Just a quick update on my life...
(this is not funny, nor fascinating. If you want to be entertained read some of my other stuff instead - it's fecking brilliant)
I left my job in Herefordshire (because I hated the opressive atmosphere and I felt I was stagnating professionally) on the 16th October.
There then followed a two day conference which I was not only instrumental in bringing about but was actually chairing and presenting at. It seemed like a great success and might be the best acheivement of my career so far.
The following Monday I started a new job at a blue-chip company in Kent - 200 miles from home. It's a year's contract and the money is excellent but after I deduct the cost of living away from home I don't suppose I'll feel too much better off. Still, it's a slightly different field for me and I'm expecting to learn loads during the year.
10 working days in and I've done nowt useful yet. That's right, they've been paying me exorbatant money for me to sit around reading SOPs and waiting for someone to come round and set my computer up. So workwise it's been a bit frustrating. But what about the social life eh??????
10 nights away from home and I've been in two pubs and drunk 3 pints of beer (not counting the cans and bottles I've had in the isolation of my rooms). It's a bit crap sitting in a pub by yourself and there hasn't even been a football match to watch, quiz to go to or a karaoke to star in. In short, I'm lonely.
Regular readers will know that I suffer from periodic bouts of depression and I can feel it coming on now. Mind you, I knew it wouldn't be easy so I'm not surprised at all. It's only for a year and I'm sure things will improve both inside and outside work.
I've also got internet and a mobile phone so I've no excuse for being lonely really. I just am.
Last week I stayed in B&Bs and that was ok. Had a telly and a cooked breakfast and an american couple to talk to. This week I've moved into a shared house and you'd think that would be better. My housemate (there is a vacancy for a third) is a canny bloke from Ireland who teaches French and Spanish when he can (he's a supply teacher so gets about 3 days work a week). He's been around Caterbury for a few years so has a network of friends. We seem to get on all right but it just feels odd to me.
Anyway, I guess the partying starts tomorrow because I've located Canterbury Scrabble Club and I'm going to kick their sorry arses!