New Job

In December, after my 'temp' assignment ended in an office mailroom, I applied for the available position full-time, only to realise a few weeks later that the company were cutting costs and no job existed.

So, for the next three months I applied for various jobs, one being work in the mailroom of Hewlett Packard.  Sadly, this is a job I also did not get, despite being selected for second interview.

But, to my surprise, they rang me up out of the blue saying a position had opened up in their facilities department and if I was still interested.  Of course I was!, and I started there last Monday.  I have now have a full-time job.  It is closer to home, and it is also the workplace of my Wife.

My job is a bit of all sorts.  I have a desk in the mailroom, and I help out there, but I also work around the building, fixing paper jams in copiers, loading up printers with new ink etc.  So there is always something different to do.  What I do like, currently, is the uniform.  Jeans, trainers and a polo shirt.  I will miss the free cans of pop from the previous job.  But this is a full-time deal, and more money too.  I think I can live with that ...

This week my Wife and I have been left alone.  My Mother in Law (Mom) went on a cruise to the Bahamas, with a one day stop over at Disneyworld.  As awesome as that was, having the house to ourselves was SO nice.  She had a wonderful cruise, and I'll hear all about it in the next few days.

Thanksgiving

I am sorry I have not updated this since Thanksgiving.

Traditionally Thanksgiving is on the third Thursday in November, also meant I had two days off work.  Naturally being a 'temp', I didn't get paid for those days, but it was nice to have a 4 day weekend.

Being the English guest, I thought it would be fun to bake the Pumpkin pie.  Here is my effort.  I shared making it with my Wife.

We had a big dinner at my sister in laws.  There were nine of us!

On the Monday night, niece Julia took part in a local School parade around the town of Winchester, several schools and clubs took part, and it was awesome to see Julia at the front of her school.  It started at 7pm, and we were lucky to arrive on time, driving all the way from working in Reston / Herndon.

On Friday, I had two interviews for the job I am temping in.  First was with my boss, who was 25 minutes late, and the second was a telephone interview with a manager from another office.  This chap was 50 minutes late.  Not the best preparation I have had for interviews.

This weekend, we're putting up the Christmas Tree!  There will be two.  I've brought in the large one from the garage, this will go in the main front room, and Vicky and I have our own Christmas Tree.  I am especially looking forward to putting this one up, as Mom bought us a personalised bauble last year.

Last Christmas, Vicky and I were separated of course, and we spent a lot of time with each other over the webcam.  I watched Mom and Vicky set up our Christmas tree, and it sucked.  It was nice to watch, but to not be a part of was awful.

Midnight showings and tests!

Yesterday was a very busy day for me.  Vicky and I woke up around 7.  I had a test to take at the local dmv (dvla).  For a few weeks now I have been learning Virginia's highway code, and on Saturday I took the written driving test.  On the way there we picked up breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts, I had three doughnuts, a coffee and a sausage biscuit.  I normally pick up 6 doughnuts, but I had my mind on other things.  We queued up and I was given a ticket and told to sit in an area that looked just like Argos, and waited until my ticket was flashed up on the television above.  The test is in two parts, and it is done on a touch screen.  I had to answer ten road sign questions correctly before I could go onto the next part.  Had I got one wrong, I would have to re-take the test next week, paying $2.  Fortunately I passed this first part.  There was a young girl doing the test with me at the same time.  She was probably 16, and I felt a bit old.  The second part of the test is a 25 multiple choice question, to pass this you must get at least 20 correct.  I passed with 24/25.  I can't remember which one I got wrong, but I wasn't bothered.  One question did make me laugh.  'One 12 ounce can of beer is the equivalent of ..., and I chose the 'one shot of liquor' answer.

But if you can drive at 16, but not drink till you are 21 ...

I understood why the question was there, but I found it amusing.

I now have a temporary learners permit from the dmv, it is the same as the UK provisional license, I can drive straight away, as long as there is an experienced driver in the car with me.  The real license will be in the post next week, or later, and I will now look into taking lessons with a local driving school.

We got back in time for me to see the Newcastle game against Wigan, again the Toon was shown on normal telly!

Late last night I had the thrill of seeing a once banned film at the cinema with my nephew, at midnight!  My Wife mentioned to me a while ago about a showing of a horror film at one of the larger cinemas in the area.  Google 'imdb zombie (1979)'.  It was one of the films banned in England in the early 80's.  Something the Daily Mail termed a 'video nasty'.  The only reason this film is as well known as it is now, is all down to the UK banning it originally.  The saying any publicity is good publicity is very true here.  99% of the 70 odd films banned during this early 80s period are rubbish that should never have been giving the wide publicity as other films, but thanks to being 'banned', they create an interest that extends, and now thanks to the internet, and the cheapness of making the DVDs, all but one or two of them are easily obtainable on DVD now.  Zombie can now be bought legally in England with its uncut 18 rating, and is very tame now.

The main reason behind the midnight showing last night was to advertise the blu-ray release of the movie.

I did say I saw the film with my nephew.  He is only 14, but there is a strange law in America.  The film is an R rating, which means children can see the film if they are accompanied by an adult!  I think he enjoyed himself, and I hope the cinema has showings like this again.

I arrived home around quarter to two in the morning, our brave dog pepper decided to let me into the house before barking like crazy at the intruder, but only once I had got as far as the bedroom.  Thanks dog.  Perhaps smelling me first before waking up the house would be nice.

It's now half eight in the morning, and I'm up for the manchester derby on the telly.

I'll have a bowl of mini shredded wheat and a cup of Ringtons Tea for breakfast.

Next week, I'm supposed to be having my interview for my job at Oracle.  They've been putting it off for a while, but I'm 99% certain I will have the job permanently soon.  Vicky and Mom told me that there is a rule/law in America regarding temp agencys.  If I'm working for a company through an agency, and they want to employ me, they may wait three months before hiring me.  This way I can be given a free transfer, just like football!, Oracle would have to pay the agency a fee to release me earlier than the three months.

I've been told that as well as a proper interview, I had to also take part in a telephone interview with someone from another office.  This is to show there is no bias.