Posts tagged friends

I haven’t posted here in a bit, and a lot of stuff happened. I sort of intended to write at length about each thing, but I lack the resolve and that’s stopping me from writing anything. So in order to get back in the swing of things I thought I’d post a catch up entry. I don’t really know who I’m telling these things; really I think it is more for myself than anyone else, but it gives me something to do while Andy is off cycling the width of the country without me so I shan’t let that bother me.

Live Roleplaying

I did some. A weekend of CP with Stef. I played a healer who didn’t remember her spells, and it was good fun (if cold standing outside all the time). Half way through just as I was getting into the swing of things I went over on my knee while attempting to evade a werewolf. A month later and it’s still not better. I’ll try not to let that experience colour my judgement however, I did enjoy myself and I met some lovely and interesting people.

Job Interview

I had one. Well technically I had two if you count a telephone interview. Really though only one mattered, an assessment centre for BAE Systems. It was over two days at a posh hotel in Preston, and happened very soon after the roleplaying event. I was quite stressed about it, but it did give me the opportunity to wear my nice suit and limp around with my bad knee. There was a group work exercise, a one-on-one interview (in a hotel bedroom..), a written exercise and a presentation. I felt like I aced the interview and the group work (though I got off to a quiet start), was meh on the written exercise (unlike me) and completely stuffed up the presentation.

Job Offer

The next day at 9.20am they offered me the job :-) It’s a fantastic opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands. The salary is higher than I was expecting, and working hours are really intriguing (Friday afternoons off!?). It means I am 80% certain I’ll have to move to Ulverston in the next six months, but I am more or less happy with that. Nearer the Lake District.

PhD Viva

I had it, I passed with minor corrections. The week/weekend preceding it will probably go down in my life’s history as one of the most horrible, stressful and painful times ever known. I was a nightmare to deal with, I couldn’t focus, and Andy was a complete and utter star. I would never have made it to the actual event without him, and without his help during the last year or so I don’t think I’d have ever got to the point of submission. Basically he owns my doctorate. Anyway, it means I’m now (pending corrections) Dr Sara, and that feels really very strange. I don’t really want to talk more about this. I’m very glad it’s all over, and it was an experience. I loved the travel and the people, but I don’t think I could recommend to past me that it’s a good idea. Without having done it my life would be very, very different, so it is hard to put things into perspective, but I’m very glad that chapter of my life is coming to an end.

So, yes. I don’t know what’s next. There’s going to be some big changes coming up, new house, new job, probably lots of other little things. I intend on using this blog more regularly again, and starting to take some more photographs. I want to do some more travelling, and carry on learning Japanese. Other than that we shall see what comes.

Went to see Green Day in Manchester with Heather, and it was amazing. I’d forgotten I’d agreed to go so when she reminded me we had tickets it was as if I’d won them in a competition or something. I’d never been to a gig at Old Trafford before, but the fact its so open (being a cricket ground) meant it felt like being at some kind of festival.

The support acts were good fun, Frank Turner and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, but the main event was just something else. I’ve never seen a band on this scale before, huge sets, pyrotechnics. It was amazing, very very entertaining. The lead singer said he was going to sacrifice his soul to make that gig the best we ever went to, and boy did he mean it. I’ve got a few photos I’ll share for memories sake, more than how great they are, but I’ll do them as separate entries :-)