Goodwood Photos

Mustangs and spitfires; Rowan Atkinson's Jaguar n.o 7; The Sprite!; the car auction; glam cabs; Dad's army; Stirling Moss in his Sprite; wwet racing conditions!

Turn up for the books!

You'll never guess....

I was called into my team leader's office today to be told that my contract had been extended! I will have at least another few months at Natural England, as I will be covering maternity leave. So very good news.

The only thing is I was quite looking forward to handing over all my casework, and I had told everyone that I was leaving, so it is mildly annoying but I am of course extremely pleased! Apparently, my fellow casework team buddies Alex and Rachel had been begging the Deputy Team Leader Russell to let me stay, and they had made a formal request to keep me, which panned out in the end. Talk about leaving it to the last minute!

On a sad note Kate, the Polish receptionist, and Leigh, my fellow casework team buddy, both left today, which was really sad. But we'll all keep in touch of course.

Nope...

...didn't get it.

My concerns over my lack of experience of community work were well-founded. I can accept that, though what I can't accept, and has really gutted me, is she then went on to say that I came over a bit abrupt and loud and that I should 'bear this in mind for future interviews, to tone it down a bit". I was realy upset by this, but the girls in the office have been great, saying that it is their loss, and that it didn't sound like the kind of job I wanted. It does annoy me when we make the effort to apply and go to the interviews, only to find out what the job is really about, i.e. this one was a general dogsbody and mainly organising events and working with communities. Grrr.

So I will be off to the hospital to work for Mum on Tuesday - it's that or unemployment.

Interviews a-plenty!

Off I went to Dorchester for an interview with the Dorset Wildlife Trust as an Assistant Conservation Officer. The interview itself seemed to go ok, though I don't think I'll get it because they kept asking stuff about organising events, working with community groups etc, which I don't have much experience of. A bit annoying as I actually want this job!

I was quite worried about it this morning as I was still really tired from Saturday night/Sunday morning (bed = 3am!), but my mind seemed to just about function. I had a great night, when they eventually arrived (night began 10.30pm!), eventually ending up in the Chapel, which I hadn't been to for ages.

Another week down

This last week has gone so quickly, I can't believe only one week to go!

Of course this week was marred by poor old Richard Hammond - I do hope he pulls through and gets back on the show.

Earlier in the week I discovered I have an interview on Monday for an ACO post at the Dorset Wildlife Trust, which I really want. Then, after a two hour journey home due to appalling traffic, I discovered I now have another interview on the 2nd of October for the Planning and Policy Officer for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew with this one, but as per usual I relish the challenge! I have to do a presentation, which sounds really difficult. Oh well.

And now it appears I am going out tomorrow after all, so once again the weekend will fly by and I will be knackered on Sunday, when I was hoping to go for a nice long walk with Mum and her ramblers. Never mind!

Absolutely knackered

What a weekend! It all started at Alex's on Friday evening. Together with Leigh, it was to celebrate our time with English Nature, and say goodbye to both of us from Alex. An excellent evening, which ended at approx 2am after selecting random German words out of the dictionary to use as insults. Quite amusing!

The next morning I drove back home, feeling very tired, but to try and get ready for the evening. It is Jo's birthday today, so last night we all went out in Salisbury again and had a great time, though I feel very old now - a few years ago I'm sure I wouldn't feel this tired! Happy Birthday Jo!

Anyway, today is recovery day, and then back to work tomorrow- only two weeks left and I still haven't got a job!!!

Sad news

We received some sad news earlier in the week: Ebin Black, Mum's friend Alison's Dad, died. He had had heart problems for some time and was 86.

We are just so thankful we got to see him in NZ before he went. He had such a brilliant sense of humour and manner with us all, and he will be sorely missed.

Goodwood!

This weekend was so knackering but absolutely amazing!

After my interview on Friday, which went very well (I actually enjoyed it!) I then found out at 6pm that I hadn't got it (not enough experience), which I wasn't too gutted about really. It sounded a bit like a glorified librarian.

Anyway, we drove down to Goodwood for the Revival, which we would attend all weekend. It was brilliant, so entertaining with everyone dressed up (the boys did, but us girls would have got a bit cold and wet as it was disgusting on Saturday!), and with Dad's Army and Glamcabs. So surreal.

We watched so many classic cars racing, being raced by Stirling Moss, Rowan Atkinson (he spun his big Jag), Christian Klien and Johnny Herbert to name but a few. And the air displays of spitfires and Mustangs were spectacular.

I will almost certainly be going again in the future - what an experience!