Quiet week of quiet

Last week was hectic, hence not posting on Thursday.  I applied for all four positions except for the reserves worker job -- I mixed up the due days, sadly.  Having said that, it was a really long shot that one.  Fingers crossed for the other ones though.  Nothing heard back yet, but it's not even been a week for some of them.

Outside of that, I've been leatherworking like a beast.  Not only have I completed two scabbards, I've almost completed a clutch purse, as well as cutting, dying and mostly stitching a pair of bracers.  I've also cut and designed another pair of bracers and a pair of greaves, along with spending all of last Tuesday cutting out my designs from the engraved metal blocks I got from Leprevo.  Hard work, but totally worth it.  So, here's the desk of stuff...

And that's not even everything for the moot... still, looking good!

Thursday was a day IKEA and I finally got a new phone.  No, no.  You don't understand.  I bought my last phone seven years ago.  Yes, it still works.  I normally don't get rid of things until they are past broken, however... you have to admit that smartphones are awesome.  I took the above picture with it.  That's how awesome they are.

No jobs to apply for this week, so far, sadly.  But I'm keeping that eye out.  I've also not heard back from any of the volunteer places.  I think I'll follow up on Monday and see what the craic is.  After all, it is that time of the year, so it's worth making sure that you've not been forgotten -- after a decent amount of time, of course.

Applications, applications everywhere...

So, that's that then.  I didn't get the Phytophthora Surveyor job.  Shame.  Real shame, mostly because I'd have loved it.  Ah well -- what's meant for you won't pass you by.  At least they told me that I didn't get it. 

I've literally just pressed send for that application for the teaching fellow job.  I hate to sound negative, however, they only advertised it for two weeks, with both a full and a part-time post attached to it.  Usually, within academia at least, this points to the job having been promised to someone on the inside of the institution, but in order to fulfill HR procedures they've advertised it for the smallest amount of time possible.  I hate to be a cynic, but I know that one from having been the person whose future job was advertised on the outside for a week... and of course, politics usually prevents them from giving it to the outsider.  But we shall see.  I'm certainly more than qualified and will be asking some questions if I don't get an interview.  On the bright side, if you don't apply, you can't get, and I've now written a cracking statement that can be modded for the other teaching position -- which appears to have some better benefits.

That done, I now have the following to apply for, with two I've spotted this week:

Arboricultural surveyor -- Requires CV (phew!) No date, I think I should get on that soon.
Reserves worker -- Application pack (eurgh), 23rd July.
Lecturer -- Online application (eurgh) 24th July.
Assistant ecologist --  Requires CV, again, no date, but by next week, if not tomorrow.
Ecologist -- Requires CV, 6th August

I can do this.  Just keep swimming... :)

Outside of that, I spent the last week doing some leatherwork (a handbag this time, on commission).  I also made quite the order from Leprevo this week.  Not only did I finalise those designs for the emboss plates, but I also ordered some leather dye, some medieval style buckles and some other gubbins.  Should be here by Monday-ish.  Looking forward to it, simply because I really, really want to see my own work put into metal.  It's quite literally solid at that point.

Last weeks's event was on the hilliest hill in all of steepest steepshire, I *know* I got my exercise as well as having a good time with some good mates.  So, plans for today?  Finish the decorations on that bag and help my mates finish moving.  Outside of that, tomorrow will be sent on CVs and applications.  I'll get there.  I just have to keep on working on my skills and applying for things.

So where did the time go?

My intention is to blog every Thursday.  Well, I've already failed these past two weeks, but huzzah!  Not this one.  This is a new week.

I think I can let myself off of blogging the Thursday before last.  Why?  I had a mild fever, a headache and tonsillitis which I had to go visit the doctor over in order to get antibiotics.  Not a lot got done that week (towards either work or the job hunt, if I'm honest) but I think it's fairly understandable.  Everything I tried went wrong, everything I touched turned to poop.  I think I managed to fill in the equal opportunities sheet on an application to be a Phytophthora surveyor correctly though, so hooray for that at least.

Last week, I was in leatherwork mode.  I was in work (teaching) Wednesday/Thursday and had some leatherwork to finish for an event that weekend.  Mostly, I had a helm to finish and campaign tags to make.  Done, dusted, sorted.  My speed is really picking up.

This week, I spent Monday completing that application for the Phytophthora surveyor, taking in some tips from the recruitment specialist I spoke to from Penguin and a few friends in the area.  Fingers crossed -- though I feel quite doubtful simply because interviews are next week and I've heard nothing back.  Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I also spent part of yesterday confirming and redesigning graphics for creating emboss plates so that I can emboss designs onto leather -- I've never done this process before, so, fingers crossed!

I have found four jobs to apply for this week now.  Two are environmental.  Two are in my old field of work.  I'm going to apply for all four.  They are as follows:

Arboricultural surveyor -- Requires CV (phew!)
Reserves worker -- Application pack (eurgh), 23rd July.
Teaching fellow -- Application pack (eurgh), 19th July.
Lecturer -- Online application (eurgh) 24th July.

Both the teaching positions have full time and part time posts.  I'm not sure how far I'd get on the reserves worker job, but as I've said before, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Today, however, I need to spend today doing leatherwork.  I have a hat to armour, a knife sheath to make, and I also have a wallet I'd like to make for myself as I rarely make anything for myself these days.  This weekend will also be spent at an event, having fun and getting exercise.