Just about to head in to work for my third shift since returning home. It's been nice to see everyone in the shop and good to be doing something out of the house, but I must admit I am not happy to be back at work for the most part. My knees have been troubling me a lot since the start of February and standing for eight hours a day, walking up and down stairs, and bending/squatting down to reach books on lower shelves surely isn't helping them any. I am still trying to sort out what to do with myself for the next six or seven months, because ideally I would like to make my big move (aka THE BIG PLAN) in October. Of course, that is all dependent on how soon I get myself a job that pays at least double what I'm making now (which, trust me, isn't going to be too hard considering my wee salary at the moment) and on how motivated I am to stick to my guns.
This time, I think I am more than ready to get out of here and should be able to follow any path necessary to get there. Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have some new job prospects on the horizon. Wish me luck.
Showing posts with label Bookstore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookstore. Show all posts
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Monday, 24 December 2007
A very Christmas blog
It has been AGES since I've written, yet again... two weeks have passed and though I haven't done anything spectacularly exciting within the past fourteen or some odd days, I feel I should update and report what has happened around me.
Sunday December 16 we (Toronto) got hit with a BEAUTIFUL snow storm. Well over a foot on the ground and a nice blanket of white over everything for the holiday season.
I somehow managed to get all of my Christmas shopping done with only two days off last week (and I must admit, I am very pleased with the gifts I've chosen for my family). We didn't get a chance to drive north and cut down our Christmas tree as planned because of the above mentioned snow storm. Instead, we drove around the city and ended up getting a really nice tree from Loblaws... tree photos to follow (as I've not taken any yet).
Work has been really busy. I am, however, still enjoying it. I like watching people frantically search for Jamie Oliver's cookbook and LOVE being called an angel for finding the correct issue of Naruto for someone who was too lazy to walk into the store and find it herself. I am working later today, Christmas Eve and will be sporting my oh-so-wonderful Santa hat.
I have been asked many times what I want for Christmas this year and haven't really been able to come up with an answer. I think it's because what I want for Christmas I will get in a month when I am in England: I really just want to be with my friends who are there while I am all the way over here. Today I spoke to Chris for his birthday. Even hearing his voice made such a huge difference, and I am going to make a better effort to phone my dear friends overseas more often because it had me smiling all night at work. (Despite the fact that I made my first mistake at work by showing up at 2:30 instead of the scheduled time of 2... oops).
In terms of actual gifts, I am hoping to get one item: "The Lonely Empress" (the book on Sisi of Austria that I've been trying to find for the last few months, and kicking myself for not having bought it when I was holding it in my hand in Vienna).
I think that is enough for now. I had more to say, but as this is already quite long I will end it here... most likely I will write more later on today.
Sunday December 16 we (Toronto) got hit with a BEAUTIFUL snow storm. Well over a foot on the ground and a nice blanket of white over everything for the holiday season.
I somehow managed to get all of my Christmas shopping done with only two days off last week (and I must admit, I am very pleased with the gifts I've chosen for my family). We didn't get a chance to drive north and cut down our Christmas tree as planned because of the above mentioned snow storm. Instead, we drove around the city and ended up getting a really nice tree from Loblaws... tree photos to follow (as I've not taken any yet).
Work has been really busy. I am, however, still enjoying it. I like watching people frantically search for Jamie Oliver's cookbook and LOVE being called an angel for finding the correct issue of Naruto for someone who was too lazy to walk into the store and find it herself. I am working later today, Christmas Eve and will be sporting my oh-so-wonderful Santa hat.
I have been asked many times what I want for Christmas this year and haven't really been able to come up with an answer. I think it's because what I want for Christmas I will get in a month when I am in England: I really just want to be with my friends who are there while I am all the way over here. Today I spoke to Chris for his birthday. Even hearing his voice made such a huge difference, and I am going to make a better effort to phone my dear friends overseas more often because it had me smiling all night at work. (Despite the fact that I made my first mistake at work by showing up at 2:30 instead of the scheduled time of 2... oops).
In terms of actual gifts, I am hoping to get one item: "The Lonely Empress" (the book on Sisi of Austria that I've been trying to find for the last few months, and kicking myself for not having bought it when I was holding it in my hand in Vienna).
I think that is enough for now. I had more to say, but as this is already quite long I will end it here... most likely I will write more later on today.
Sunday, 9 December 2007
and so another week passes....
I really am getting lazy when it comes to updating my blog. Perhaps I am just keeping too busy? Perhaps.
So what has gone on... well, there has been a nice layer of snow all over everything since last weekend. The weather has been too cold for it to melt away, and I must admit I am quite content with the white all around. Today my father and I finally put up our Christmas lights, bringing our block's total of houses in a row with Christmas lights to six. Well done us. We also hung up our two wreaths and next weekend the four of us will venture north to cut down our Christmas tree. That's right, we're cutting down our own again this year.
Work is going well. I'm enjoying the constant Christmas music more than most, and somehow finding a way to smile for 8 hours without letting the angry shoppers bring me down. I suppose it's knowing how desperate some of them are to find gifts for their mothers/sisters/fathers/brothers/bosses/girlfriends/boyfriends/etc. that keeps me motivated to help them. I have been enjoying my staff discount quite a bit lately... as we get the full discount on all of the 'bargain' items as well, so it's savings all around! I haven't been spending much money lately, but have somehow managed to get some nice Christmas gifts already.
I have finished shopping for:
Anna and her family
Emily
Kate
Karen
Sam
Allison
Jenn
and have picked up part of the gifts for my father, mother and brother. So yay! Just have to sort out David's gift and put the finishing touches on the treat for his mother and I'll be done. Wow, I am on top of things this year. Suppose it helps working in retail with nothing but shopping on the mind all day.
Speaking of David, the band that he is in called KEY WITNESS is having their CD release party next week Saturday for their first album MERCURY IN RETROGRADE at the Tranzac Club. Let me be the first to say (well, probably not the first) the album sounds fantastic! They album is really well done and without any bias, they really are a great band. The lyrics are lovely and JM's voice is so addictive. Check them out and if you want a copy of their CD (for $10 I believe) let me know.
And, I think that is all I have to report for now. OH NO, WAIT! My graduation plans:
I'm arriving 22 January, heading to Brighton 24-29, back with family Jan 29 - Feb 5, back down to Brighton Feb 5 - probably the 16th, but I still have to sort out cash. My mum wants to take a trip somewhere with Ryanair, and with flights costing as low as 10 quid per person round trip surely hope we do go somewhere... More on that soon.
So what has gone on... well, there has been a nice layer of snow all over everything since last weekend. The weather has been too cold for it to melt away, and I must admit I am quite content with the white all around. Today my father and I finally put up our Christmas lights, bringing our block's total of houses in a row with Christmas lights to six. Well done us. We also hung up our two wreaths and next weekend the four of us will venture north to cut down our Christmas tree. That's right, we're cutting down our own again this year.
Work is going well. I'm enjoying the constant Christmas music more than most, and somehow finding a way to smile for 8 hours without letting the angry shoppers bring me down. I suppose it's knowing how desperate some of them are to find gifts for their mothers/sisters/fathers/brothers/bosses/girlfriends/boyfriends/etc. that keeps me motivated to help them. I have been enjoying my staff discount quite a bit lately... as we get the full discount on all of the 'bargain' items as well, so it's savings all around! I haven't been spending much money lately, but have somehow managed to get some nice Christmas gifts already.
I have finished shopping for:
Anna and her family
Emily
Kate
Karen
Sam
Allison
Jenn
and have picked up part of the gifts for my father, mother and brother. So yay! Just have to sort out David's gift and put the finishing touches on the treat for his mother and I'll be done. Wow, I am on top of things this year. Suppose it helps working in retail with nothing but shopping on the mind all day.
Speaking of David, the band that he is in called KEY WITNESS is having their CD release party next week Saturday for their first album MERCURY IN RETROGRADE at the Tranzac Club. Let me be the first to say (well, probably not the first) the album sounds fantastic! They album is really well done and without any bias, they really are a great band. The lyrics are lovely and JM's voice is so addictive. Check them out and if you want a copy of their CD (for $10 I believe) let me know.
And, I think that is all I have to report for now. OH NO, WAIT! My graduation plans:
I'm arriving 22 January, heading to Brighton 24-29, back with family Jan 29 - Feb 5, back down to Brighton Feb 5 - probably the 16th, but I still have to sort out cash. My mum wants to take a trip somewhere with Ryanair, and with flights costing as low as 10 quid per person round trip surely hope we do go somewhere... More on that soon.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
update - the BIG plan
i think i have finally sorted out how the international graduate scheme works and how i need to go about applying for entry clearance under it. for those of you completely uninterested in immigration rules and/or extending leave to stay as a student, disregard this post. ACTUALLY, just skip down to the bottom where i will outline my updated plan to return to the UK (assuming you're interested in that. after all, you did open this post).
so, the international graduate scheme goes a little something like this: if you have graduated from a recognised UK institution after may 2007 you are eligible to apply to become a participant in the IGS. once a participant you may work, permit free, in any type of employment you like (including self employment) in the UK for up to 12 months. the idea is to encourage people studying at UK universities to contribute some of their brain power and talent to the UK before leaving.
applying for the IGS:
if you are already in the UK AND have valid entry clearance as a student, you can apply to extend your stay as a participant under the IGS. this is probably the easiest way to go about getting into this programme, because you do not need to re-apply for entry clearance: obviously, you're already in the country.
if you have left the UK but still have valid entry clearance it is still fairly easy to apply to the IGS... as far as i am concerned. if i am not mistaken, you would just have to return to the UK within the period for which you already have entry clearance and state that you are back to complete the duration of that granted period. while in the UK you apply for the IGS as though you never left the UK and presto you can extend your stay.
if you have left the UK and no longer have valid entry clearance, which is where i stand after 31 january 2008, you need to go through a few more steps. basically if you're out of the country you need entry clearance to stay in the UK more than six months - duh. but, because the IGS denotes that its participants do not require a work permit, it gets confusing as to which entry clearance visa to apply for. the answer: PERMIT-FREE EMPLOYMENT (form VAF2). the UKVisas website has the IGS hidden in its FAQs and guidance on applying for employment based visas... you just have to poke around a bit. once you've completed this form, secured proof from the university that you have in fact completed a course, and have paid the massive 200 pound fee you should be set.
FINALLY, i made some sense out of a lot of confusion - and no thanks to the folks at the british embassy or high commission i might add.
------
AND NOW, THE updated BIG PLAN
as most of you know by now, i have only just started work... and it's part-time work that doesn't pay too much so i am not going to be able to move back to the UK before my visa expires. not to worry. i am still going over for my graduation at the end of january and, funds permitting, will stay about a month to catch up with friends and scout potential jobs.
upon my return i am hoping to go back to an old job (more information on that to come at a later date) to make some better money and get the hours i'll need to save the cash i'll need to afford the big move.
my goal at the moment is to be in england (either london or brighton area) by the end of september 2008. this goal seems very realistic to me, but at the moment rides very heavily on getting my old job back for five months or so... fingers crossed! all of this has me feeling really good at the moment and hopefully things will continue to work out.
i have my first special event at work tomorrow night: jamie oliver (aka the naked chef) is going to be signing copies of his latest cookbook for 300 adoring fans. i have no idea what my role will be throughout the course of the evening, but i am certain you will hear about it by the end of the week.
so, the international graduate scheme goes a little something like this: if you have graduated from a recognised UK institution after may 2007 you are eligible to apply to become a participant in the IGS. once a participant you may work, permit free, in any type of employment you like (including self employment) in the UK for up to 12 months. the idea is to encourage people studying at UK universities to contribute some of their brain power and talent to the UK before leaving.
applying for the IGS:
if you are already in the UK AND have valid entry clearance as a student, you can apply to extend your stay as a participant under the IGS. this is probably the easiest way to go about getting into this programme, because you do not need to re-apply for entry clearance: obviously, you're already in the country.
if you have left the UK but still have valid entry clearance it is still fairly easy to apply to the IGS... as far as i am concerned. if i am not mistaken, you would just have to return to the UK within the period for which you already have entry clearance and state that you are back to complete the duration of that granted period. while in the UK you apply for the IGS as though you never left the UK and presto you can extend your stay.
if you have left the UK and no longer have valid entry clearance, which is where i stand after 31 january 2008, you need to go through a few more steps. basically if you're out of the country you need entry clearance to stay in the UK more than six months - duh. but, because the IGS denotes that its participants do not require a work permit, it gets confusing as to which entry clearance visa to apply for. the answer: PERMIT-FREE EMPLOYMENT (form VAF2). the UKVisas website has the IGS hidden in its FAQs and guidance on applying for employment based visas... you just have to poke around a bit. once you've completed this form, secured proof from the university that you have in fact completed a course, and have paid the massive 200 pound fee you should be set.
FINALLY, i made some sense out of a lot of confusion - and no thanks to the folks at the british embassy or high commission i might add.
------
AND NOW, THE updated BIG PLAN
as most of you know by now, i have only just started work... and it's part-time work that doesn't pay too much so i am not going to be able to move back to the UK before my visa expires. not to worry. i am still going over for my graduation at the end of january and, funds permitting, will stay about a month to catch up with friends and scout potential jobs.
upon my return i am hoping to go back to an old job (more information on that to come at a later date) to make some better money and get the hours i'll need to save the cash i'll need to afford the big move.
my goal at the moment is to be in england (either london or brighton area) by the end of september 2008. this goal seems very realistic to me, but at the moment rides very heavily on getting my old job back for five months or so... fingers crossed! all of this has me feeling really good at the moment and hopefully things will continue to work out.
i have my first special event at work tomorrow night: jamie oliver (aka the naked chef) is going to be signing copies of his latest cookbook for 300 adoring fans. i have no idea what my role will be throughout the course of the evening, but i am certain you will hear about it by the end of the week.
Monday, 12 November 2007
a long sunday evening
tonight i went to the annual staff meeting at work. we laughed, we learned, we ate fruit and veggies, we ran around the store, we got gift cards and i realised that i am going to enjoy my two months at this job very much. i find out on tuesday which section they are slotting me in and on thursday i will be celebrating my 25.5th birthday with mr. jamie oliver.... yummmm. more on that later, because i have no idea what i'll be doing the night that my favourite english kitchen stud graces our store with his presence. hopefully, i won't be stuck downstairs while all the ladies swoon over him upstairs.
i am going back to volunteering tomorrow morning after another four days of baby-free life. honestly, last wednesday was the WORST experience that i have had in a long time, and certainly not helping me to want to volunteer on wednesdays. (for reasons that i won't state here, mondays are infinitely better than wednesdays at the gym).
i've been bad with working out lately - i only went once last week, but the plan that scott and i are on includes some home exercise, namely sit ups for me, and i've been good about doing those, so yay. if i can get to sleep before 2am i will likely have the energy to work out directly after babysitting tomorrow, if not it will have to be a night visit to the gym. we shall see.
below is a photo of me circa may 2003. me at 21. not only do i miss having a slimmer face, i also miss having my hair ridiculously long.
i am going back to volunteering tomorrow morning after another four days of baby-free life. honestly, last wednesday was the WORST experience that i have had in a long time, and certainly not helping me to want to volunteer on wednesdays. (for reasons that i won't state here, mondays are infinitely better than wednesdays at the gym).
i've been bad with working out lately - i only went once last week, but the plan that scott and i are on includes some home exercise, namely sit ups for me, and i've been good about doing those, so yay. if i can get to sleep before 2am i will likely have the energy to work out directly after babysitting tomorrow, if not it will have to be a night visit to the gym. we shall see.
below is a photo of me circa may 2003. me at 21. not only do i miss having a slimmer face, i also miss having my hair ridiculously long.
Sunday, 4 November 2007
not a great sunday
today me and my folks went to a visitation for one of our neighbours who passed away on thursday morning. we weren't close with him but he and his wife have lived across the street for twenty years. his daughter is about 12 or 13 and although i hardly see her or speak to her when i go, i am so sad for her. he was only 56 and died suddenly. it's so scary to imagine going to bed one night and waking up and someone so close to you is gone. and even when you're not that close to someone that passes away like that it really gets you thinking about your own family and friends. needless to say, today was a rough day. i cried when i hugged his wife and couldn't even bring myself to speak to his daughter. i cannot even imagine what i would do if i lost my father like that.
after the visitation, which i left early because i was having too hard of a time being in the room with the family and friends whose lives have really been touched by my neighbour, i had to go shopping for new trousers. one of my most hated things. i suppose if i could go back to having the body i did when i was 19 i wouldn't mind shopping for trousers so much, but sadly i cannot. i managed to find some at MEXX that are pretty nice, but far too long so i need to find time this week to make a trip to the alteration shop up the road. suppose i should take my jeans there too, they are dragging all over the place!
---
on a happier note, tomorrow is my first day at the book store and i'm really looking forward to it. not only will i be making some seriously needed money, i will be keeping busy. i am getting so tired of doing nothing and find that i'm starting to slip back into being really sad about being home. i'm on the verge of going back to saying that coming home was a big mistake... that is still up for debate.
the shops are playing christmas music and decorations are up downtown. i guess they had to go up sooner or later. i just wish that the decorations weren't there to encourage us to buy lots and lots of gifts, but rather just to celebrate the holiday season.
i love christmas and am actually longing for november to end and december to start.
plus, on christmas day i get to break my soda fast! speaking of which, i am doing very well, but had to fight some pretty intense diet pepsi cravings the other day. keith (the friend who is doing the fast with me) and i have yet to set out a firm list of acceptable beverages during the two month period, but i think we're on the same page when it comes to soda water, beer and other such questionable choices.
that's all for today. i'm feeling blughhhhh, and scattered and really really wishing i was where i was last year at this time.
after the visitation, which i left early because i was having too hard of a time being in the room with the family and friends whose lives have really been touched by my neighbour, i had to go shopping for new trousers. one of my most hated things. i suppose if i could go back to having the body i did when i was 19 i wouldn't mind shopping for trousers so much, but sadly i cannot. i managed to find some at MEXX that are pretty nice, but far too long so i need to find time this week to make a trip to the alteration shop up the road. suppose i should take my jeans there too, they are dragging all over the place!
---
on a happier note, tomorrow is my first day at the book store and i'm really looking forward to it. not only will i be making some seriously needed money, i will be keeping busy. i am getting so tired of doing nothing and find that i'm starting to slip back into being really sad about being home. i'm on the verge of going back to saying that coming home was a big mistake... that is still up for debate.
the shops are playing christmas music and decorations are up downtown. i guess they had to go up sooner or later. i just wish that the decorations weren't there to encourage us to buy lots and lots of gifts, but rather just to celebrate the holiday season.
i love christmas and am actually longing for november to end and december to start.
plus, on christmas day i get to break my soda fast! speaking of which, i am doing very well, but had to fight some pretty intense diet pepsi cravings the other day. keith (the friend who is doing the fast with me) and i have yet to set out a firm list of acceptable beverages during the two month period, but i think we're on the same page when it comes to soda water, beer and other such questionable choices.
that's all for today. i'm feeling blughhhhh, and scattered and really really wishing i was where i was last year at this time.
Saturday, 3 November 2007
the search is over
that's right folks, i am employed.
i start training on monday afternoon for my oh-so-convenient seasonal position at one of my favoure book shops.
i have no idea how often i will be working, what sort of shifts i will be working, or what parts of the store i will be working in. that will all be revealed in future posts with the label, yup you guessed it, BOOKSTORE.
i have a dress code to adhere to now, so i have to go out and do some shopping. what a shame! the dress code is:
bottoms - black, gray, blue, brown, or tan - no jeans or corduroy
top - black, white or any shade of blue
shoes - no sneakers
pretty easy, pretty classy. i am excited to no longer be merely "sitting around writing whimsical tracts on [my] Internet blog" as my dear friend jack so lovingly put it. i will be making some money to fund my winter vacation at the end of january.
huzzah!
i start training on monday afternoon for my oh-so-convenient seasonal position at one of my favoure book shops.
i have no idea how often i will be working, what sort of shifts i will be working, or what parts of the store i will be working in. that will all be revealed in future posts with the label, yup you guessed it, BOOKSTORE.
i have a dress code to adhere to now, so i have to go out and do some shopping. what a shame! the dress code is:
pretty easy, pretty classy. i am excited to no longer be merely "sitting around writing whimsical tracts on [my] Internet blog" as my dear friend jack so lovingly put it. i will be making some money to fund my winter vacation at the end of january.
huzzah!
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
books = money??
maybe.
i stopped by the book store today (aka my favourite store in toronto) and dropped off a resume. not 45 minutes later i got a call from them asking me to come in for a group interview later today. naturally, i said yes!
the group interview was pretty good, especially since i think i was the most experienced of the six of us being interviewed. we were told that tomorrow before 6pm we would hear from them if they were interested in having us see the general manager for a second interview. two hours later i got a call asking me to come in for that second interview. so friday is the big day - we'll see how it goes.
the job is seasonal, which means my contract would end either mid january
(which would be PERFECT timing for my trip to england) or the start of january. the pay isn't great, but better than the zero dollars per hour that i'm raking in at the moment. and really, working in a store i love, helping customers, listening to music, with a discount on books/cds/dvds/gifts right around christmas time is a-ok with me.
fingers crossed... i'm too bored to stay unemployed much longer.
i stopped by the book store today (aka my favourite store in toronto) and dropped off a resume. not 45 minutes later i got a call from them asking me to come in for a group interview later today. naturally, i said yes!
the group interview was pretty good, especially since i think i was the most experienced of the six of us being interviewed. we were told that tomorrow before 6pm we would hear from them if they were interested in having us see the general manager for a second interview. two hours later i got a call asking me to come in for that second interview. so friday is the big day - we'll see how it goes.
the job is seasonal, which means my contract would end either mid january
(which would be PERFECT timing for my trip to england) or the start of january. the pay isn't great, but better than the zero dollars per hour that i'm raking in at the moment. and really, working in a store i love, helping customers, listening to music, with a discount on books/cds/dvds/gifts right around christmas time is a-ok with me.
fingers crossed... i'm too bored to stay unemployed much longer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
