Gathering Week

Ow.  This last week has been a hammer.

So, Monday -- first day volunteering at Record.  Actually, that was the day of rest and it was really good to get back into using GIS programs (even if it was MapInfo, which isn't my preference).  Still, I'd not done much with digitising NVCs before, so it was a really good experience and this weekend, I'll be doing some mycology off the back of it.  In short, I'll be learning some more about fungi and lichens.  Yes.  I'm weird.  I am aware of this.  Though the weirdest thing about volunteering at a biological records centre was the response to a team member finding a dead bat in one of the storage boxes.  Record collects all the biological sighting data for Cheshire... so of course there was interest in recording the type of bat and it's gender before getting rid of the poor thing (and it's new inhabitants.  Grim).  The bat situation was eventually resolved (and recorded, sadly).  I followed this up with a games evening in the pub, which was quite cathartic and made some new friends, which was good.  I also had a mooch earlier in the day where I spent some time hanging out with the red pandas.  I have to admit to watching one of them with great joy as they munched on one of the hawthornes in their enclosure with every sign of enjoyment.

And then I had a week where I could find no new jobs to apply for.  But that also gave me a week to do leatherworking.  Specifically faction symbols, more guild symbols, a belt with tonnes of pouches, bards sashes, a bandolier... it raised a lot of money for the faction, which is fantastic, plus it covered the make costs, so I'm a happy bunny (see all the tags below!)

Getting those metal stamps made saved my sanity.

Outside of that, the event this last weekend just about broke me. Still, I think I had fun -- I just wish I didn't attempt to get all my exercise for the month in in one weekend.  Yeowch.

As a side note, I now have over 300,000 followers on Pinterest.  I'm still shocked about it, but still -- very cool. It's made me think about adding to this blog and creating some infographics about ecology.

Recovery Week

In the last week, I completed the following:

48 guild symbols
Two pairs of bracers
A pair of greaves
Four scabbards (two with lammie pouches)
A wrist purse

And at this point, I feel the need to explain something, as potential employers may run across this blog.  I have a hobby and I'm the first to admit it's a bit odd.  In short, a few weekends every year, I camp for anywhere between 3-5 days, in a field (or sometimes scout camp).  I spend large amounts of time wandering around forested areas, sometimes trying to walk very quietly and often this happens at night and in all weathers.  It almost sounds like ecology, until you take into account that I'm wearing armour.  I like history and I like being active.  The hobby I do is similar to medieval re-enactment, but with some differences (e.g. we're not being historically accurate, though there are guidelines for kit; we're not re-enacting a battle as such, but battles do happen).  If you're interested, I'm happy to talk about it -- after all, it was the hobby that made me realise that I would be much happier working outside and doing ecology.  And this is the hobby that prompted me towards the leatherwork because a lot of the kit is leather-based armour, leather pouches and leather scabbards.

So, back to what I've been doing, here's some photo tasters of the work I did this week...

And bear in mind, that's not even everything.  Busy bee.

Then there was the event, then we had Alton Towers with some friends (which was a day badly needed).  And then it was back to the real world.

So, this morning I had an email turning me down for one of the academic jobs I applied for -- I'm really curious as to why as I am totally qualified in terms of teaching, though I admit I am missing a hefty research portfolio.  I think I'm going to email them and ask why.  I've also had an interview from RECORD inviting me to interview as a volunteer.  I can't make it this week, so fingers crossed they don't mind next week.  At least that's positive.  Not heard anything out of anyone else, sadly.

So, jobs this week...

I have just discovered that it may well be worth putting in a CV with some local firms for ecological surveying, bat surveying and perhaps as someone with a spray cert.  I should get on that today/tomorrow.

There is an invasive species officer volunteer placement down in Bridgend (meaning I could stay in Wales for the rest of the summer), however, it's entirely unpaid and I can't afford that.  I don't know who could, either, apart from people living with mum & dad or extremely well off people.  But that's another issue!

I did spot a really awesome placement with Lancaster Wildlife Trust last week, however, given that it was advertised on the Monday, with a deadline of Friday 1) it wasn't happening and 2) that's really short notice for a deadline, which points to someone being prepared to slip into that position.

So.  Two things to apply for.  And I'm off to Wales tomorrow.  On reflection, I know what I'm doing this afternoon...

Edit:  I forgot to mention.  For no apparent reason that I am aware of, in this last week on Pinterest, I have gone from having 1,000 odd followers to 23,197 followers this morning.  I have no idea why, but I'm not complaining.  Most of my pins are mainly about history with some ecology thrown in -- people seem to really like that, but I've done nothing to actively make people follow me.  It's just happened.

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.

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.