Ok so Im in France! Have been since early on mon morn. My last week in UK was even more boring than the first week until the last 2 days when I had an AO reunion on the sat and Mum and Dads Silver anniversary do on the sun at home. Earlier on in the week all Id done was meet up with Ruth briefly on the mon and Salma for lunch on the fri.....
So got here on monday morn having had about 3 hours sleep during the night. Dropped my case off at the house and Melanie my lovely housemate took me to the chateau to meet a few people (cant find the comma on this keyboard _ or the apostrophe or hyphen!) She drove me to the supermarche to do a quick shop and then once Id unpacked a bit and done a little tour of the village I had a 4 hour nap! After that I felt normal lol
So started work on the tues. This week Ive been observing only. From 10 thirty till 1 in the morn I observed the general commentary every half hour, taking notes (found the comma!) In the avo from 2 thirty till 4 thirty I was observing surveillance of the 1st floor (all the main rooms really - entrance room, fireplace room, vestibule, masters bedroom, study, ladys bedroom and the tearoom). Surveillance is sooooooo boring! If you re lucky you get to switch off the odd alarm set off by some bratty kid. Every now and then you remind a visitor phots are forbidden, or ask the occasional parent to keep a closer hold of their unruly toddler. Generally you mess around on the hands_free talkie with whoever is on surveillance on the groundfloor.
Weds morning, was observing in the ticket kiosk (weather is shite atm so was freezing for 3 and a half hours) In the avo I was down on the rota to do some translation work in the office. The manageress said I could work from home on my laptop though, so I did _ for 5 hours!
Thurs morn, I observed in the boutique, then had 2 more hours of observing surveillance (such a lot to learn there!) and then I observed the 3rd group of commentaries (2nd group of the avo). As from this fri Ill be doing the commentaries myself _eek! Theres so much to learn (really, this time!) These commentaries take place at a rendezvous point in the courtyard of honnour; so at least when the weather improves I might get a suntan! Also have my training for the guided tours on fri........much more to learn!!!!!!!!! Little stressed bout that. Hmmmmmm. I will get to do one commentary a week in English though_phew! A little light relief.
Yesterday I had 3 and a half hours of surveillance!!!! On my own this time. First half on the groundfloor (in the courtyard where was freezing) and second half up on the first floor inside where its not much warmer to be honest! Then in the avo I observed Melanies commentaries for 2 hours and then observed in the boutique for an hour and a half.
Today is my first day off, spent finding this free internet access at the ofice de tourisme, doing more food shopping, finding out where I do laundry at the chateau, possibly doing a tour of the chateau myself as I dont yet know where all the rooms are etc and maybe housework as Melanie lives in a bit of a pigsty, even by my standards, before of course sitting down to learn all my scripts. So not really much time to relax! Although last night I did have a long soak in the tub (yes we have a bath!) with itunes blaring out from my laptop and a glass or 2 of a bordeaux wine.
So far this week Ive worked about 27 hours. Tomoz Im doing more surveillance and observing the commentary again. Havent taken any pictures yet really but when I do I will get some up on here! Hautefort doesnt even have a cash machine btw. Luckily havent needed one so far as the only shopping I can do is food shopping at intermarche as thats all there is really! So always pay on card. This avo am gonna discover the next village (within walking distance) that DOES have a cash machine!
Right, thats all for now! Leave comments or email me please!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Few photos of my crazy train trip!
Vik, Jenna and me in the Mens Bar (Union) at the start of the LBS 'pubcrawl' Newcastle, 11th June
Jenna, Sam and me in Pacific on the crawl
Sare in Banana Wharf, Ocean Village, Southampton, 14th June
Hannah and Jayne with the gorillas at London Zoo! 17th June
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Back in the Woo again!
Once I find the USB cable for my camera I will get some photos of the last week up here. Been in Newcastle, Southampton and London. Been busy!
Ok, so Mon morn I went up to Newcastle - arrived about half 1 and metroed over to Vik and Emmas in West Jes where I stayed for 2 nights. Went to the union for a late lunch and beer, window shopped, met up for coffee with Jules and B and went on the LBS 'pubcrawl' in the eve. On the tuesday I met up with Sam and Jenna for lunch in the Crows Nest followed by tea/coffee in the Hancock, followed by a little shopping, much more tea in The Salsa Club, and Chinese in Mangos - yum! Tiger Tiger for some salsa in the eve, where saw Andy and Maxine too.
Weds morn went down to Southampton - left Newcastle at 9 thirty, and arrived in Soton around 3, having tubed between Kings X and Waterloo. Sare met me at the station and took me to her flat, which is v nice btw - not at all a 'student' flat. Just chilled there for the rest of the avo (ate yummy spag bol, watched Deal or No Deal, Neighbours, Hollyoaks, BB and a documentary on Britney Spears lol)
Thursday Sare took me out to show me the dizzy heights of Southampton. Went to West Quay shopping centre, some old ruin near the docks, Ocean Village (Banana Wharf) and the Town Quay, and then a lovely bar called Que Pasa. Came home for more yummy food cooked by Sarah, and got ready to go out - went to The Giddy Bridge (Wetherspoons - where Hannah S used to work) and The Edge.
Fri morn we just chilled at the flat and then went back to Wetherspoons for a cheap lunch out - which ended up lasting 2 and a half to 3 hours to kill time before my 4 thirty train to London Waterloo, as couldnt manage to meet up with Alex. Arrived at Tony and Ange's in St Johns Wood around 6 thirty, had yummy yummy food (Angela is a great cook!) and then went out salsa dancing once Tony got home - went to The Salsa Bar. Had a home-made G & T before bed :)
Yesterday morn left Tony and Ange's to meet Carolyn at Paddington station, we then spontaneously decided to get tickets for the matinee of Les Mis, which was really good (got tickets for 22.50). After that, caught the tube back to St Johns Wood to pick up my case from Tony and Angela's and say bye-bye and thankyou, as spent last night at Hannah's Aunt's flat in Hampstead...... Because of tube problems, didnt get there till 10pm and was knackered and wanting a shower desperately. None of us felt like going out so we drank some rose and watched TV before getting an early night. Today, I went to London zoo and then missed the train Id intended to get back here due to continued tube problems, but got the next one fine (they go every hour)......
So, here I am back in Worcester - tired, poor and fed up of trains!
Ok, so Mon morn I went up to Newcastle - arrived about half 1 and metroed over to Vik and Emmas in West Jes where I stayed for 2 nights. Went to the union for a late lunch and beer, window shopped, met up for coffee with Jules and B and went on the LBS 'pubcrawl' in the eve. On the tuesday I met up with Sam and Jenna for lunch in the Crows Nest followed by tea/coffee in the Hancock, followed by a little shopping, much more tea in The Salsa Club, and Chinese in Mangos - yum! Tiger Tiger for some salsa in the eve, where saw Andy and Maxine too.
Weds morn went down to Southampton - left Newcastle at 9 thirty, and arrived in Soton around 3, having tubed between Kings X and Waterloo. Sare met me at the station and took me to her flat, which is v nice btw - not at all a 'student' flat. Just chilled there for the rest of the avo (ate yummy spag bol, watched Deal or No Deal, Neighbours, Hollyoaks, BB and a documentary on Britney Spears lol)
Thursday Sare took me out to show me the dizzy heights of Southampton. Went to West Quay shopping centre, some old ruin near the docks, Ocean Village (Banana Wharf) and the Town Quay, and then a lovely bar called Que Pasa. Came home for more yummy food cooked by Sarah, and got ready to go out - went to The Giddy Bridge (Wetherspoons - where Hannah S used to work) and The Edge.
Fri morn we just chilled at the flat and then went back to Wetherspoons for a cheap lunch out - which ended up lasting 2 and a half to 3 hours to kill time before my 4 thirty train to London Waterloo, as couldnt manage to meet up with Alex. Arrived at Tony and Ange's in St Johns Wood around 6 thirty, had yummy yummy food (Angela is a great cook!) and then went out salsa dancing once Tony got home - went to The Salsa Bar. Had a home-made G & T before bed :)
Yesterday morn left Tony and Ange's to meet Carolyn at Paddington station, we then spontaneously decided to get tickets for the matinee of Les Mis, which was really good (got tickets for 22.50). After that, caught the tube back to St Johns Wood to pick up my case from Tony and Angela's and say bye-bye and thankyou, as spent last night at Hannah's Aunt's flat in Hampstead...... Because of tube problems, didnt get there till 10pm and was knackered and wanting a shower desperately. None of us felt like going out so we drank some rose and watched TV before getting an early night. Today, I went to London zoo and then missed the train Id intended to get back here due to continued tube problems, but got the next one fine (they go every hour)......
So, here I am back in Worcester - tired, poor and fed up of trains!
Saturday, June 9, 2007
PS
Eurogroup got back to me and offered me a post on reception - though wasnt the whole summer and Id already said yes to the chateau lady so I politely declined! For a stage the money was good though!
Quick one!
Met up with Salma yesterday, but we went to Little V instead of RSVP so caught up briefly with Andy and Sandra, Jani and Silvia, Fatmir etc. Had a docs appt with a voice specialist (Mr Porter) in the avo.
Seems there is a new operation I could have (thyroplasty, it is called) to try to improve the quality of my voice - theres a 5 month waiting list and they have to import the equipment from the US, theres no guarantee itll improve it but it shouldnt get any worse and is on the NHS! Will also go back to a speech therapist for a while - may need to take a week or 2 off uni next term.
Yest eve went out for a meal with the parents at the Chequers at Crowle, and didnt go out afterwards with Ruth and Steph as provisionally planned. Today will hopefully meet up with Hannah S at some point for drinks, maybe Vicki who I saw briefly in Boots the other day when she was working, and Ruth. Gotta go into town anyway.....
That is all. Must see when I can visit Maria......
Seems there is a new operation I could have (thyroplasty, it is called) to try to improve the quality of my voice - theres a 5 month waiting list and they have to import the equipment from the US, theres no guarantee itll improve it but it shouldnt get any worse and is on the NHS! Will also go back to a speech therapist for a while - may need to take a week or 2 off uni next term.
Yest eve went out for a meal with the parents at the Chequers at Crowle, and didnt go out afterwards with Ruth and Steph as provisionally planned. Today will hopefully meet up with Hannah S at some point for drinks, maybe Vicki who I saw briefly in Boots the other day when she was working, and Ruth. Gotta go into town anyway.....
That is all. Must see when I can visit Maria......
Friday, June 8, 2007
Another update of first few days back home
Well, had another job offer - from Pierre Vacances - they offered me two possibilities, a stage on reception at a golf club, or a stage in a tourist information office.
In the end decided on the Chateau option. The woman has stopped looking for staff and considers the job mine, but its not official until uni has drawn up a contract which has been signed by uni, myself and the manageress of the chateau.
Other than all that emailing re jobs and phone interviews and meeting up briefly with Steph and Ruth on weds night Ive done nothing of interest - just lots of tidying and paperwork (and setting up my new ipod)
Meeting up with Salma for lunch at RSVP, then into town later.
Sunday going to grandma and grandpas. Mon - weds will be in Newcastle, weds - fri in Southampton and fri - sun in London! Then only one week left before I go to France!
In the end decided on the Chateau option. The woman has stopped looking for staff and considers the job mine, but its not official until uni has drawn up a contract which has been signed by uni, myself and the manageress of the chateau.
Other than all that emailing re jobs and phone interviews and meeting up briefly with Steph and Ruth on weds night Ive done nothing of interest - just lots of tidying and paperwork (and setting up my new ipod)
Meeting up with Salma for lunch at RSVP, then into town later.
Sunday going to grandma and grandpas. Mon - weds will be in Newcastle, weds - fri in Southampton and fri - sun in London! Then only one week left before I go to France!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
P.S.
I should have added 'work on a yacht' to the list of goals in the 'I dont know what to do with my life!' entry!
Update on possible summer plans......
This entry is copied and pasted from a note Ive just published on facebook......so it may mainly be repeating what I posted in my last blog entry!
*******************************************************
Ok, really confused......
There is a vacancy as a tour guide and giftshop assistant at a rural chateau - museum place in the Dordogne for just over 2 months this summer. Have sent my cover letter and CV and the manageress is interested. Have a phone interview tomorrow
I have also sent my CV and cover letter to Eurogroup (holiday resort), based in Chambery who were equally as interested - so could be offered a work placement on reception there. Have a phone interview tomorrow.
(In total I have applied to 33 companies - 8 of those are yacht companies based in the south of France!)
Canvas holidays have also replied to my application with a form to fill out and return asap - not sure whether to bother, as dont want to give myself too many options....
The YCO new crew agency (one of the yacht companies based near Antibes in France) has also replied to me, saying there are vacancies available and that I shoul apply online. Seems I stand a good chance there, too - so how the hell do I choose?!
(Also been offered voluntary work at an auberge de jeunesse in Mont St Michel)
Advice welcome! Think will see how the phone interviews go tomorrow (def leaning towards eurogroup of the 2)....and then poss not bother applying for YCO or canvas.....Might be quite cool to do YCO next summer!
Need to make my mind up pretty quick as they wont hang around forever - why did all these opportunities have to come at once? LOL If Im not careful I may lose out on all of them!
*******************************************************
Ok, really confused......
There is a vacancy as a tour guide and giftshop assistant at a rural chateau - museum place in the Dordogne for just over 2 months this summer. Have sent my cover letter and CV and the manageress is interested. Have a phone interview tomorrow
I have also sent my CV and cover letter to Eurogroup (holiday resort), based in Chambery who were equally as interested - so could be offered a work placement on reception there. Have a phone interview tomorrow.
(In total I have applied to 33 companies - 8 of those are yacht companies based in the south of France!)
Canvas holidays have also replied to my application with a form to fill out and return asap - not sure whether to bother, as dont want to give myself too many options....
The YCO new crew agency (one of the yacht companies based near Antibes in France) has also replied to me, saying there are vacancies available and that I shoul apply online. Seems I stand a good chance there, too - so how the hell do I choose?!
(Also been offered voluntary work at an auberge de jeunesse in Mont St Michel)
Advice welcome! Think will see how the phone interviews go tomorrow (def leaning towards eurogroup of the 2)....and then poss not bother applying for YCO or canvas.....Might be quite cool to do YCO next summer!
Need to make my mind up pretty quick as they wont hang around forever - why did all these opportunities have to come at once? LOL If Im not careful I may lose out on all of them!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
I don't know what to do with my life!
Why are there always so many things I want to do? (Why do I have to be so indecisive?!)
After sending CV and 'lettres de motivation' to about 25 different holiday resorts (mainly) around France, I've finally got at least 2 definite possibilities to choose between (one is a reception 'stage' with Eurogroup near the Chambery area, and the other is working as a tour guide/in the gift shop of some secluded historical Chateau thing in the Dordogne). Have phone interviews for both on thursday to test my level of spoken french. So far, definitely preferring the Chambery option (although it would be cool to work in a castle!)
But, also possiblity of applying to work on yachts along the south coast of France, working as a volunteer at an auberge de jeunesse in Mont St Michel, getting a work experience placement at a publishing company in Paris (they dont have availability this summer, but they are still interested). How the hell do I choose?!?
Also over the next few years I want to:
Study German one summer at a language school,
Do another teaching assistantship (in Germany this time)
Work as a courrier/holiday rep in a french campsite
Go on a world challenge/raleigh internaional/madventurer/quest expedition to South America
Do some kind of postgraduate Law training
Do some kind of postgraduate Translating and Interpreting training
Live in London
Get a real job!
Travel to Thailand and surrounding area
Travel to India
Travel to Canada and the USA
Dance competitive Latin & Ballroom
Learn Chinese and Russian
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................
I know Im young and have all the time in the world blah blah blah and shouldnt be worrying so much, but most of the above needs to be done sooner rather than later, so how do I choose what to do (cant do all of it!) and how do I afford it???
*Confused and overwhelmed*
After sending CV and 'lettres de motivation' to about 25 different holiday resorts (mainly) around France, I've finally got at least 2 definite possibilities to choose between (one is a reception 'stage' with Eurogroup near the Chambery area, and the other is working as a tour guide/in the gift shop of some secluded historical Chateau thing in the Dordogne). Have phone interviews for both on thursday to test my level of spoken french. So far, definitely preferring the Chambery option (although it would be cool to work in a castle!)
But, also possiblity of applying to work on yachts along the south coast of France, working as a volunteer at an auberge de jeunesse in Mont St Michel, getting a work experience placement at a publishing company in Paris (they dont have availability this summer, but they are still interested). How the hell do I choose?!?
Also over the next few years I want to:
Study German one summer at a language school,
Do another teaching assistantship (in Germany this time)
Work as a courrier/holiday rep in a french campsite
Go on a world challenge/raleigh internaional/madventurer/quest expedition to South America
Do some kind of postgraduate Law training
Do some kind of postgraduate Translating and Interpreting training
Live in London
Get a real job!
Travel to Thailand and surrounding area
Travel to India
Travel to Canada and the USA
Dance competitive Latin & Ballroom
Learn Chinese and Russian
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................
I know Im young and have all the time in the world blah blah blah and shouldnt be worrying so much, but most of the above needs to be done sooner rather than later, so how do I choose what to do (cant do all of it!) and how do I afford it???
*Confused and overwhelmed*
Monday, June 4, 2007
Another update (#3)
I'm in England! Is soooo weird! Can watch Corrie and Eastenders, drink decent tea, have roast dinners and Indian takeaways - yum - all of which Ive done since being back!
wednesday night (after last update and meal in usual italian restaurant w Carolyn and my parents) went to cine w Carolyn to see 'el buen nombre' (the namesake) - was really good. Carolyn went home on thurs night. Fri night, I went out with Trini, Sumia and Fabrice to Vegueta as usual, after eating some yummy food, of course! See photos above....... :-)
Got a handmade necklace from a girl in one of my old year 11 classes, and one of my year 8 classes wrote me a leaving message on the board - see photo above!
Saturday, I finished packing and met up with Trini Sumia and Fabrice in the eve - got even more pressies - a book (La tesis de Nancy) from Trini, and some choccies and belgian beer from Sumia. Went for tea and cake before going for Japanese with my parents, saying bye to Nicola and Stefano (who came to the Hotel to meet us), and leaving for the airport :-(
Got back about half 9 yest morn and went straight to bed until about half 2. Have unpacked, tried to tidy up my room a bit, started to apply for summer work in France - not overly successful but not yet trying very hard, applied for new driving licence, reapplied for next years student loan, and sent several more emails etc etc.....annoying stuff that has to be done. Not yet seen anyone except for my parents and bro......
Tomorrow will make a proper start on finding a job in France! And buy a new English phone!
Vic xx
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