Saturday, June 30, 2007

What have I been doing?

I went to the library and they showed me some books but they didn't teach me how to read.
I went to art college and we built a sculpture because they assumed I knew how to paint.
I went to football academy and we talked about the offside rule but I had to go and practice taking penalties by myself.
I went to a driving instructor and he showed me the highway code but he wouldn't let me drive.
I went to the chess club and we played draughts.
I went to a beauty parlour and they sold me a lipstick but it didn't make me beautiful.
I went to ballet school and they danced for me.
I went to church and they gave me bread and wine but didn't show me how to pray.
I went to the circus and they painted a face on me but I didn't feel like a clown.

So now when I go to the opera I can't sing and when I go to the races I can't ride and when I go shopping I don't know what to buy.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Fool Me Once Shame on You, Fool Me Twice Shame on Me

Aphorism quoted by Captain James T. Kirk but I don't remember the episode title (any geeks listening?). Kirk was not shamed, as he recognised the bluff the second time, but I was. Oops.

Situation is advertised as having character X with (perhaps) a small element of Y, but the reality is rather the other way round - large amount of Y is expected and is in truth the primary objective, while character X is subsidiary, possibly political, and cynically looked at might be a way to give a gloss, a superficial attractiveness, to the otherwise ordinary dullness (and financial rewards) of the tasks demanded in fulfilling element Y so that a better class of applicant might be interested, or so that it might be presented that way. Scent of fish abounds.

The point is that it has happened before (with the same elements X and Y) to me, almost identically. The second time, the bluff has to be more plausibly constructed - quite plausibly, in fact, good job etc - but should I have spotted it? There were some clues that should have been more closely scrutinised (well I was sick).

Any third attempts will be regarded most carefully if they appear to come from God himself.

I did at least find out the true situation, albeit very late in proceedings, and endeavour was not without value. Still somewhat of a disappointment from a seemingly august body of men and women of supposed integrity, not to say faith. But I'm happy not to have got the job (if you can ever say that).

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Not Again

Well on the third day I am in recovery from what the doctors call "non-specific not-well-ness". This is apparently a technical term meaning "we don't know what caused it and we can't do anything about it, but there seems to be a lot of it about."

Twenty years in schools gave me an immune response so ferocious that nothing could get a foothold. Not anymore obviously. I have now been unwell twice in seven months when before twice in seven years was unthinkable. It is giving the essay problems. Two days lost to illness and three to interviews all within a fortnight (the last fortnight before the deadline) may cause some delay ...

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Vinyl is Back

... how else can one greet the news that the vinyl 7" - how retro is that, thank you Jack White - of Icky Thump sold out at Virgin in less than a week? (OK they didn't exactly get sent hundreds).

And I didn't get one ...

But I did get some operatic metal and some Finnish as well as the new QOTSA and Biffy Clyro, so not entirely a wasted trip. The album of Icky Thump is out tomorrow.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Not so fresh in Bristol

The Fresh Expressions training day has been cancelled due to lack of support. Come on, people, what is going on? Very disappointing.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Nice to Feel Wanted

The application forms and the interview invitations are currently in one-to-one correspondence standing at two each. Well. it's a start, anyway.