Trailer Park Trash

"Editors Note - I've been going through some of our old posts and adding relevant (in most cases) pictures. Now we all know Britney is trailer park trash but to be fair to the girl I thought I'd at least put a fairly decent picture of her on this post"

Talk about feeling the earth move! We was in bed last night and you know what it's like when you're half asleep? Well I was aware of movement in the bed and in my semi conscious state decided to blame Matt, as he is prone to a bit of fidgeting. Well this was like no fidgeting I've ever experienced before and the bed was literally shaking and juddering. I said to Matt 'what are you doing?' to which he replied 'it's not me it's you!' As I started to wake up I knew that it was some kind of earth quake we were experiencing, as just after the big judders I started to feel some slight tremors too. Anyway not one to be kept from my slumber I just fell back to sleep and didn't think any more about it, until this morning. I put the BBC news on and there was a scene in Lincoln, that was being broadcast live and there was rubble in the street. Then they started talking about the quake, so I woke Matt up and told him that neither of us was guilty of fidgeting. Fancy that though! Anyway it has been the main topic of conversation all day at work and on the radio and I can honestly say I'm sick of hearing about it now.

We're starting to get back into a kind of routine now, especially now we're both back at work. I'm finding the constraints of a 9-5 life really imposing at the moment. After 10 months of doing our own thing I guess it was always going to be difficult. We are already starting to talk about holidays, we're not going far though probably a week in The Lakes to start with, and maybe a long weekend in Bonnie Scotland too. We both want to see more of England now we have travelled the world as there is so much beauty and heritage on our own doorstep.

We are also going on a stint 'darn sarf' in April to meet up with some of Matt's old Uni mates, one of whom I've already met at Reading a couple of years ago, he probably wont recognise me without the muck and big tide mark around my neck. The other mate I've not met, although I've been reliably informed I will get on with him 'cos he's 'from the North!' So that should be a good weekend.

My new job is going really well, I'm starting to piece things together. There is so much gear involved in camping, it's mesmerising. I have poached an old colleague to come and work with me, Keelie. She came in for an interview on Monday and is starting in a couple of weeks, I'm really looking forward to working with her again as she is an absolute star. When we were in the interview I mentioned to my boss about some supplier training, Keelie's eyes lit up when he said that he would fly us out to Spain to some of the factories and we could tag a long weekend onto the end of it. There's bound to be some perks working in the leisure industry?! Oh I remember the days when I was working for Eurocamp cleaning the seals of the windows with a cotton bud and scrubbing the shower tray with a tooth brush, God knows whose tooth brush it was. I don't know if anybody else shares my enthusiasm for camping/caravanning, but I think there's something really exciting about buying a packet of bacon that you are going to cook on a camp stove and then wash the pans in cold water, and I don't even eat the stuff. For anybody that is stuck for some inspiration as to where to holiday this year, try it, you will love it. You don't have to go on the trailer park at Withernsea either, you can go to most places in Europe, or why not go long haul and spend a couple of weeks caravanning with the Ozzies, cozzies and mozzies.

I can sing now I'm winning!

Well I started my new job on Wednesday, at a company called Discover Leisure, they are a company who deal in caravans, motorhomes and anything else to do with camping. I am the new Customer Service Team Leader, what a result!

I first heard about the job when I went to register at a recruitment agency, Beardshaw Murray. We talked through my CV and chatted about what sort of role I was looking for, what experience I had etc. The recruitment consultant then told me of this opportunity that had come up with a leisure company, she told me all the details and said that the guy was looking for somebody who was well travelled and had a genuine interest in the outdoors. We both agreed that it had my name all over it. I was really excited when I left the agency as up until this point I hadn't really seen anything that I wanted to do. I had been to an interview at the infamous Welcome Finance, but if I'm honest it was the last place I wanted to work. It is full of ex-Comet staff and after a fatal blow dealt to me by an ex colleague I really was looking to move away from all things to do with 'Britains most trusted electrical retailer'.

My interview at the agency was on the Thursday and on the following Monday I got a phone call to say that I had an interview the following Tuesday. I was over the moon. I did the prep, read up on the company, revisited all my work experience, skills, strengths, achievements you name it I read it, I thought my head would explode I'd read so much stuff. On the Monday before my interview I had to go see my retarded mate at the Job Centre to sign on. Sure enough he was his usual retarded incompetent self, we went through the script, what have you been doing to find work? what websites have you looked at ra ra ra. At this point I told him that I had an interview the following day and that I didn't expect to be seeing his ugly mug in another 2 weeks. It made no difference to him, there are 1000's more unemployed scrotes in Hull that will always ensure that he is never on the other side of his desk claiming Job Seekers allowance.

On the day of my interview I was a little bit nervous, but was looking forward to having the interview and just getting it all over with, it was over a week now that I had known about the job/interview so I really was sick of thinking about it. It went really, really well and it was more of an informal chat than a structured interview. I chatted about my travels, my time at Eurocamp in Italy and all the other experience I had in Customer Service. It really did go well and when I left Trevor, (my new boss) said I will give you a call this afternoon and let you know. It was such a relief to walk out of there and I was feeling pretty confident about the way things had gone. A couple of hours later I got a call from the agency to say I had been offered the job and could I start tomorrow!! I was a little taken aback by the pace at which everything was happening, but after 10 months off work I decided that I might as well get on with it. So that's what I did, I started work last Wednesday, and I love it. I have no team at the moment and have full responsibility for recruiting, I have poached an ex colleague already, I know it's a bit naughty but hey it's dog eat dog in this world!

It is such a good feeling to be back at work, it was a lonely time being unemployed when everybody around me was busy getting on with it. Agencies don't return your calls and you don't even get rejection letters for anything you apply for, not even a thanks but no thanks. But that's all in the past now, I don't envy anybody living in Hull who is genuinely looking for work, you have got your work cut out!

My first day at work I was late, not fashionably either! The offices are just outside of Hull so I left the house at 8.15, thinking it would allow me plenty of time to get there. Well at 8.50 I was still in Hull and wasn't even half way there, the traffic is manic in a morning with everybody taking their kids to school. Why can't they get the fluffin bus like we had to!!! Anyway I phoned ahead to let them know and have now picked out a short cut that takes 10 mins off the journey and also cuts out a lot of traffic. No I haven't got a helicopter before you ask.

All in all life is really good for us at the moment, we can now get saving to buy a hooooose in the Avenues, I've already set my heart on one down Victoria Avenue. It's a beauty, 4 bedrooms with all the period features, French doors, polished wood floors, dado rails, cast iron fire places in the bedrooms, just what we're looking for. And for all our Southern readers I have to tell you that it is a snip at 234k By the time we get our deposit saved though the house will be long gone. I've already got my eye on a few motorhomes at work too ;o)

Matt seems to be settling into the Northern way of life, he addresses everybody with 'now then'. When I look back we have just about picked our life up from Berkhamstead, packed it way for 10 months, travelled round the world and come back 'oop North' unpacked and now getting back on with it. We are back on top, even if our savings are 20k lighter. Whats 20k though when you've seen and done what we have this last year!

Back to work!

Hi all, just a quickie. I will post a blog at the weekend and tell you all about my new job. I know you'll all be really excited now (not!) It took me a very long and lonely 34 days to find a job, but it really is just what I was looking for. Will reveal all when I get a few minutes to myself!!

Giz a job

Sorry it's taken me so long to blog, it's just that I'm living a normal life like everybody else now so I'm a bit stumped for a topic! I will make an effort though as I know people are still looking us up, so thanks all you avid readers!

Well life 'Ooop North' is all I hoped it would be, it is fantastic to be 'home' where all my friends and family are. My mum and dad have never gone through so many tea bags (and cake for Matt!!) We're staying with Stew and Kirsty at the moment and that's great too, they have got a lovely big house and we have been made right at home, they've even laid us on a wide screen TV and DVD player in our room ;o)

We have spent the last couple of weeks catching up with everybody and everything, although I have to say very little changes. Everybody is still going about their day to day business while me and Matt get under everybody's feet. I have been looking for a new job, a task in itself in Hull, and I have a few 'irons in the fire' so to speak. Unless you're willing to work for 12.5k though you're a bit limited as to what you can do. Yesterday I went to the job centre to sign on for the 1st time. It was an experience in itself. I had been a week or so earlier to make a new claim and was done up like a dogs dinner as I had just had an interview at a recruitment agency. Needless to say I stuck out like a sore thumb. The guy who my appointment was with was 20 minutes late seeing me and when I finally did have the pleasure, he stunk of beer! He had very little interest in getting me a job which wouldn't have been so bad if he tried to hide the fact. Don't get me wrong I wasn't expecting to come out of there with a 30k job, company car and all the trimmings kind of job tucked under my belt, but he didn't ask me the 1st thing about me, typical male I suppose!!!!!!

So this week when I went back I had to 'sign on' and then prove what I had been doing to find work. Well believe me short of going door to door looking for jobs, I have been very busy trying to find something suitable. I had it all documented on the silly form that they give you to keep. When I sat down he asked me in his best Hull accent 'So Michelle, what ave you bin doin to find work' well this was my opening gambit, I blurted it all out, I didn't stop for breath for about 30 seconds. He was shocked, the only thing he could come back with was ' Did you remember to look in the 'Ull Daily Mail on Wednesday' (it's jobs nght in our local rag on a Wednesday, and yes of course I looked!) I told him that yes I had, but to be honest it was a load of twaddle. He then said "Well that's as good as it get's in Hull, that's Hull for yer'.

What I want to know is who employed that big hapless b*&$@rd, how can somebody as BIG (and believe me he was) and gormless as him have a job and I have to rely on the likes of him to get me back into work!! What chance have I got?, any road rant over.

We went to Hornsea at the weekend with Kirsty's mum's dog, it was great. We took him on the beach for a frisk about and he loved it. It was a freezing cold day and the wind was whipping round our ankles and through our layers, it was great to get some fresh sea air though. Another good thing about living in Hull is that you are right on the coast, well good unless there's ever a Tsunami I suppose. Tomorrow we are off up to Scarborough for the day with my folks, so that will be another bracing day no doubt.

Since we got back we have done loads of walking, when we were travelling we literally walked for miles and miles so now that we're home walking down to the local shop or into town is nothing, wheras before we went we would have just jumped in the car. Travelling does make you appreciate so many little things that we take for granted on a day to day basis.

On Sunday we went out with some people from Comet, Hull, again it was good to see so many friendly faces (some not so friendly) I had a good old hangover on Monday morning as a result, luckily there was no work though ;o)

So that's about it in a nut shell, loving life and glad to be back!