Sighing On 15/04/16
Yesterday I signed on.
It was a breathtakingly sunny day which heightened my spirits enormously. Conscientious and not wanting to be late, I decided to leave three quarters of an hour early in case the traffic was heavy or I would be unable to park. After all, I didn't want to appear tardy by turning up late for my first appointment.
Suffice to say, all my meticulous planning paid off. I arrived at the Job centre half an hour early. Half an hour that felt like a lifetime.
I used this valuable time to delete messages on my phone and wondering whether or not I should walk across the road to the supermarket, to see if there were any cheap clothes on sale. In the end, I stayed in the car, after all, I was there on a serious matter - clothes shopping, or rather, clothes browsing, could wait for another day.
I nervously walked into the Job Centre and although it appeared too clinical, I did feel at ease and I was standing in the waiting area looking like a lost sheep when I heard someone ask me for my name. Whereupon the disembodied voice asked me to sit down; I suppose it didn't seem worth the effort for him to actually get out of his seat.
Thankfully, there was a brilliant view over the harbour in which I took solace.
Sadly, my interviewer was running late, but all was not lost because it became a topic of conversation, a conversation opener if you will. When I explained the situation to the young lady sat next to me, she turned her nose up and sighed, which gave us a common bond.We were both unanimous in our acceptance of the situation. I smiled, and glanced down at the two little plant pots by the side of her. She had obviously opted to go to the supermarket over the road. At this point, I envied her decision.
Suffice to say, I got to see my interviewer twenty minutes late. She was welcoming and efficient. I told her what I had done that week to try and procure a job and once satisfied that I had done enough, she told me to sign on the dotted line. I didn't ask when I would receive the money, it didn't seem appropriate. Even though I am applying for work based contribution benefits.
Oh dear, not keen on that word benefit, but it won't stop me from claiming.
-------------------
To console myself I felt the need for cake and coffee, and so that there are no misunderstandings in the future, I'd like to say, it doesn't take a big event for me to want that. But the real reason for going to town was to photocopy my CV as I thought that photocopying them would be cheaper than printing them but sadly, I was so wrong. For fear of ridicule, I don't feel the need to disclose the sum of money I paid.
Successfully motivated, I am now eager to get back into the real world. I've signed up with a few agencies and have applied for my first job, I haven't heard anything yet, but it has only been two days. I think patience is definitely going to be a virtue on this journey - plus learning how to spell again.
I am entering this new phase in my life with an optimistic view and I hope it will continue that way. But I am aware, that at 56, finding a job that I want to do may not be as easy as it once was. Which is sad, because in this so called enlightened century, I shouldn't be feeling that my age will make a difference.
But tongue in cheek, I hope my bubbly personality and great sense of humour will see me through.
Let the games begin.
