked for an interview, but I couldn’t remember what job it was for! I very nearly didn’t go as I had so much on, but for some reason I did attend. It was a bit arquard when he asked me ‘So, why are you applying for this job’ and I had to blag it and blather on about how I had just finished uni and am more than capable! Eeek! Anyway it turned out that the job was for a receptionist/ PA at the company Parkhouse Evans. We chatted about books, literature and writing, and I left the interview feeling good about it, really wanting the job, but somehow not sure that I’ll get it.
Anyway, they called me, and I got the job! I was really happy, it seemed like the right direction for me, and if I do well they’ll get me doing copywriting and it will eventually help me to get into the publishing industry. I’ve had to wait over a month for my start date, but it finally arrived last Monday. And I’m sorry to say that the job isn’t what I thought it would be. Its much more complicated than that. Because I am the only receptionist there (its for a graphic design company) I am in charge of payrole, invoices, credit notes, ordering stock, print buying etc. All things I have never done before, and all financial jargon. I’m being trained by the current receptionist Vicki, who is leaving in two weeks, and what makes it worse is that the building is a three story terrace building, much like the one I live in now, and the rest of the staff are three flights of stairs up. I’m going to feel very lonely, and if I mess up there is no one there to help. Its also hindering me from getting to know my work colleagues as well as I would like, and I’m a firm believer in a job is made by who you work with, because in effect you see them more than your partner or family. I spent the whole of Monday and Tuesday thinking ‘oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck, I can’t do this’. After a full week there, I’m still not sure. Its getting better, but some of it is totally over my head. I haven’t even quit my Sat job at Bairstow Eves because I want to be sure about Parkhouse. Which means I’m working six day weeks at the moment. Not good.
We’ve found a house and move in on the 1st of July. Its not the nicest, not by far, but it’s a two bed terrace with G/C/H and double glazing, which were our two must haves. The kitchen is really shitty but the garden is nice. The thing I remember most about the place however is the decor. Granny granny busy wallpaper, clashing garishly with granny granny busy carpet. Yuk! Still it was silly to say no to a house because of its wallpaper, and we were struggling, so we took it. The other problem is that because of rossy’s bad credit rating, we (and by we I mean I, since he has no money as always, and now neither do I) have had to put a deposit down of £850 plus pay the first months rent £425, plus application and inventory fee £180 and £60. Its been a real strain and I hate feeling this financially unstable. Am now broke beyond a joke and not happy about it.
Now for the good news. I was deliberating whether to put it on here or not but fuck it. I’d have to tell you guys sometime, and god knows when I’ll see most of you. I haven’t been home in such a long time and have sacrificed so much for this. I’ve felt in shock, odd and shy, but I worked so hard. So. Here goes.
I got my uni results back the other day:
Creative Practice A-
Responsibility A
Dissertation A
Short Stories Portfolio A+
As I said, I’m still in shock. It hasn’t sunk in. At all. Part of it is that I don’t want to gloat, part of it is that I don’t want to seem arrogant. Part of it is that I don’t know how to handle my own achievements. And perhaps I don’t believe it. But they’re real, so I’m told….I don’t really know what to say.
My heads all a muddle of mixed emotions. What I should be feeling and what I’m actually feeling….