There was a fire drill here at work this morning. No fire engines showed up though - shame. Because it wasn't very exciting, walking down 3 flights of stairs, stand outside for 2 minutes and then walk back up again. Mind you, the walking probably did me some good.

I've never learnt as much in a job in such a short space of time as I have here. And if I were to subtract the times I've had virtually nothing to do (not counting now - this is my lunch after all) it's an even more impressive account of working for the council. Yep that's right - I'm enjoying working for the council, and learning lots in the process.

Spoke to Annika, who we used to call 'little Annika' not to confuse her with my mother (who would, by that thinking, have been 'big Annika'?? I don't think she would appreciate this...) on the phone last night. Though she's not little any more, in fact she's always been older than me, my whole life. So I'm just gonna call her Annika. Anyway, she's in the UK now on an ERASMUS year and she rang me. It was nice catching up - and just goes to show the greatness of the UK... or what trendsetters Emma and I really were... Lots of people are now moving to the UK. For a year, 9 months, forever... Nice!

I've been told I need to change the background on this blog. Sigh. Apparently those ECTS points in 'usability' (or whatever the current buzzword is in web circles) didn't help me. But you see, when I post to this blog I don't see the background. I type black on white.

Ohh - how poetic - I might have to write something about that... But it will have been done. It's all been done before. ('The Simpsons did it, anyone?)

I've been making a lot of jewellery lately. Finding my feet really. But it bugs me that my ears aren't pierced cos it's easier to make nice earrings. Although it's annoying having to make two exactly the same. Symmetry was never my strong point. Anyway, I'll post some photos at some point.

I think I also promised aaaaall my lovely readers (all two of you?) photos of the flat? Well, they're coming. Soon. I promise.

There's this band playing at a pub ooop nooorth on Friday, with the guitarist from Thin Lizzy. It sounds awesome. Will see if Mike fancies driving after work. I should really learn to drive. I've been promised our car for when I get my licence (obviously provided we can afford a new one by then...lol) - maybe I shold get it sprayed purple? I like purple cars.

xx

There are times when you feel completely alone. There is no one you can open up to, no one to share your worries, problems or feelings with. People don't want to hear it, they have no time for you... you have no one. See, the thing is.. there are people you can talk to. It's not hard to find someone who will listen - you can even pay people to do so. But the difficult part is finding someone who till respond the way you want them to, who will react according to your desires.

And this is when you find you are truly alone. Because you're never so alone as when you realise that the reason you're alone, is because you're so unwilling to accept the criticism of others.



--

Nice little paradox for you there. I should start bringing a notebook on the bus...

xx

Well well. I've just worked 2 days with HR at the council. It's pretty interesting, though I've been doing mostly spreadsheets... I'm sure it'll pick up though, everyone's really nice!

Got my results for the Witness Psychology today - C. How lame! 73% is apparently a C in the Bologna system. Bit of a change from British unis where anything above 70% is a first... Oh well, at least it's better than an E, and the course directors claims it's the equivalent of a VG in the 'old' Swedish system. Sooo I guess I shouldn't complain! Lol.

Got a couple of registrations with some temping agencies next week, hopefully I should never have to struggle for temp work this year. My manager at the moment strongly implied that if they had the funds they would hire me one day a week, which is a good sign!

I've done some sewing, made a very pretty skirt that I should sell... Will see! It's one of those that I *know* I'll never wear, but I love the fabric so much I wanna keep it... Maybe I'll set up that etsy shop after all.

xx

Well! After complaining to PhonePayPlus (OfCOMs partners) I phoned O2 about my lovely texts and they were very helpful! Said they'd investigate and try to get me my money back (they took £9 off in total before they drained my credit...). I'm worried about topping up in case they start texting again. Really can't be doing with this kind of rubbish to be honest, it's just a pain. Apparently, most calls to the O2 customer service line is to do with these premium rate text 'services'. It's disgusting! Anyhoo - I'll stop ranting about that for now, but I'll keep you updated on my riveting run-ins with the corporate world...

As for the course I was on about - they will look into my case on Monday. So fingers crossed everybody!!

We've just bought a TV and a computer (the latter to be used as a server - yay!) and are going to pick them up tomorrow. If there's time, I think we're also going to IKEA tomorrow. So exciting!! I love all this housey stuff. Wish we could paint! I'd be good at painting.

It's Mike's birthday on Tuesday. Sadly he's working during the day, but I'm wondering whether to cook him dinner or take him out. If cooking - any recipe ideas?

I've gotten started on the other part time course I'll be doing this Autumn - it's Forensic Linguistics (not to be confused with my masters - Forensic Speech Science) so it doesn't look too hard considering my experience there. But it'll be a good way of getting into it! The course doesn't actually start until 17th Sept - but I thought I might as well do the reading and draft the essays now as I think come 20th Oct I'll be kinda busy... the FL course runs into January, but is only 25% so another 7.5 ECTS points.

Speaking of those... Will you also keep your fingers crossed that I've passed the courses I did over the summer? Witness Psychology - should find out in 2 weeks or less; and that IT course I never seem to manage to finish... I never thought I'd find it this hard! I don't know actually if it's difficult or if it just bores me senseless. I think the latter...

Walked into town today, it's been roasting! Though no sun - a sheet of grey in the sky and a nice film of sweat on my brow. Got some bargains in H&M though - got a top and a jacket in the sale - sale price was supposed to be £22 for both - somehow I got them for £10! The lady asked if they were in the 2 for 1 sale - in my dozy way I didn't really register what she'd asked until after I'd nodded. But I didn't feel it was my place to correct her after that :)

xx

And yet again, buerocracy (sp?) and rules are against me...

See, it doesn't make any sense. I've just found out that I apparently don't meet the minimum requirements for a beginners course in Audiology and Acoustics because I didn't finish the Chemistry course when I was 16... How would doing maybe 20 more hours of chemistry 7 years ago possibly make me more equipt to understand something so totally unrelated now? I'm completely non-plussed about that. Anyhoo, I've sent an email to admissions at the Uni in question so keep your fingers crossed for me!

And on a (not at all!) related subject... Someone thought it was funny to sign me up to one of those porn-text services, so I've been getting loads of messages asking if I want this or that sent to my mobile... And they've charged me for the 'pleasure' as well! £1.50 per text received! Please let me make it very clear, for the record, that this is not something I'm interested in (especially not at that price...). I'm planning on writing to OfCOM - not that I will get my £6 or so reimbursed (here's hoping!) but it's not right that someone can sign you up to stuff like that... What if someone signed up a kids mobile to it?? Surely you should at least have to sign up via the mobile in question?

Just realised I've used the expression 'in question' twice in this short post. Lol.

Anyhoo, I've a lot more stuff I wanna moan about but I think the two will be enough for now.

Indignantly yours,

Julia.

Ok, it's been a ridiculously long time since I last wrote on here... I'm rubbish! And so much has been happening, not too sure where to start.

Moved up to York the other week. We're living in this lovely (and massive!) flat near the city, starting to fill it up with furniture. Any donations are very welcome ;) I'll be starting my MSc in Forensic Speech Science in October, am so very excited. Mike graduated (with a first! Booya!) and is now working up here as a software developer. Sooo moving to York was definitely a good move, for both of us. It's a lovely city. My family came up the other week and we did touristy things; Pullman's bus tour and Jorvik Viking museum. Oh - they display a human poo in that museum, which was nice...

I submitted a revised version of my dissertation to the International Association of Forensic Phonetics' annual conference - and it got accepted so I went down to Switzerland and presented my paper. It was great! Very scary but it went amazingly well. I made some great contacts as well (whom I've been meaning to email... lazy lazy) from all across Europe.

Am currently finishing a course in Witness Psychology with Gävle Högskola. It's quite an interesting course actually, first time they're running it so it's bound to have its bumps. It's mostly focusing on eyewitness testimony and memory (obviously - the most straightforward - and it's only a 7.5 ECTS course) but I was hoping to be able to connect it to 'earwitnesses' and the things I'll be doing in my masters as well.

Anyhoo, I'll be off for now - with more (empty??) promises that next time I won't leave it so long...

xx

Hi everybody!

It's cold outside now. And it's rainy. And it's windy. I didn't realise the skirt I wore yesterday was quite so flarey until a car honked at me. Not to worry, I was wearing thick tights underneath.

Tomorrow I'm getting my hair cut. Fun times! Not sure if I'll just trim or do a proper style - it's getting quite long and I like it. But I've had the same hair (well, the same sort of non-style) forever now. I'm just such a girl...

Mum&Dad are coming over Friday! Yay! Going to see the UoM String Orchestra, and possibly Tommy Steele in Dr Doolittle - if there are tickets left. Hahaha. Could be fun. Maybe?

I'm thinking of making all my Christmas presents this year. But will I? You'll have to let me know what you want. Although to be fair, I won't be giving out many presents so best not get your hopes up:P

Soooooo...

Been working at the uni for three weeks now, enjoy it so much! It's stressful (esp now the students are back - apparently it'd be a great place to work if it wasn't for the students;)) but fun. Hopefully they'll advertise the position externally soon so I can get it permanently. Getting a bit ahead of myself now but I keep getting told I've pretty much got it... Still looking for other jobs cos I don't like not knowing what will happen job-wise in November. It's not that far away!

Finally gotten my thank you cards for graduation done. And if you're one of my readers (cos I've got so many... Hah!) you probably won't get one. They're reserved for lovely relatives. Going down to Wales this weekend, so have in total 8 hours on the train - think they will be spent either reading or writing letters. Knowing me I'll be reading, and drifting off to look out the window... But I need to get some letters sent out, I'm all rubbish and haven't been keeping in touch with people. Rubbish rubbish rubbish! Have had a lot going on though, in my defense.

Doing a basic IT course at BTH (uni in Sweden) and it's proving to be more difficult than I expected! It's a lot more detailed at any rate, but it's all useful. Tech tech tech!

Back to essaying I go!

I got a job! Full time, two months to start with but with possibility of it becoming permanent. It's with the Music&Drama Centre and Man U, which sounds absolutely perfect for me! So everyone wish me luck for Monday and send me all your positive energy! Well, some of it.

It's started raining now. Well, the other night. Today it's been one of those days when you can barely feel the rain, it's slightly cold but you don't actually feel like you're getting wet, the fine droplets build up though and when you get home you realise you're soaked.

xx

Been a while!

Since we last spoke/I last wrote, I have: Graduated (2.1, not too unexpected), turned 22 (waaah!), went to Sweden with Mike (yay) and moved to Manchester. I would write more about all these, but can't promise I will. Anyhoo.

Living in a studio flat in central Manch at the moment. It's pretty good, a few glitches consisting of a broken stove (cooker? Pah!), cracks in bathroom floor, mould in bathroom etc. Most of it was fixed pretty quickly though, and the room is really nice so I've decided to like it, despite it being absolutely tiny. I mean, cosy. It's all blue, with blue curtains and tiles and notice boards... and we all know I like blue! Well, if you didn't, you do now. We have an orangey bedspread, a red cosy lamp and a green rug, and the general impression is just.. lovely. Haha, interesting, eh? I'll post pictures soon. Maybe.

It was amazingly hot in Sweden. We stayed in Stockholm nay on two weeks, then went down south to my summer house for a week. Went to a safari park (where we saw 2 boars, a bird and some deer. Or similar), lay in the sun and got a tiny bit burnt, went swimming (nearly 20C! Niiiice!). Cibbe and Ellinor came down from Lund for a day, went rowing - and I managed to avoid having to do any physical work, score! - mini golf (would say crazy golf, but it really wasn't that crazy...) which I didn't win... shockingly enough. And we had pizza.

Saw loads of people in Stockholm, had a bit of a BBQ which was fun, catching up and that. Again, might post some pics... Maybe.

I'd like to say I've got a job by now. But nooo... Applied for literally hundreds though, so keep fingers crossed for me, please.

xx