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

Blimey, it's been a while since I last wrote a journal, hasn't it?

Anyhoo, I'm having a strange day: another kid was stabbed at my school, this time it was a particularly nasty attack and the kid got their face slashed. I wasn't remotely involved apart from helping with crowd control.

I'm going to an interview for a course I really want to get on. The advent of ConDemNation sealed the fate of Aimhigher and jobs in universities in general. At interviews I'm now competing with people who have 10/15 years of experience and contacts and I don't stand a chance, so a career side-step seems my best option. The interview is on a day that's causing quite a lot of friction between me and work (hard to believe, I know) so being in Manchester that day will be quite handy.

I'm about to become an uncle to a kid I'll probably never meet. This is bugging me quite a lot, way more than I'm letting on in RL. My family problems continue to cause me pain and I've not spoken to most of them for the better part of 5 years.

Hi there,

Just to let you know I have read your journal, and feel for you. Lots of tough things to deal with. Please accept this virtual . It's not very substantial, but the best I can up with in the circumstances.

My own son has had the occasional day's work via Aim Higher, and he did tell me he was expecting the money to dry up - so I appreciate what you are telling us. (My son is doing a PhD, and so needs additional income from things like this)

What is the course you want to get onto about? I'm sending positive thoughts your way and virtual and

Oh, and the family situation - I can only say that children find their own way in the world eventually. Sometimes we are closer to people we are not related to rather than one's we share blood ties with.

I wish you the very best of luck my dear



Lanza

Oh goodness, what an interesting life you lead. That school alarms me, to put it mildly - is it particularly unusual in that area?

Good luck with the course. Is it something in a similar line, or is it something completely new?

As for the family... Well, good luck with that too. I can't say anything remotely useful on the subject. My lot are dysfunctional too, but in their own way, as I suspect everyone's is, but yours do seem rather more challenging than some.

The stabbing was unusual, but something we're starting to see more of. Things are getting just a little bit nervy around here.

The new course/job is in careers guidance, so it's something I've already got a good grounding in. Bit of a sideways move, but's got more chance of career progression than my current job does.

Family stuff - same old, same old really.

Careers guidance could be interesting, especially if the person seeking guidance has unrealistic ambitions...