A 'Wales' Of A Time and Bad Connexions - Doh!

Hello there! (to translate to Welsh just at 'Ll' and random collection of letters!)

Pictures: Tintern Abbey X 2 and Nick 'n Liz's garden....loads more to put on my photo site this week......

I had a great weekend in Wales...Nick and Liz (luuuurvly people) live in a 1790 cottage in the middle of nowhere. It has a brook running through the garden and a gorgeous view....... even deer and newst!

The first night I arrived we just sat and drank wine...Good thing.

The next day we went to Tintern Abbey itself (a hauntingly spiritual place) and then to the pub (The Cherry Tree) for lunch. We went for a long walk in the afternoon around the River Wye and the old Tintern Railway.

In the evening Nick and I met up with Julian. It was a 3/4 reunion of our 1998 turkey holiday. Only Steve was missing (in action!). We went into Bristol and had too much cider and a stupidly hot curry!

On Sunday we walked though hail, snow and rain to a different pub (The Fountain) and had Sunday lunch before I went home. Fresh air and good food...perfect weekend really!

I shared a room with a charming cat called 'Cleo'. (Insert your own 'pussy' jokes here folks!)

On Monday I met up with a lady from Connexions(who was very nice and professional actually) to discuss why they didn't offer me an interview for the job I applied for when I obviously met all the essential criteria.

I had forgotten interviewers are so dense. (Which the lady told me I had forgotten!) - apparently instead of showing 'I am flexible' in my list of acheivements and roles I actually have to say 'this proves I am flexible...blah blah blah

I would have thought it was self-evident to anyone with half a brain that one can't have worked for newspapers and as a teacher without showing these qualities...DOH!

But I should have spelled it out! I should have remembered the interviewers ar e used to dealing with simple kids! Have you seen that Harry Enfield sketch 'Teach English To Aliens'? (that the Tellytubbies were based on?) I rest my case m'lud!

So although I DID meet all the criteria I didn't show it well enough on my form....So irrelevant whether I would be the best man for the job or not that can't under council guidelines give me an interview.

Even though under council guidelines, being still officially registerred disabled they HAVE to give me an interview.....work that one out!

I thought it was pretty obvious for example that being a journalist I can meet deadlines, be a good copywriter and can be flexible. But instead of just giving examples I should have said: ~"I can write good copy.....this is shown by" etc.....Pathetic eh? It would be like writing a junior school essay! Applications for morons vol1!

This did piss me off as I know I am better qualified and more experienced than some who have had interviews.

I would not be pissed off if they had decided I wasn't the best person for the job after an interview and looking at my portfolio.....But saying I didn't meet the criteria was a joke.

Again I know I am getting bitter about this but the woman said, reading between the lines I did meet the criteria......THEN WHY NOT GIVE ME AN INTERVIEW THEN .DOH!

The lady I spoke to, who was very nice and sympathetic, could see how pathetic it is really.

She gave me some good advice on my cuttings. I should have send in some with the application (even though it didn't ask for them) rather than wait for the interview.

As its a press officer job I would thought they would have appreciated my being concise and to the point..DOH! Excuse me for using INITIATIVE (obviously not encouraged!) Not in the public sector....

This is probably not too far form the truth.....I know a lot of dopey public sector people!

I expect the person they get for these types of jobs in the person they deserve rather than the person they need.

At least I will know what to do for the next application. REMEMBER HOW DENSE THE PEOPLE WHO SORT OUT THE APPLICATIONS ARE......

Actually its been a good experience. Because now I know I am ready to go back to work full-time I have had to re-do my portfolio and CV etc. Its been interesting talking to people who have had experience with Connexions.

Most ot the experiences have been bad - Apparently some of the people who go from school to school talking to kids are so dizzy the press officer job would have been a real challenge - to make them look good! But its one I could do!

Rant over....but I am not leaving it there....I have an application for a similar job at the county council to fill in. I will write it as if they are thick too....if I don't get an interview I will be angry and am likely to get VERY drunk!

On the work front I interviewed a doctor who used to be a missionary doc in Africa who is retiring from the NHS to work with his wife and daughter....You will read it in the paper soon.

I do feel re-newed after my weekend in Wales....or did, anyway. But I will take it all out on a poor cycling machine tomorrow....

Oh congratulations to my mum - who has just been made chairman of Brownhills Tangent Club!

Well I'm off to my ECDL Advanced class now at Tamworth/Lichfield College...Computers....eh? Who needs them! US!

MUSIC: Goldfrapp, Rammstein, Embrace (sorry...its good motorway music!)