It's past midnight now and I can't sleep. Actually, I haven't been able to sleep properly for the past few nights now. I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about how different things would be, if only.... if only I answered that question in more depth; if only I didn't run out of time during that lesson; if only I turned my satnav on on my way to that interview instead of trying to find it using the directions on the website, if only whatever it was that came up in the feedback. But that's if only....
The simple fact is, that next week a new school term starts and I should be setting up my classroom on Monday, ready to meet my brand new tutor group later in the week and start teaching as a qualified teacher. Instead, I'll be looking forward to my fortnightly visits to the jobcentre for my jobseekers allowance and I'll be waiting in the mornings for a telephone, that somewhere, a school might need a supply teacher to come in for the day to cover a teacher who's off sick. Everything I looked forward to about teaching, my own tutor group, my own classroom, it's not going to happen anytime soon. And it hurts. It really, really hurts. Most of my fellow PGCE students will be setting up their classrooms next week and will be meeting their tutor groups. Don't get me wrong, I'm not jealous. I'm genuinely glad for them and wish them the best for their career. But it leaves me with a bitter feeling. I sit here with my QTS certficate next to me, saying that I have met the requirements to teach in schools. My placement mentors have said I have met all the standards required to function as a teacher, the university examination board, after seeing the placement reports and the evidence in my PDP have decided that I am fit to teach, I've got a piece of paper saying that I can add up 1 and 1, read a letter and send an email, I have several certificates from the CRB saying that they don't have any record of me being convicted of any criminal offence. But still, I can't secure a teaching job in a shortage subject.
At interviews, the feedback has always been that I was very close on getting the job and that I would be snapped up in no time. When I rang my university tutor a few weeks ago to tell him about the situation, he was confident that I would have a job at the start of this term. Well, I guess they were wrong. Three days before term starts, I'm still without a job and with only jobs in Scotland being advertised, It looks certain that I will miss the start of the term and have to do with whatever supply teaching comes my way.
End of rant.
Friday, 29 August 2008
Saturday, 24 May 2008
It's all in the size of the envelope
One of my favourite leisure activities since February has been applying for teaching jobs in September. So far I haven't been very successfull. 18 applications, 1.5 interview and no job. Yesterday I had my first full interview. Last time I was invited, I didn't get through to the actual interview and was sent home after teaching my lesson and lunch.
So yesterday, I experienced the whole thing. Lesson, tour and interview. I think it didn't go to bad. I didn't annoy anyone, I wasn't rude to the headteacher's secretary, I think my responses to the interview questions made some sense and my lesson achieved its lesson objective. At the end of the interview they told me that they now have interviewed all candidates and that they would let me know during the holidays.
This morning I got a letter from the school. Did you know, that you can know the result of an interview without even opening the envelope? The size of the envelope says it all. A small envelope with a single sheet of paper will almost always mean that you've been unsuccessfull while a large A4 size envelope will mean that you have an offer. So, this time I had the small envelope and knew I had been unsuccesfull. So I'm going to start all over again. Up to application number 19! Oh well, at least I've got a free train journey to Kent, once they sent me the cheque.
So yesterday, I experienced the whole thing. Lesson, tour and interview. I think it didn't go to bad. I didn't annoy anyone, I wasn't rude to the headteacher's secretary, I think my responses to the interview questions made some sense and my lesson achieved its lesson objective. At the end of the interview they told me that they now have interviewed all candidates and that they would let me know during the holidays.
This morning I got a letter from the school. Did you know, that you can know the result of an interview without even opening the envelope? The size of the envelope says it all. A small envelope with a single sheet of paper will almost always mean that you've been unsuccessfull while a large A4 size envelope will mean that you have an offer. So, this time I had the small envelope and knew I had been unsuccesfull. So I'm going to start all over again. Up to application number 19! Oh well, at least I've got a free train journey to Kent, once they sent me the cheque.
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Car wash
A main reason of why people read my blog what probably because it often takes the mick out of me. Because I've been behaving reasonably well, I didn't have anything worth writing, so that's why it's been so quiet.
But today, I have something to write.
Today, I decided my car needed a wash. Being lazy and not having the right stuff to do it myself, I went to the automated carwash at the Shell station. I've never done this before, so I made sure I meticulously followed the instructions. I bought a voucher with a code, made sure my side mirrors were in and aerial retracted. Then I got back into the car, opened my window to enter the code, waited for confirmation, got the confirmation and drove into the car wash and waited. Can you guess which minor but essential part of the preparation process I failed to complete?
Well, I found out when suddenly a rather substantial amount of water and soap went in my car. Yes, I forgot to close the window. Of course I have followed all the other instructions, which include 'turn the engine off and take the key out of the ignition', which was exactly what I had done, so the electric windows didn't work anymore. Of course, as always when I need something desperately, the keys seemed to have magically dematerialised and were nowhere to be found. It was only after the big stream of water and soap was already past the open window and the inside of my car was covered in water and soap that the keys suddenly materialised on the passenger seat and I managed to close the window, just in time before the big rolling brushes would come and attack me.
But today, I have something to write.
Today, I decided my car needed a wash. Being lazy and not having the right stuff to do it myself, I went to the automated carwash at the Shell station. I've never done this before, so I made sure I meticulously followed the instructions. I bought a voucher with a code, made sure my side mirrors were in and aerial retracted. Then I got back into the car, opened my window to enter the code, waited for confirmation, got the confirmation and drove into the car wash and waited. Can you guess which minor but essential part of the preparation process I failed to complete?
Well, I found out when suddenly a rather substantial amount of water and soap went in my car. Yes, I forgot to close the window. Of course I have followed all the other instructions, which include 'turn the engine off and take the key out of the ignition', which was exactly what I had done, so the electric windows didn't work anymore. Of course, as always when I need something desperately, the keys seemed to have magically dematerialised and were nowhere to be found. It was only after the big stream of water and soap was already past the open window and the inside of my car was covered in water and soap that the keys suddenly materialised on the passenger seat and I managed to close the window, just in time before the big rolling brushes would come and attack me.
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Exploitation
I moved to Patcham yesterday and because I was tired from moving I didn't fancy cooking so went for a takeaway. My landlady recommended the Indian around the corner so I went there to get a chicken badami with pilau rice and peshwari naan. It was lovely but I won't go back again.
Of course you want to know why. While I was waiting for my order to be prepared a guy from Afghanistan was there looking for a job. At first it sounded quite good. They asked him for his passport and whether he was here legally. But then it became dodgy. They said they could offer him a job for 6 days a week, from 11 am - 2 pm and 5 pm until midnight. That's 10 hours a day for 6 days a week. 60 hours a week. The salary they offered was £90 a week! That's £1.50 an hour. I was absolutely disgusted by it. It's not even as if they are in financial trouble that they can't even pay a decent salary (not that it would be an excuse). It's a good running establishment. Well anyways, I'm not going back again, which is a shame, because the food is genuinely good.
Of course you want to know why. While I was waiting for my order to be prepared a guy from Afghanistan was there looking for a job. At first it sounded quite good. They asked him for his passport and whether he was here legally. But then it became dodgy. They said they could offer him a job for 6 days a week, from 11 am - 2 pm and 5 pm until midnight. That's 10 hours a day for 6 days a week. 60 hours a week. The salary they offered was £90 a week! That's £1.50 an hour. I was absolutely disgusted by it. It's not even as if they are in financial trouble that they can't even pay a decent salary (not that it would be an excuse). It's a good running establishment. Well anyways, I'm not going back again, which is a shame, because the food is genuinely good.
Saturday, 6 October 2007
I want my money... now!
Just when I thought there was nothing left to rant about, something came up. So sit back and enjoy my latest rant. Subject of this rant is the Hong Kong and Sjanghai Banking Coorperation Public limited company. Also known as HSBC bank.
In the past two days HSBC has showcased a level of incompetence, ignorance, and whatever bad things you can think of beyond all imagination.
Let's start with Thursday afternoon. After a day at university, I went to Currys in Brighton to buy an USB drive to put my presentation on I had to give the next day. Some overzealous person at the HSBC fraud prevention department thought that was a bit suspicious and decided to block my card. Of course I didn't knew that at that time but I got a phonecall later while I was trying to take money from the cashpoint. We went through the transactions they had on record and I was able to confirm them all as being genuine transactions. I was told that my card was enabled again that I could use it again as normal. Only... I couldn't. I tried a couple of times but it didn't work. I went to a HSBC branch to get it sorted out. I was put on a phone and after being put on hold for 10 minutes I was told that my card was back on again and that I could use it. Great. Well.. no. Tried to call them again. Again about 15 mins on hold with an annoying tune. Again I was told my card was back on again. And this time, he was right. I did manage to get the 10 pounds I needed. So I went on to buy a few bits and bops and I was a happy bunny again... until the next morning.
The next morning I found myself at Newhaven Town station. I used my card to buy my ticket but got the message that my bank didn't authorise the transaction. Got on the phone again, this time a premium rate number, was again put on hold for 15 minutes and so missed the train and was told a marker was put on my card because of some suspicious transactions yesterday. I know that! But that was supposed to be sorted yesterday. So again we went through the transactions and again I confirmed them as genuine. No problem. The card was activated again and I could buy my ticket. Ehm.. no, I couldn't. By then, my phone credit has gone down from £6 to £2 so I didn't want to call them again. I tried and tried but to no avail. I had no other choice than to go on the train without a ticket, and to hope I wouldn't be checked. That hope was vain. Just before we entered Lewes, and with still one more stop to go, I heard the dreaded words: "Tickets please" "Sorry sir, I don't have a ticket" was my reply. I was offered the opportunity to buy a full fare ticket on the train, but of course I couldn't so my details were taken and the promise of a £20 fine for travelling without a valid ticket.
When I arrived at university I was refused entry to the lecture because I was late. I tried the cashpoint again, but again failed to get money. This meant that I didn't have money to buy food, so I wouldn't have anything to eat until I got home where I only had bread and butter. At lunchtime I called them again and again the same story. A marker was put on my card and has now been removed and I can use my card again. Ehmm..no. And I was hungry. A slice of toast doesn't last very long. Luckily for me, one of my friends offered to lend me some money which I accepted, because I had no choice. So at least I could buy food. When I arrived home I was positively starving, not having anything to eat or drink for 9 hours and only a slice of buttered toast for the last 22 hours. I got on the phone with them again but this time they did what they do best. They blame the costumer. It wasn't their fault. I had damaged my card and that was why I couldn't use it. Well, I had my card in my hand and it looks absolutely spotless. And besides, a damaged card can't be used at all. Mine did everything. I could check my balance with it, print off statements. The only thing I couldn't do was taking money out or make payments. But anyways, even though it was my fault, to show their goodwill, they would send me a new card. And I would have it in 5 working days. I was reminded that I could have gone to a branch to get money using my cashbook. But of course, how silly am I. Why didn't I think of that earlier and spare myself and HSBC so much trouble. Ehm.. o yeah, I remember again. The closest branch is 5 miles away and without a car which a few days earlier lost a fight with a van and without money to get on the bus, it would be quite a challenge to get there. Especially when it is only open 10 - 2, when I'm either on my placement (I wonder how to get there without money for the bus) or at university (another couple of £20 fines on the train await me next week, o no, because I need the bus to get to the station in the first place)
So as you can imagine, I'm not very pleased with HSBC at the moment. I haven't been able to get to my money for the third day in a row now. I couldn't buy food until I borrowed some money from my friend, which will probably last me for until Monday, and then I have to wait until my new card arrives at the branch, and of course I have no idea how to get there without money for the bus. I had to go on the train without a ticket and was subsequently fined £20, had to make £15 worth of phonecalls to a premium rate number mainly listening to annoying music whilst being put on hold.
In the past, HSBC have charged the living daylights out of me. They charge for everty single thing. 10p overdrawn £20 charge, bounced cheque £20, bounced direct debit or standing order £20. I'm planning to get compensation of them. When I get the notice for the fine and once I can get to my money in a reasonable way (walking 5 miles to a branch with a chequebook is not reasonable) I will write a letter to them that I expect a full apology for the inconvenience, full repayment for the phone charges and the fine, and a compensation for each day I couldn't get to my money. Of course, they won't pay me a penny because it's my fault, but at least I showed them I'm serious.
End of rant.
In the past two days HSBC has showcased a level of incompetence, ignorance, and whatever bad things you can think of beyond all imagination.
Let's start with Thursday afternoon. After a day at university, I went to Currys in Brighton to buy an USB drive to put my presentation on I had to give the next day. Some overzealous person at the HSBC fraud prevention department thought that was a bit suspicious and decided to block my card. Of course I didn't knew that at that time but I got a phonecall later while I was trying to take money from the cashpoint. We went through the transactions they had on record and I was able to confirm them all as being genuine transactions. I was told that my card was enabled again that I could use it again as normal. Only... I couldn't. I tried a couple of times but it didn't work. I went to a HSBC branch to get it sorted out. I was put on a phone and after being put on hold for 10 minutes I was told that my card was back on again and that I could use it. Great. Well.. no. Tried to call them again. Again about 15 mins on hold with an annoying tune. Again I was told my card was back on again. And this time, he was right. I did manage to get the 10 pounds I needed. So I went on to buy a few bits and bops and I was a happy bunny again... until the next morning.
The next morning I found myself at Newhaven Town station. I used my card to buy my ticket but got the message that my bank didn't authorise the transaction. Got on the phone again, this time a premium rate number, was again put on hold for 15 minutes and so missed the train and was told a marker was put on my card because of some suspicious transactions yesterday. I know that! But that was supposed to be sorted yesterday. So again we went through the transactions and again I confirmed them as genuine. No problem. The card was activated again and I could buy my ticket. Ehm.. no, I couldn't. By then, my phone credit has gone down from £6 to £2 so I didn't want to call them again. I tried and tried but to no avail. I had no other choice than to go on the train without a ticket, and to hope I wouldn't be checked. That hope was vain. Just before we entered Lewes, and with still one more stop to go, I heard the dreaded words: "Tickets please" "Sorry sir, I don't have a ticket" was my reply. I was offered the opportunity to buy a full fare ticket on the train, but of course I couldn't so my details were taken and the promise of a £20 fine for travelling without a valid ticket.
When I arrived at university I was refused entry to the lecture because I was late. I tried the cashpoint again, but again failed to get money. This meant that I didn't have money to buy food, so I wouldn't have anything to eat until I got home where I only had bread and butter. At lunchtime I called them again and again the same story. A marker was put on my card and has now been removed and I can use my card again. Ehmm..no. And I was hungry. A slice of toast doesn't last very long. Luckily for me, one of my friends offered to lend me some money which I accepted, because I had no choice. So at least I could buy food. When I arrived home I was positively starving, not having anything to eat or drink for 9 hours and only a slice of buttered toast for the last 22 hours. I got on the phone with them again but this time they did what they do best. They blame the costumer. It wasn't their fault. I had damaged my card and that was why I couldn't use it. Well, I had my card in my hand and it looks absolutely spotless. And besides, a damaged card can't be used at all. Mine did everything. I could check my balance with it, print off statements. The only thing I couldn't do was taking money out or make payments. But anyways, even though it was my fault, to show their goodwill, they would send me a new card. And I would have it in 5 working days. I was reminded that I could have gone to a branch to get money using my cashbook. But of course, how silly am I. Why didn't I think of that earlier and spare myself and HSBC so much trouble. Ehm.. o yeah, I remember again. The closest branch is 5 miles away and without a car which a few days earlier lost a fight with a van and without money to get on the bus, it would be quite a challenge to get there. Especially when it is only open 10 - 2, when I'm either on my placement (I wonder how to get there without money for the bus) or at university (another couple of £20 fines on the train await me next week, o no, because I need the bus to get to the station in the first place)
So as you can imagine, I'm not very pleased with HSBC at the moment. I haven't been able to get to my money for the third day in a row now. I couldn't buy food until I borrowed some money from my friend, which will probably last me for until Monday, and then I have to wait until my new card arrives at the branch, and of course I have no idea how to get there without money for the bus. I had to go on the train without a ticket and was subsequently fined £20, had to make £15 worth of phonecalls to a premium rate number mainly listening to annoying music whilst being put on hold.
In the past, HSBC have charged the living daylights out of me. They charge for everty single thing. 10p overdrawn £20 charge, bounced cheque £20, bounced direct debit or standing order £20. I'm planning to get compensation of them. When I get the notice for the fine and once I can get to my money in a reasonable way (walking 5 miles to a branch with a chequebook is not reasonable) I will write a letter to them that I expect a full apology for the inconvenience, full repayment for the phone charges and the fine, and a compensation for each day I couldn't get to my money. Of course, they won't pay me a penny because it's my fault, but at least I showed them I'm serious.
End of rant.
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Car accident
I have finally something to write on my blog again. Unfortunately, it's not very good news. I had an accident yesterday with my car, and to be fair, being hit by another car at a considerable speed is not the most pleasant experience I had in my life. The good news is that none of the people involved suffered serious injuries, but our vehicles are gone.
I have to admit that it was my fault. I waited at the T-junction for about 5 mins for a gap so I could turn right, when a driver from the left made a gesture with his hand which I understood as go ahead. Silly me, forgot to check if there was traffic coming from the right, mainly because I only checked a few seconds before and it was clear then. The problem is that the road to the right is a descending hill and you don't see anyone coming until they are almost at the junction. So I pulled out, heard a claxon, a bang, banged my head against the door, had my glasses thrown off, and wondered whether I was dead or still alive. After a couple of seconds I decided I was alive but still puzzled as to why my car was pointing in a different direction than I wanted to go. Then reality struck. I was involved in an RTA and even worse, I was to blame. So I stepped out of my car to see if the other people and car involved were fine. The driver was fine, his van wasn't. Mine wasn't either. The driver seemed to be more concerned about his car than about whether I was okay, which I found quite shocking as he was an ambulance driver. Okay, he did ask me whether I was okay... after about 10 minutes and having first told me off about the damage I caused to his van and how I messed up his schedule. I thought that as an ambulance driver, your first concern should be whether the people involved in an accident are fine, even when you're off duty and even when it's your own vehicle that is damaged.
So then it was time to write down witness details and exchange our own details and insurance and wait for the police to come. Police came and saw that everything has been handled properly and left us to it. I called the RAC to arrange recovery, which will probably cost me a lot of money as I only have roadside assistance which doesn't cover recovery.
Fully in line with me being prone to bad luck, this happened less than a month after I decided I didn't need a fully comp insurance and downgraded to TFT. Which means, the other driver will get a brand spanking new car paid by my insurance while I'm left with a pile of metal. And that only because I wanted to save about £10 a month.
Well, my landlord said he knows someone who has a Nissan Micra for sale for £350 so I might have a look at that.
I have to admit that it was my fault. I waited at the T-junction for about 5 mins for a gap so I could turn right, when a driver from the left made a gesture with his hand which I understood as go ahead. Silly me, forgot to check if there was traffic coming from the right, mainly because I only checked a few seconds before and it was clear then. The problem is that the road to the right is a descending hill and you don't see anyone coming until they are almost at the junction. So I pulled out, heard a claxon, a bang, banged my head against the door, had my glasses thrown off, and wondered whether I was dead or still alive. After a couple of seconds I decided I was alive but still puzzled as to why my car was pointing in a different direction than I wanted to go. Then reality struck. I was involved in an RTA and even worse, I was to blame. So I stepped out of my car to see if the other people and car involved were fine. The driver was fine, his van wasn't. Mine wasn't either. The driver seemed to be more concerned about his car than about whether I was okay, which I found quite shocking as he was an ambulance driver. Okay, he did ask me whether I was okay... after about 10 minutes and having first told me off about the damage I caused to his van and how I messed up his schedule. I thought that as an ambulance driver, your first concern should be whether the people involved in an accident are fine, even when you're off duty and even when it's your own vehicle that is damaged.
So then it was time to write down witness details and exchange our own details and insurance and wait for the police to come. Police came and saw that everything has been handled properly and left us to it. I called the RAC to arrange recovery, which will probably cost me a lot of money as I only have roadside assistance which doesn't cover recovery.
Fully in line with me being prone to bad luck, this happened less than a month after I decided I didn't need a fully comp insurance and downgraded to TFT. Which means, the other driver will get a brand spanking new car paid by my insurance while I'm left with a pile of metal. And that only because I wanted to save about £10 a month.
Well, my landlord said he knows someone who has a Nissan Micra for sale for £350 so I might have a look at that.
Friday, 14 September 2007
A student once again.
I just finished the first week of my PGCE. It's been pretty busy with lectures and seminars and other stuff to do. I have another university based week left before I start my placement in the school... that is if they will let me.
One of the conditions for the course was that I needed to get a CRB check. This I did but because I also lived in the Netherlands, they also wanted a police check in the Netherlands from me. So before I left Lingfield for the summer, I filled in the form, send it to the university to fill in their part and asked them to send it back to me so I could submit the form. As such a statement of good conduct is quite essential for a course like this, I thought they would treat it as a matter of urgency and ensure that they would deal with it as soon as they can. Well, I was wrong. Instead of filling in a straightforward form, the registry forwarded the form to the department to fill in. They subsequently forwarded the form to my course tutor to fill in. He filled the form in, after coming back from holidays and returned it to the registry. Now the registry hasn't got a clue where the form is. I really hope they will let me start my placement on the basis of my British CRB check, which covers the last 4 years. Basically, it's only the one year before I started in Bangor that they want a Dutch check for.
The organisation of the whole thing has been horrendous this week. Rooms have been double booked, at registration after having stood in a queue for about 45 mins, we were told that we couldn't register because we needed a library card to do so. Of course, when asking for our library cards, they weren't ready yet. Our course handbooks are still waiting to be copied (apparently the repro department is currently busy with the 2004 handbooks so that can take a while) so yeah, I don't really know what's going to happen with me.
The only thing I know is that if they still require me to get my Dutch check, it would delay my placement significantly (it will take a couple of months to apply for a check from overseas) and that would mean I won't get the placement hours I need to meet the QTS standards.
But apart from that, I'm actually having quite a good time being a student again. I've got a nice group. Our tutor is somewhat of a legend here. Even the trip on the shuttle bus between Varley, where my car is parked and the campus is enjoyable with the company of a PGCE maths student I randomly met on one of my first trips on the shuttle bus.
Well, that's it again.
One of the conditions for the course was that I needed to get a CRB check. This I did but because I also lived in the Netherlands, they also wanted a police check in the Netherlands from me. So before I left Lingfield for the summer, I filled in the form, send it to the university to fill in their part and asked them to send it back to me so I could submit the form. As such a statement of good conduct is quite essential for a course like this, I thought they would treat it as a matter of urgency and ensure that they would deal with it as soon as they can. Well, I was wrong. Instead of filling in a straightforward form, the registry forwarded the form to the department to fill in. They subsequently forwarded the form to my course tutor to fill in. He filled the form in, after coming back from holidays and returned it to the registry. Now the registry hasn't got a clue where the form is. I really hope they will let me start my placement on the basis of my British CRB check, which covers the last 4 years. Basically, it's only the one year before I started in Bangor that they want a Dutch check for.
The organisation of the whole thing has been horrendous this week. Rooms have been double booked, at registration after having stood in a queue for about 45 mins, we were told that we couldn't register because we needed a library card to do so. Of course, when asking for our library cards, they weren't ready yet. Our course handbooks are still waiting to be copied (apparently the repro department is currently busy with the 2004 handbooks so that can take a while) so yeah, I don't really know what's going to happen with me.
The only thing I know is that if they still require me to get my Dutch check, it would delay my placement significantly (it will take a couple of months to apply for a check from overseas) and that would mean I won't get the placement hours I need to meet the QTS standards.
But apart from that, I'm actually having quite a good time being a student again. I've got a nice group. Our tutor is somewhat of a legend here. Even the trip on the shuttle bus between Varley, where my car is parked and the campus is enjoyable with the company of a PGCE maths student I randomly met on one of my first trips on the shuttle bus.
Well, that's it again.
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