Articles

In the process of emailing the editors of local newspapers advertising some articles I've written and wondering if I'm completely insane to even think that people might be interested to hear what some unemployed loser thinks.

Of course, the fact that I am an unemployed loser is exactly why I've written what I have written, it's the whole point. Still, I'm not expecting any replies.

In other news, there are some rather odd noises coming from the next room. It reminds me of my first year at uni when I lived above a guy addicted to playing online games and I'd hear angry American geeks shouting obscenities through the night.

Ahh, the joys of living in a houseshare...

The house is suddenly full of people, where there were only three of us there are now five, and soon there is to be a sixth! It'll be interesting to see how the house dynamic changes over the next few days, maybe there finally will be a house dynamic. As long as I don't have to fight for the TV to watch America's Next Top Model it'll be fine.

Not much to report really, have filled my day with speaking to family and friends on the phone and preparing some pieces for the local paper. I hope they go down ok, mind you I'm not keeping my hopes up.

Off to knitting club tonight which will be nice, although it's in a pub and I don't know if I'm ready to look at or smell alcohol yet. Must try to not vomit on the crochet.

'Life Experience' - most hated phrase of the day.

There was a great article in the Times today (by the fabulous India Knight) about how the unemployed graduates of 2009 view the older generations. She believes that we judge those with established careers who took full advantage of the boom period of the 80s and 90s, and blame their frivolity for the difficult state of affairs that we have been landed with.

But what I found interesting today was the judgement I received from a member of an older generation. The judgement wasn't immediately related to my unemployment, I think it runs deeper than that. I'm sure the comment that was made was entirely off-the-cuff and not meant to cause offence, but it did.

"He's just a young guy, he hasn't even had any life experience yet."

The words are like a paper cut through my conscious - not immediately painful, but definitely felt. I find it incredible that the individual concerned could nullify my recent past and current situation with such a flippant comment, and I'm left wondering whether this was a localised incident. And why? Why have I 'not had ANY life experience' yet? I may be relatively young, but no experience? I have spent 15 years in education in total so far, and in that time I have proved myself intelligent, analytical, able to form lasting relationships with others, able to work professionally and efficiently with others, able to research and understand an incredibly wide range of subjects, I've lived in 4 share-house situations with people from all walks of life, I've traveled independently, I've managed my finances, I've managed to feed myself, I've been published, I have a good degree...the list goes on and all of these skills are transferrable. No experience?

I wonder if the label 'no experience' comes from my age, or from the fact that I am unemployed, the latter leading to a whole other can of worms which brings me back to the bitterness and resentment narrated by India Knight today.

Graduates today have experience coming out of their ears, life experience and otherwise. And to get a job or embark on a career we are expected to prove this, but how can we do that if we are just passed off as inexperienced because of our age or employment experience? And why are we passed off as such? Because we haven't built schools in Third World countries, because we don't have mortgages, kids, marriages, savings, designer clothes, a sodding iPhone?!

I ask: what is 'life experience'? And please. If you can't answer that question don't you dare tell me I don't have any.

Graduated

I can't believe I was dreading the ceremony as much as I was. It was fantastic, I'd do another degree just for the ceremony. After three years of hard work, constant criticism from the lecturing staff and several nervous breakdowns it was all worth it in the end to see the staff turning to you and applauding. I've never felt so good.

Mind you - the hangover yesterday was something else entirely. It wasn't just an 'I'm never going to drink again' hangover, it was more of a 'I don't know if I'll ever be able to even LOOK at a drink ever again'. Urgghhh. I'm thanking my lucky stars it didn't turn into a two-dayer.

It was all worth it just to forget how awful post-university life is for a few hours.

Graduation

Well, it's my graduation ceremony tomorrow afternoon and I can't say I'm really looking forward to it. Leaving university has been comparable to the death of someone close to you, and graduation is like the funeral - you dread it, not because of the event itself, but because it's the last thing you do before it really is all over.

It seems cruel that school, one of the least enjoyable times of my life, lasted almost twice as long as the most treasured. I'm not ready to say 'goodbye' to it yet, but I've got to grit my teeth and hope that there are better times ahead.

I'd love to play the petulant child and say, 'stuff your silly hat I'm not graduating yet!' but my grandmother cleared a space for my graduation photo on her mantelpiece half way through my first year.

God, I hope I don't blink when the flash goes off....

Blummin' shattered

Just got home from the wedding, ah it was wonderful but BOY am I shattered!? I have a stinking hangover even though I had TWO drinks before bed. I think I'm allergic to work.

Oh dear, that doesn't bode well for my job hunting, does it?

A Tuesday Wedding

Good morning all,

Very much looking forward to the first of this week's two big events, in about an hour I'm heading off to a friend's wedding to help out with the bar. It'll be a long day but the possibility of good company, good laughs and a free meal is making me eager to get there.

Can't wait!

In other news: Landlord is advertising for new tenants and has asked me to show someone around the house this week. I hope we end up with a couple of girls really, we could do with a female touch (and one that's actually willing to do something rather than just moan like the last one).

Finger's crossed eh?

Now, what on earth am I going to wear today?!