So, I'm in that dull, lull period of my job, that miserable, long winter time when no one seems to want to make films - and to make matters worse, there is a general lull in film making over here of any cost, thanks to confusing tax break restructuring, dollar to pound insuitability, and just general disinterest after over a decade of failed attempts to recreate US films/Lock Stock and two smoking Mockney's.
Anyway, rather than collapse into my usual lull-depression of hiding, trying not to spend any money and then feeling guilty for buying a coffee and a paper, I thought that I might try and get another job over the christmas period - thinking, hey, maybe Waterstones or Blockbuster would take me on, or maybe I could go work at McDonalds or something, anything, to get out of the house.
Then I got an email from an old friend, one that I have loosly kept in contact with since my University days.
Long story short - I'm off to bloody Qatar to watch the Asian Games - and I'm getting paid for the joy!
Okay, so as to ensure that this isn't just a self-indulgent post about me me me, TMO, I want to know;
When was the last time that fate smiled upon you kindly or otherwise?
Ever been to the Middle East? What should I expect?
What lesser sporting event of no interest would you like to see before you die?
Or something....
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Yeah, they decided I am to move from Editorial to Business Development in the education sector (going out to schools and convincing headteachers to spunk huge amounts of money on glossy magazines and prospectuses).
I have no experience of sales or marketing, and I can´t even bloody drive, but they have decided that I am the man to replace (eventually) the current dude when he retires. They kept saying I had the right "charm" and that I was "well educated".
So, yes, I work for a company ran by people who are clearly insane, who think "ah, let's move one of our guys who's doing a great job in one department to another area, where he has no skills, no experience and has never displayed any interest. He's the man!"
So to answer the question, it is a promotion of sorts, eventually, because I suppose I'm going to be "groomed" to become a "manager".
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For an Arab counry, Qatar doesn't seem as awful in some ways as Saudi Arabia, even if it isn't actually democratic. I had to look it up to see where you were on about. I think it's good that you are spending part of a winter that could be dull and depressing for you in a hot country with a bit of money in your pocket.
Since I don't know much about anyone yet, what do you do in films?
Can't say too much great has happened to me except the usual mix of bad and good things in the ordinary run of events. Best bits are always the people I love. I'm not complaining.
mart, you are unkind. 'Does she know how to spell it?' Really. Perhaps you deserve to have to catch buses. Think positive, most schools are near bus stops so the little darling of our nation can get to them and you'll get to read a lot of lovely books whilst travelling. Congratulations to you too and I hope being 'groomed' brings it own rewards.
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Louche
Carved TMO on her clit just to make you feel bad
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Sam is just so terribly sweet, isn't she?
Excellent news for Benny, sort of congratulations to mart.
I appear to be having a mad run of bad things happen, good things happen at the moment. My sister left her husband (GOOD THING) but moved up here and there's a chance she and my mother will kill each other (BAD THING). My husband lost his job (BAD THING) but seems to be being offered some paid a stupid lot for doing terribly dangerous shit one (POSSIBLE GOOD THING).
GOOD THING that is just a GOOD THING: swopping managers and spending 67 days off sick this year have left me with a mess of a leave record, and I've just fiddled myself an extra ten days. I want to go to Japan.
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I suppose fate smiled upon me when I contacted my landlord expecting him to serve me up a court order, but instead we shared a joke. Generally, the best things are when something awful doesn't happen, rather than unexpectedly good things happening out the blue, which never happens.
[ 25.10.2006, 05:09: Message edited by: Jimmy Big Nuts ]
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Sam - that's pretty much the vibe I got from Qatar from the little research that I've done. Also, I'm a sound recordist in the industry called film - it's kind of my dream job, and would be so much better if it wasn't for the constant moaning of others involved, the long hours, the bad pay and the general faux liberal-not-many-blacks-here-is-there a bit like an army hierarchy thing going on. But I really do genuinely love my job.
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quote:Originally posted by Louche: Sam is just so terribly sweet, isn't she?
I am who I am.
I am not particularly good at personnas so I doubt very much I shall be moulded into the sharp, acerbic wit capable of terse and subtle put-downs that I enjoy so much on here, but I was once told that a good cook always puts half a teaspoon of salt into a sweet dish and a spoonful of sugar in savoury dish.
I doubt being 'sweet' will hurt either tmo or me.
I am sorry your old man lost his job. I go with jimmy in that the absence of bad things is often the best.
[ 25.10.2006, 05:25: Message edited by: sam ]
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quote:Originally posted by Jimmy Big Nuts: I'm a spineless loser though, sam. Don't listen to me.
But that would make me a spineless loser for agreeing with you and I can assure you that whilst I am no high-flyer, nor a particularly important person in the affairs of the world, I am not a loser. Oh no, indeed. Ergo - neither are you.
Sometimes I actually think you mean it when you say that.
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I can't remember the last time I had something good just happen to me, I mean like just a stroke of good fortune, but like Jimmy Big Nuts, I always appreciate the absence of bad fortune. I've been feeling a bit glum the past few days, which is always the case in the run up to my birthday. I don't know why; it's not exactly the getting older thing that bothers me, there's just something about it that sends me into a bout of self-pity. 29 years old. I was thinking about a kid I knew at school who had some illness and apparently was unlikely to live to see his 30th birthday. I don't know how a feel about that. A bit like watching someone get to leave the exam hall early, I think.
Still, I handed in my notice on Monday, which was quite empowering, and I'm looking forward to a week off in November. Although I still haven't received my offer letter for the new job, so maybe I'll just end up unemployed and impoverished. At least if that happens, I'll know that fate really does have it in for me, which would give me something to cling to.
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If your 29th makes you feel like this, you should go out immediately, without further delay, no messing about on the way, and book a week in the sun for your 30th.
Sorry about the job letter, but you seem as if you are expecting it so I hope it arrives on or before your birthday.
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quote:Originally posted by Benny the Ball: that and the heroin in oxford...
What's up with this? Following your previous comment a brief google just turned up results about Oxford drug use being pretty much reflective of any European city, and having spent about 50 or 60 weekends there over the past two years it's not something that's particularly evident. You live in London; you don't have to feel threatened by a tiny Renaissance city overrun with tourists.
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yeah, I'll drop it. It was just something that someone once said to me, that relates to nothing in particular - basically, we drove through Oxford, Wycombe and one other edge-of-london type place, and every single place apparently had 'the highest use of heroin in...' there. Oxford's was apparently because of all the 'posh kids with nothing to do'.
But I like Oxford. It's tiny, but not in a bad way. I just can't think of anything to recommend about it at the moment...
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quote:Originally posted by sam: If your 29th makes you feel like this, you should go out immediately, without further delay, no messing about on the way, and book a week in the sun for your 30th.
Sorry about the job letter, but you seem as if you are expecting it so I hope it arrives on or before your birthday.
I think that the 30 hits women harder than men. 28 was the worst for me personally.
I believe that men age in 7 year cycles and women in 3 year cycles.
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If you like Thorn, you can come and live with me if you want. I've just been telling Misc about what it's like on a daily basis. Basically, it's enough to make you rip your hair out. I don't know whether it makes for amusing reading or would just make people cry into their keyboards and make me stop.
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Once you pass 35 I think you stop caring altogether, I'm in countdown to my 40th birthday next springtime and I'm feeling unfased about it, 35 was shit though.
I wonder if I'll be middle aged at 40 or if, as they claim life will 'begin'..
29's a breeze.... Just enjoy not being 30
-------------------- my own brother a god dam shit sucking vampire!!! you wait till mum finds out buddy!
Louche
Carved TMO on her clit just to make you feel bad
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Thirty isn't as bad as I thought it would be, age-wise. Everything else-wise it totally fucking sucks. But I think that's just that my life totally fucking sucks at the moment.
I've just thrown the phone at the wall. The phone came off worst.
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I kind of thought that at thirty you'd (by which I mean me, of course) would feel grown-up at last. It seems to be something to aspire to; feeling being grown up.
Not sure about this seven and three year cycles. Makes us sound like cats and dogs. Or maybe its Cabalistic numbers or something?
OO, I love this: You live in London; you don't have to feel threatened by a tiny Renaissance city overrun with tourists.
It takes balls to come out with something like this with not a winky in sight.
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apart from everything being shit, i'm quite enjoying being in my late 20s.
qatar - decent airline. the airport was a bit poo, but i'm sure they have a shiny new one now. don't know much about the country, except it's really conservative but not in a psycho saudi way. not much to do. but no crime (=boring), huge gas-based economic boom, er malls. cool king. i used to know the emir's main horsetrainer dude. little south african chap. he loved it there.
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i still havent found anywhere to live and theyre going to give my old house to the person who has bought it in two weeks. i would be amazingly impressed with the speed at which the sale of my current abode has progressed if it wasnt for the fact that the almost unearthly expedition of the whole process is going to leave me HOMELESS. trust my landlord to find the only efficient solicitor in the ENTIRE COCKING COSMOS.
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vikram what are your top five best airports in the world? which ones have the best duty free? where does the best sandwiches? where can you witness the highest proportion of romantic tearful reunions per square metre of arrival lounge? please talk to me about airports, vikram. or south african horse trainer chaps, or arabian malls, or anything shiny and beyond my ken, to distract me from my reality of job centre jobsworth cockalorums, homelessness prevention charities, 10p crisps and self help groups.
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