Sunday, 11 March 2018

#469 Theory and applications

I spent my time outside of lectures writing and looking for permanent work. The applications often required a current employer's reference. 

I was 99% sure the agency would give one. I'd get in touch with them during the week to make sure. I hadn't been in the job long and it felt soon to be asking. Then again, it was temporary and had no notice period on either side. Plus the hours would die down when the students had exams. The flexibility of the job was part of what attracted some support workers, who would come and go throughout the year.

I was mindful of the students' needs. I knew it was better for them to have the assistance, so until I actually found a new position, I'd taken on as many hours as I could and would keep it up for as long as I could. I enjoyed the work too although it wasn't enough to sustain me long-term.

I'd never seen another note-taker in the classes although I knew they existed. As a member of a pool of support workers, every day, a handful of assignments would hit my mailbox covering everything from note-taking to library assistance. Sometimes ad-hoc. Sometimes long-term.

It seemed possible there'd be other assignments over the summer. Colleges with different term dates. Summer courses. I'd asked the agency but their response suggested it was bits and pieces rather than anything substantial. I'd make the most of the role while I had it. Going back to uni had been fun but I couldn't stay there forever.


Note

Hetal, who reads the blog, emailed me this week with a comment about another regular reader. She said I could include it in the blog, so here is what she wrote...

"Part of what I enjoy about your blog is FizzFan's comments. She's a really lovely and smart person. She never judges and adds interesting tales of her own."

14 comments

Fizzfan said...

Pretty sure you’ll get your reference. It’s a job in itself getting a job isn’t it.
What kind of things are you looking for now?
It’s hard when you try to think what you’d be good at or what you’re qualified for. I still don’t know!
Ideally I think I’d like something involving talking to and helping people, no stress and very little travel. Trouble is some people are quite stress inducing and my patience isn’t limitless.
Always fancied being a librarian but didn’t take any GCSEs, so could never apply. HoHum.

I’ve got a very smiley surprised slightly embarrassed face over your Note. That’s really cheered me up. Thanks so much for passing that on:)))
Maybe they could join in the conversations sometimes? Be nice:)

Good luck with the job hunt:)

Profound Familiarity said...

I've been looking at communications (PR/marketing) since volunteering at CoolTan as that was fun and it would give me a chance to write/edit.

"Ideally I think I’d like something involving talking to and helping people, no stress and very little travel" - that sounds great.

It would be cool to work in a bookshop - just because I imagine they'd let you take home and read anything you wanted although I don't know how realistic that is! It would be kind of like being a librarian. I bet they get tons of applications.

Fizzfan said...

There really are very few people that can write and describe just about anything as well as you Dan.
You have a huge capacity for bringing detail to life and making it interesting. It’s the thing I enjoy most about your blogs.
Ever thought of submitting something to a National paper? I’m pretty sure many of them have on line articles and you can sign up to receive them and then maybe apply to see what’s available on their ‘jobs’ sites. Maybe they have freelance slots?
Just a thought....I read many and often think you could do just as well as many of the articles written, and the subject matter is vast.
Guardian, Independent etc....

I haven’t read a book for ages. I’m toying with the idea of signing up for audio books, my MIL is addicted to them.
I like the idea of sticking some headphones on and just have someone read to me. I’d probably nod off though.

That sounds like a nice job actually, being the voice behind an audio book.

Profound Familiarity said...

I do like the thought of getting published more. Funnily enough I got a poem into a local paper this weekend but that was mostly a novelty and it would be a good challenge to try something more substantial.

Yeah audiobooks can be very relaxing because they're stimulating but not as intense as Netflix. What sort of book are you looking for?

Fizzfan said...

Massive congrats on getting your poem published! Any chance of a read? (No pressure if you’d rather not)

Probably my 3 favourite books are Death Of An Ordinary Man by Glen Duncan, Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón and Don’t Move by Margaret Mazzantini.
Ones about a dead man investigating his own death. Ones about a boys compulsion to find the truth out about a mysterious author that leads to devilish encounters and the other ones about a surgeon trying to save his dying daughter which provokes confessions about his sordid past.
That’s a very simplistic overview but mystery, death, surrealism and dark truths hold me captive and of course utterly brilliant writing.
Having said that for a nice easy read I loved Bridget Jones Diary!
I think I like books that transport me into vivid and different ways of thinking. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I was really sad when I finished those books.

How about you. Any favourites?

Profound Familiarity said...

You can read it at the bottom of page 28, here
Or I've also saved a copy here

Mystery, death, surrealism and dark truths. Have you read some Agatha Christie or is that a bit simple?

I just glimmpsed at the Wikipedia page for Bridget Jones and it reads "Fielding credits Bridget’s success to the fact that, at heart, it is about “the gap between how we feel we are expected to be and how we actually are” which she has described as an alarming symptom of the media age."

I'm not particularly well read and most of what I have read is non-fiction (and most of that is forgettable self-help material) but I liked Dostoyevski's Brothers Karamazov having listened to a free audio book of it a year or two ago.



Anonymous said...

Hi FizzFan,

I love the dialogue between you and Dan and would have to come up with something magical to add value.

I often read your comments and wish I was as eloquent.

I struggle sometimes to think before I speak/write but I’ll try ;)

Hetal

Fizzfan said...

Hellooooo Hetal:))))!

I’ve decided from what you’ve written and the fact that you’re Dans friend that you are magical, so no effort required!

Dan’s so clever I have to put my best thinking hat on and I’m amazed it even sounds half sensible most of the time.

Love news n views, so please feel free to join in any time. I spend most of my life in a blur of trying to decide on anything definite and fail miserably most of the time.

More muddled musings would be most excellent:)!

Fizzfan said...

Dan it’s weird you mentioned Agatha Christie because I used to devour her books when I was a teenager. The detective murderous theme has clearly never left me.

You poem was a triumph and I can now say I know a celebrated published poet:) Big fat well done!
You’ve done so many great blogs about places around London, maybe they could be persuaded to showcase some more musings?

The gap betweeen how we think we should be and really are..........that’s a pretty big canyon for most I should think. That’s probably why I like reading about dark truths.
I prefer our most civilised selves by a mile, and it’s definitely the way forward, but I do know my public face and the one that relaxes into a dressing gown n tracky bottoms at home is almost unrecognisable. Probably one of the reasons I’ve never been one to encourage people to pop round. I have been known to just not answer the door. In fact unbeknownst to me, I once left my Dad n Stepmum on the doorstep and they’d had a 50 mile journey. I would add that his visit did have another purpose but he still doesn’t know I was actually in.
I don’t know if it’s a symptom of media age, or just plain old vanity and shame.

I shall look into Dostoyevsky’s book. I like his name almost as much as Heironymus Bosch:)

Profound Familiarity said...

Hetal your comment is appreciated :)

She is very modest Fizzfan, Hetal is excellent at adding value.

Is it wrong I chuckled a bit at your dad driving 50 miles and you not answering the door?

Have you ever tried to write it down, like in two columns, who you are (across a handful of typical dimensions) and who you imagine you should be?

Fizzfan said...

Modesty. It’s so undervalued. I admire it more and more the older I get.

I’m happy you chuckled. Always. Chuckles are good, whatever the reason. I just finished watching Ricky Gervais latest show on Netflix.
Best bit was a story about his Mums funeral. I won’t spoil it in case you watch it some time.
Reminded me of a posh wedding I went to years ago when the groom knelt at the alter and displayed HELP! on the sole of ones of his shoes. He was a joker and a lovely guy and I had more faith in that marriage working than many others. Yes they’re still together and as far as I know, still very happy.

I had a look at the book. It sounds right up my street. I think I’ll put it in my Audio Book todo list when I can invest the time.

Fizzfan said...

Two columns?
That sounds a bit worrying because I’d be left with quite a lot of work to do to get to be my imaginary should be self.
Self improvement has never really appealed to me because I don’t think I’m too bad and know being too good isn’t really me anyway. It’s always sounded a bit of an overstretch and quite exhausting. There’s a lot to be said to being happy(ish) with yourself even if you know you’re far from perfect.
I guess I try to be nice, and like me best when I am, and always keep that in mind, but the world does conspire against that wish sometimes and then I’m not.
It’s also helped enormously by me having the nature of a cat crossed with an ostrich.

I think most people are a hotchpotch of everything, but mostly good and lovely. Flaws are sometimes much more interesting than perfection anyway, and maybe can develop more interesting people?

Profound Familiarity said...

You seem OK as you are Fizzfan.

I might take a look at that Ricky Gervais show... maybe... I'm spending a lot of time on Quora at the moment but if I feel like watching some 'flix, that's what I'll watch.

Profound Familiarity said...

I thought some of the dead baby stuff was funny.