So far things have gone well. My boss keeps throwing more stuff at me, which is somewhat overwhelming, but quite a lot of it is really interesting, so I don't really mind!
I've already done one response about the extension of Westbury Quarry, and I'm now going to a meeting in Trowbridge about it next week, which should be cool. Today I've been working on producing some guidance to Local Authorities and Parish Councils on the new NERC Act, and am taking the lead on a big proposal to create a new stretch of canal - not something you find in Hampshire - one of the little differences between the counties!
The people all seem very nice, though there are far too many of them to remember - about 70 in all! I'm also going to the AGM next week, where Chris Packham is the guest speaker - my childhood idol! I know they always wheel him out in Hampshire, but I always miss him, so hopefully this time it will not be the case!
Of course I will keep you posted on all developments re: job!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Last week and new job
My last week at Natural England went very well. I was training up the new RDS people in casework, and getting them to do some responses, and they seemed to enjoy it, though I'm not sure quite how productive they'll be this week!
Friday I went out with Rachel, Val and this RDS person called George to have a look at some casework in action, which was really interesting. Alex had been away all week in the Lakes, so she missed out on the big cake I had bought, which went down a treat when we got back! It was really sad to say goodbye, and some tears were shed, but I will see most of them quite regularly as they are now firm friends.
Friday evening also saw my parents depart for the Cotswolds, so I had the house to myself. I had originally planned a party but no-one could come. Instead, I cooked for Rachel and Grant and Alex, which turned out remarkably well, before watching The Holy Grail - I had carved out a pumpkin as a grail-shaped beacon! It was a thoroughly nice evening and I'm sure we'll do more in the future. I'll see them again in a couple of weeks anyway for Chris's birthday.
So my new job starts tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to it. How will Wiltshire planning differ from Hampshire? Time will tell...
Friday I went out with Rachel, Val and this RDS person called George to have a look at some casework in action, which was really interesting. Alex had been away all week in the Lakes, so she missed out on the big cake I had bought, which went down a treat when we got back! It was really sad to say goodbye, and some tears were shed, but I will see most of them quite regularly as they are now firm friends.
Friday evening also saw my parents depart for the Cotswolds, so I had the house to myself. I had originally planned a party but no-one could come. Instead, I cooked for Rachel and Grant and Alex, which turned out remarkably well, before watching The Holy Grail - I had carved out a pumpkin as a grail-shaped beacon! It was a thoroughly nice evening and I'm sure we'll do more in the future. I'll see them again in a couple of weeks anyway for Chris's birthday.
So my new job starts tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to it. How will Wiltshire planning differ from Hampshire? Time will tell...
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Update!
Do you remember the WWT malarky? Well the second interview was today, and I felt it didn't go so well. They asked me to prioritise 5 pieces of casework and say what you would include in the response to the top two. I thought I'd done OK until they said that in Wiltshire we do this, here we do this etc etc.
However, despite them saying they would get back to me tomorrow they in fact phoned me at 3pm to say that (fanfare please) I have been offered the post! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So as of the 30th of Oct (1 week notice - one good thing about being on a temporary contract!) I will be the new Planning and Policy Officer for the Trust! I just can't believe it.
Obviously I will be very sad to leave the wonderful people at NE but the call of a permanent job is too strong...
On another note, Mum and I went down to see the deer on Sunday, but alas the rut had finished. Despite this we did see several fallow deer and one young red deer stag madly thrashing the conifers for a hind, so that was nice.
Oh, and though I'm still doing the training for the new people next week, I have lost two members (one has a broken wrist and the other has been seconded to another department until Xmas) so it all feels slightly pointless, but it will look good on my CV!
However, despite them saying they would get back to me tomorrow they in fact phoned me at 3pm to say that (fanfare please) I have been offered the post! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So as of the 30th of Oct (1 week notice - one good thing about being on a temporary contract!) I will be the new Planning and Policy Officer for the Trust! I just can't believe it.
Obviously I will be very sad to leave the wonderful people at NE but the call of a permanent job is too strong...
On another note, Mum and I went down to see the deer on Sunday, but alas the rut had finished. Despite this we did see several fallow deer and one young red deer stag madly thrashing the conifers for a hind, so that was nice.
Oh, and though I'm still doing the training for the new people next week, I have lost two members (one has a broken wrist and the other has been seconded to another department until Xmas) so it all feels slightly pointless, but it will look good on my CV!
Friday, October 13, 2006
November?
Tony said yesterday that Nikki (who I am covering maternity leave for) was coming back in November - needless to say, I was a bit taken aback, when she had said she was going to come back after January.
I asked Russell about it today, who denied all knowledge of 'November', saying Nikki was probably coming back in February, and that he'd have a word with Tony. Tony then came in saying I must have misheard and that he had actually said February - they do sound similar don't they??!!!!!!! So he came out of it making me look like I was stupid - very annoying, but I think he is good at getting out of tight spots untarnished.
On another note, I went to see the red deer rut in the Forest yesterday - amazing! Lots of deer around, some stags with huge antlers and roaring heard in the distance, but I had to leave early. The others came in today saying they had seen stags fighting and mating with hinds - how annoying? It's almost the end of the rut, but hopefully I am going to go back Sunday afternoon for a last look, and now know where to look for next year.
I asked Russell about it today, who denied all knowledge of 'November', saying Nikki was probably coming back in February, and that he'd have a word with Tony. Tony then came in saying I must have misheard and that he had actually said February - they do sound similar don't they??!!!!!!! So he came out of it making me look like I was stupid - very annoying, but I think he is good at getting out of tight spots untarnished.
On another note, I went to see the red deer rut in the Forest yesterday - amazing! Lots of deer around, some stags with huge antlers and roaring heard in the distance, but I had to leave early. The others came in today saying they had seen stags fighting and mating with hinds - how annoying? It's almost the end of the rut, but hopefully I am going to go back Sunday afternoon for a last look, and now know where to look for next year.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
I suppose it's good news
After phoning up WWT to ask once more for feedback from the interview, and once again receiving no reply, Mum phoned me up to say a letter from them had arrived. It turned out that they can't make up their minds, and whilst I am shortlisted, I need to go there once again for a 2.5 - 3 hour 'exercise and debrief'. Those are all the details I have, so I am hanging on in there.
On another completely unrelated note, Goodwood was on last night and I forgot to record it - aaarrrggghhh!
On another completely unrelated note, Goodwood was on last night and I forgot to record it - aaarrrggghhh!
Monday, October 09, 2006
Grrrrrrrrr
I still haven't heard from WWT yet, which is really starting to annoy me. I phoned them up today and left a message, but still no reply. Very frustrating but at least I don't have to worry until at least January, possibly later.
I'm so excited! My parents are going away in a few weeks for the weekend, which means party time! I'm having a Monty Python theme, everyone must be dressed up and I'm not sure what else will be going on, but it will be extremely silly. All my friends - consider yourselves invited (28th from 8).
I'm also a bit worried about the responsibility that comes with being asked to train up the other area team's staff in casework law and processing responses over several days. Interesting....
I'm so excited! My parents are going away in a few weeks for the weekend, which means party time! I'm having a Monty Python theme, everyone must be dressed up and I'm not sure what else will be going on, but it will be extremely silly. All my friends - consider yourselves invited (28th from 8).
I'm also a bit worried about the responsibility that comes with being asked to train up the other area team's staff in casework law and processing responses over several days. Interesting....
Monday, October 02, 2006
WWT interview
It went ok, and the atmosphere in the interview was much warmer, but I felt I could have done better on the presentation, fluffing up my first line and maybe going a bit too fast. We'll see. It would be a shame if I didn't get it, as there is scope for me to go out with other members of staff and learn about mitigation etc, which would be really interesting. But it is no longer the end of the world if I don't get it, as I have a few more months with Natural England now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
