NaNoWriMo and Life Updates.

I know, say what you want, I'm a bad blogger. But while you've been busy complaining about my lack of blogging, I've been writing a novel all month, so there :P. I finished earlier this evening with a current total of 50, 124 words. By all means, the story is not finished yet, it's barely even begun but I had to ramble on for 50k about something so shush :P. I am very pleased to have won this year as I failed last year and was more determined than ever to win again! I couldn't have done it without the help of the Nanoers in the All-Ireland chatroom as well as my housemate Jesse who was full of useful information about demons and other magical beings when my brain decided to die. So many thanks go out to all of you.

In other news, last time I blogged I said I had ticked off another thing on my 21 list. I have since ticked off a further one. Those two things, which I can happily tell you now are: Go on a date - On halloween night I went on a date. Suffice to say, things have worked out very well and I'm quite the happy chappy. The other one I've ticked off is getting a job. My dad knows an owner of a restaurant and they happened to be looking for staff and hence, I got a job. Which is another reason why I'm quite cheerful these days because there was a point during November where I couldn't afford to live and now I can. It's brilliant :).

November has been a bit of a mental month for me. The first two and a half weeks were full of stress due to coursework essays needing to be done and handed in. I had three to do, I got two done the first week and handed in and the second week when I was in the middle of doing my essay I recieved some bad news. My cat whom I've had since I was 3 was killed in the throws of an angry dog. This news was really upsetting and I was unable to focus on my essay for a while and ended up with an extension. I got it done eventually and was then able to come back to NaNo and end up where I am today. As well as these distractions, the two I mentioned above were quite good at distracting me at points but I through raw determination, I made it across the finish line and a day early too!

So there you go. I was waiting until I made it across the finish line to post about everything because I thought firing it all out in one go would be better than wasting time writing here when I could be writing NaNo. But I'm alive, I'm happy and I hopefully will post more often now that Novembers over and the crazy times have died down. Of course, don't hold me to that.

Hope things are well with all of you,
Sami
:)

Don't Tell Me I'm Not Trying.

As you all know, I am currently unemployed and I've been trying all summer to try and find a job. That's 4 months of job hunting, filling out application forms and sending my CV in to so many places and being unsuccessful. The unemployment level in Northern Ireland is so high that every time a job offer opens, around 600 people apply for it.

The BBC even did a report on the unemployment level in Northern Ireland in early July of this year, one of the months in which I was hunting, which you read here.

However, it has come to my attention that several people are calling me "unemployable" and telling me that I am not trying hard enough to find a job. Well, let me tell you something my friends. I applied for Primark, I was application number 426 and the applications were still open for another week. Ikea Belfast had recruitment for 3-5 positions and they had 600 applications and it was open for another week. I have applied for every job that I meet the requirements for.

So don't tell me I'm not trying because I am. Don't tell me I'm unemployable, because I am. The level of unemployment is so high that even those most qualified to do the jobs they are applying for aren't being employed. And to further enhance my point, I have created a list of all the jobs I have applied for this summer.

• B and M Bargains (twice)
• Quiz
• D2
• New Look
• Pizza Hut
• Poundstretcher
• Imaging Solutions
• Charco Grill
• Summer Scheme
• Editor and Dragonfly Boutique
• Tescos
• Monsoon
• Accessorize
• Delaneys
• Clinton Cards
• Argos
• Primark
• Diamond and Pearls
• TK Maxx
• Debenhams
• A bed and breakfast (name undisclosed for privacy reasons)

Out of that list, I have had 2 interviews and was rejected from both of them. Most of them didn't even bother their backsides to reject me in the first place. Employers are able to be fussy and pick those who meet the requirements solidly rather than give those who maybe fail on one department a chance. There are other stores that I am applying to in the next week also, so add another 2 to the list and whatever else may pop up between now and then.

So there you go. I am trying my hardest and I am employable, it's just that the level is too fucking high for anyone to want me. Do you think it's easy surviving a 4 month summer with no money? Do you think I want to live like this? No, I don't. So don't tell me I'm not trying, because I am.

Until tomorrow,
Sami