h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Indeed, it could have been very much worse. Believe me, there was some 'perspiring' going on for a time...

And I have also added a new name to my friends' list. I'll try to not be too much of a bother though.

you're no bother - and you probably realise that I'm not too shy to say so if someone is bothering me...

Cool.

So then, not having browsed the journals, ... Has anything begun to look a bit shinier in the employment world? For you or the ?

Oh, and in case I'd not mentioned it earlier, ... There's a link on my PS to some home and family piccies. Just to give you a notion of what my tribe and life are like.

oooooooooo I'll be having a look at that link then! I love to look at photos.

is stll looking, but he's found a few prospects not too far away. He is very good and has most excellent references so I'm still hopeful he'll get something soon. I hope so because he's 47 and been working since he was 16. this is a bit of a shock for him.

For me... the CVs I've already sent out are starting to come back. This weekend I'm starting in deadly earnest. So maybe someting will come up.

I guess, ... no, ... I KNOW that I have been fortunate. The only time I was in employment 'straits' was what led me to joining our military. After that, when I was ready for the change I had the security of a nearly endless job while I hunted. And really, though I put out about 15 or so resume's, the slot I now have was handed to me. By having a friend, who know of a friend ...

And yes, I am also 47, working full-time to support myself since I was 17. So to be fully without would be quite shattering for a time.

What-ever you do, PLEASE do not begin a new job on April 2nd. It is a cursed day.

April 2nd, 1981, I married my first wife. It would have been on the 1st, but being April-Fool's-Day, and my mother's birthday, it seemed a bad idea.

Also that night, as we danced after the dinner, my new mother-in-law through a temper tantrum on the dance floor. It proves that it was her 25th anniversary that very day. But being the female-canine that she was, she drove her husband away 16 or 17 years earlier. So no one remembered it.

That first wife is now re-married, ... in her 3rd marriage, in fact. That mother-in-law has met her final peace well over a decade ago. How-ever ...

Around 8'ish PM, on April 2nd, 1981, a woman birthed a diminuitive lad, in the city of St John's. Mere city blocks from where we danced. That lad is now my son-in-law !!!

spooky coincidences...

Ideally I'd like to start on 10th April and have the first week off (4 days actually, due to Easter) as holidays but I'm not sure how they will take that...

... this all presupposes that after the 2nd interview (21st Feb) I am actually offered the job...

... because I also want to make sure I get summer holidays of at least 2 weeks (the holiday in april to coincide with school Easter holidays, the summr to coincide a bit with school summer holidays)

well, you never know. It would be quite typical for a German company to do that for a person they really want.

fingers crossed please.

So... are you still doing that "new baby" grin thing? Are your cheeks aching? Did the new mum get a small glass of (really, my midwife swore by it to stimulate milk production and I very successfully bf both of the Gruesomes)

Indeed spooky !!!

I saw your journal, from work, but can only now post. Being at home again. A 2nd interview really does bode well, so a is in reserve for you. I'll not jinx anything by being premature with other congratulatory phrases.

I talked to the Mommy, and to be honest, I never even thought of the . I'll have to make a point of it tonight. But for everyone's "ooooh" and "aaaaah", there is a piccy of the Lady on my Fotki page now.

Having thought of you a dozen times today, I have to ask ...

How did the 2nd interview go, to your mind?

Oh, thanks for asking!

I though it went well. I was one of the shortlist of 3, and I was first up. (didn't see and know nothing about the others)

They did say they'd let me know soon - today I got a mail requesting my CV in English (after I had painstakingly translated it into German) so the General Manager can discuss me in the UK at a meeting next week.

So... here's hoping. They wanted it by Monday afternoon so I guess he is flying out (and hopefully back) on Tuesday (or having a Monday overnight) I'm very hopeful that I can hear back on Tuesday. Wednesday is the deadline to resign with 1 months notice to start in April.

But he knows that...

How are you? Still walking on air?

The walking on air was getting a bit tiresome. Do you realize how thin the oxygen is at altitudes? We are really still very pleased and happy, but have settled back to "mostly normal".

Indeed, a short-list is a good thing, I think. And the wanting to discuss your credentials sounds promising. But in the end, it still often comes down to who presented best at the interviews quite often. So I'll continue to hold half a breath, and think positive thoughts for you. I know from various reading how dissatisfied you are with your current place.

it's funny that as a completely non-maternal person with no interest in any children apart from mine (and some of those of my friends/family that I know) I go absolutely ga-ga over tiny babies.

In fact,a lot of people I know are pregnant and I've got an awful case of bump envy. Pity I can't get my own -that would solve the work issue for the next 18 months!

Thanks for the good vibes - I have done all i can.If I did it well enough,I'll get the job. If not - there will be another one along sometime.

On other fronts, how's stuff? Your 's new work, the little beasties that share the home, all of that stuff?

is doing ok, so that's good. He still has his eye out for something else (more and closer) but he seems ok.

The Gruesomes are turning into little ladies. You can see them here in their Karneval outfits

http://www.geocities.com/clanger_major/Karneval2007

We've just been shopping for a birthday for and they spent their pocket money on stuff for their hair (#1) and a silk scarf (#2) - they are really growing up! (still worried about #1 and school and the fact that she hates to read, but... well, it's her way isn't it?)

And I'm about to do some woodwork, so all is rosy while I try not to think about possible new jobs!

and how the devil are you?

Ya know, that pic with the "pacifier" may well be proper bribery material in another decade or so. Beyond that, the 'gruesomes' aren't totally frightening. They do, in fact, seem to exude some fun and vivaciousness about 'em. In brief, delightful. (So long as they are yours, on the other side of an ocean, and in a geographic region that I won't see next week ... )

Me? Well, my in-laws are coming for a visit in late April, so of course full and in-depth spring-cleaning MUST begin yesterday. It's been a busy day, there are many more domestic chores to meet, only about a dozen lesser taskings ... Oh, and I will probably be off to the farthest north for a week or two, so all stuff has to be done before that. In brief, life is about normal here.

oh my - an in-laws visit.
you'll be needing lots of this!

Just lately, apart from school stress with #1, I've been finding the Gruesomes quite a lot of fun. But that's more because they are turning into people,and they like the same music as me.

Amazingly, my girl also likes much of the same music that I do. Though with other stuff, I find her tastes questionable. (Including her choice of hubby, of course )

And actually, I really quite like my in-laws. They are very good hearted folks, who do NOT have 74 'helpful ideas' when they visit. And the mother-in-law is a real hoot when she gets on the floor, to play with the cats and entertain them.

that's amazing about how your daughter shares your musical taste... rather like me and my own dear mum.

hmmmmmm

It's nice to hear about people getting on with their in-laws. Mine are both no longer with us, but I got on ok with the old love.

and is any husband ever good enough for your daughter? I can't imagine there being 2 potential Gruesome husbands out there that come up to scratch.

You may well come to a day when ANY mate, male or female, that will take a Gruesome off of your hands is a good thing.

I think I especially liked it when the in-laws stopped reminding milady that she always has a home, if things don't work out. That would have been around our 10th anniversary. Ya see, I was married before. And to their older-days and very Catholic perspective, that translated as there obviously being something wrong with me, some taint.

And who knows, it may still fall apart ... But hopefully NOT before we visit the UK in September, to celebrate our 20th anniversary. I mean, the air-lines HAVE been paid for.

that's something worth hanging on for

I've been married nearly 22 years. which means more than half my life, which is a bit weird for me. My mum still tells me I always have a place there if I want it and if I'm in dire straits and can't afford a ticket, I can book it on her credit card.

Must just be a parent thing. Since I can see me saying the same thing in 20, 30, 40 years...