Working!

For 2 weeks I've been in employment as a temp in a local company; it's been nearly 13 years since I've worked in my home town, and I must say that it's a novelty to walk a mile to work in the mornings - and all the more pleasant because there's plenty of birdsong to hear along the way. And it's a boost to the sense of self-worth to have some kind of employment to go to!

The work is updating spare parts documentation for product display stands - these are for various companies (chiefly cosmetics manufacturers) and are used in various retailers, varying from large chainstores and supermarkets to pharmacies. I'm working with 3 other men, and they're really nice guts to work with. It's great to be able to listen to music or the radio as you work. Music is certainly something we all have as a common passion. The job may only be for a month, and the pay doesn't compare with what I was earning in IT, but I'm grateful for it nevertheless.

I contacted my friend and former Zeda and Alliance & Leicester colleague Peter, who's still out of work, having applied for more than 100 jobs. I feel for him - and hope that despite this current recession he finds something soon. There's work out there, but with huge numbers of applicants chasing one position, employers can cherry-pick.