I'm not alone

Today the Hastings and Havelock North Mail - one of our 3 free local weeklies - has a front page feature on being jobless in the Bay. An excellent series of articles, if somewhat depressing. There were a couple of personal stories to make it real (and hopefully scare up some job offers for them). The striking piece of news was that although the national average unemployment rate is 6.8%, here in Hawkes Bay we have 8.5% unemployment. And I guess that's just registered unemployed, let alone people like me who are also chasing jobs but aren't registered for the dole.

Sigh.

Dear Deb

This morning I had a long chat with my lovely friend Deb, who called from Watford. Among other things, we discussed blogging. I was trying to 'encourage' her into starting a blog because so many of her newsy tidbits would make delightful reading. Deb's blog (which would naturally be called "Dear Deirdre") would essentially be a way for me to keep up to date with what their household is up to, her crafting, Dave's building projects etc. Both Deb and Tulip (my sister in Enfield) have told me they just like reading my blog so they can see what I've been up to. So, despite me having wild fantasies of this being groundbreaking literature, it is really just a series of postcards. So be it.

As I 'statused' on my Facebook page, this weekend I had a long overdue phone catchup with my friend Karen. We worked and flatted together in a pub in the West End in 1990 - twenty years ago, people! Our contact since then has been sporadic, but we just pick right up where we left off. She and I have both lost our fathers in the last 12 months, and also our marriages ended around the same time a few years ago. Lots to share and have in common. It was fantastic to talk to her.

This week I worked Tuesday and Wednesday at the Countdown in Hastings. Plus I got paid on Wednesday for last week's work. Yippee! Today, Thursday, is an at home day. Did the Peak on Monday, and walked to work and back Tues and Wed PLUS did a pump class with Michelle Wed night. Surely all this activity should reduce my muffin? Tonight I am going to a school fundraiser evening all about fashion, hair and makeup - probably have a few wines and undo all my good work.

I am working Friday and Saturday at CD, plus I have an interview on Friday for a parttime job in Napier housekeeping 3 holiday cottages and a house.

A few weeks ago I applied (out of desperation) for a weekend job working the information desk at Napier Public Library. For those who don't know, I am a qualified librarian with about 15 years experience. This week I got my rejection letter. I didn't even get an interview! I find this quite amusing. I didn't really want to do the job, but even so - are there really over 100 people (according to the letter) that are better qualified than me for this job?

My crafting is giving me such enjoyment, and talking to other crafters (Aileen and Deb) has spurred me on even more. Check out these little guys. They are soon to be joined by a red teddy. These bunnies were knitted in cotton, but my preference is pure wool - just makes them snugglier. At the moment I am trying to use up some of the yarn stash I have, before I go crazy and purchase more. We have our first craft stall on September 11 in Wellington. My pewter earrings are slowly selling on Trademe, whatever I have left will go on the craft stall.

Making a big pot of pumpkin soup today. The supermarket was selling pieces of pumpkin last weekend for 8c a kg so it would have been rude not to. Probably means my pot of soup has cost a total of 30 cents to make. Crazy.

ps, Deb, just click on the Create Blog button on the top right of the screen.

I had no intention of leaving it a week before I posted again, but time just got away on me.

Worked 4 shifts last week - feels good to be working again. The first 2 nights were long shifts - Monday night was around the clock from 7pm to 7am! It is ages since I worked an allnighter, but I managed ok - felt a bit jetlagged when I woke up on Tuesday afternoon though. I was there to keep the refrigeration guys company while they worked, as they couldn't be left in the store on their own after the other staff went home. All went ok, even though the head guy was a bit of a dickhead. There was plenty for me to do while they did their maintenance of the fridges and freezers so time passed fairly quickly. We had 3 very cold nights, though, and it was 0 degrees when I drove home at 5am on Wednesday morning.

Then the store got me to work a shift on Friday helping out in the chiller section. This just involves tidying it up, and then filling stock. Man, that supermarket is busy on a Friday - packed out all day. Also, I am going to work for them for 3 weeks in September helping to change over all the price tickets in readiness for the increase in GST from 1 October. Every price ticket in the store has to be reprinted with the new price, then we go round and put them behind the existing tickets. Then on the night before we go round and take out the old ones. And to think this has to happen in EVERY Countdown around the country. So, I smile and think of the money.

There's also a possibility of some work at Farmers department store coming up - they are relocating in September and my friend knows the manager so I went and had a chat with him about it last week. If that comes together it would probably happen at the same time as the GST work, but will have to cross that bridge if and when it happens.

Just had my lovely sisters-in-law to stay for the weekend. As usual we had a brilliant time. It rained most of the weekend but we managed a long walk yesterday on the pathway from just outside Havelock towards Clive. Then we made pizzas and played kalookie with Tori and Sharon last night. Good fun.

This week I am working 3 shifts at the supermarket. Not going to make my fortune this week but it is so good to have some money coming in!! Plus I am selling a few pairs of earrings on Trademe.

Watched Bright Star yesterday again with the girls. What an exquisite film! Jane Campion is a genius. The costumes are to die for, and she has created such beautiful interiors - simple and bare rooms but the colour and light are divine. One of my top 10 movies.

A dull, overcast Saturday.

Another week has passed without earning anything. However, I will be working 3 shifts next week at Countdown Hastings, helping them with a maintenance project for their freezers and chillers.

Also they are keen for me to do more hours over the next few weeks on a casual basis, helping out here and there in the grocery part of the store and also with their preparation for the switch to higher GST on 1 October. The GST changeover means every single price ticket in the store needs to be replaced, on the last day of September. That's quite a big job, just the sort of thing I love doing.

I've almost come to the end of my list of holiday cottages to contact. Overall a positive response, but I need some of that to turn into ACTUAL WORK. Hopefully that will start to happen from October, and hopefully I will get enough casual work at Countdown between now and then to pay my rent and bills.

Tomorrow my family are all going to a memorial service at the Arohanui Hospice in Palmerston North. They hold these every 6 months or so for the families of people who died at the hospice. It will be good to focus on Dad together, and hopefully to see some of the lovely staff that helped us over those weeks in March and April.

Go the All Blacks. Tonight I want to watch them secure the TriNations and retain the Bledisloe Cup. Dad would really enjoy seeing that.

Made twelve cold calls this morning. Every single person I spoke to was positive and I've left my number and cv with most of them. Am enjoying the discussions I am having with people about their businesses.

I am going to drop my cv off to the Village Info people today - they asked if I have a business card - maybe I need to get one.

My meeting with the luxury lodge people this morning went well, and although it is likely there will be some work come out of it, there's no guarantee of course. Their hourly rate wasn't flash either.

I have investigated my tax status and think I'll have to declare myself self-employed. Need to read up a bit more on what is required and what records I'll need to keep.

Cold and damp here today, a complete contrast to yesterday which was over 20 degrees and felt like a summer's day. Jogged most of the way down the Peak yesterday afternoon, and feel sore today as a result.

A friend is coming over for dinner tonight - menu is chorizo risotto, cauliflower and ginger cabbage, with choc brownies for dessert. Winter fodder.

Motivation, where are you?

Monday. Back in Hawke's Bay, glorious sunshine. Good to be home.

Bit of a setback. I have discovered that there is already an ironing business operating here in Havelock North. I phoned up on the fake pretense of enquiring for a 'friend' to see how much she charges. About $20-25 for a basket, which was what I was going to charge, but she has free pickup. Now I feel really guilty about putting a card up on the supermarket noticeboard in case she sees it. Hm. Might just sneakily do a letterbox drop round here - she lives the other side of Havelock. Will mull it overnight.

I have listed some of my earrings on Trademe today.
Hopefully this will generate some cash and interest and allow me to order some more charms from the States and continue making more.
The pairs I currently have are largely identical, like these ones here




But I am really interested in doing more complementary pairs like the fork and spoon and brush and comb ones that I already have made.




Some of the ideas I have had are Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty, a palm tree and deckchair, a bee and a flower.
I've also set up a store on Etsy to sell the earrings, and hopefully other craft items, so tell all your friends.

I have an interview tomorrow morning to hopefully join a team that housekeeps a number of luxury holiday cottages.

But the motivation was not there this morning, despite the beautiful spring sunshine. I will get out now and march up the Peak, that should make me feel better. I heard an interview with the mayor of Hastings yesterday about the council's programme to make the city more friendly for walkers and cyclists. It will be fantastic once they put a proper footpath on the road between Havelock and Hastings.