As I've dedicated many, many words to going on about two near misses recently, I will use this entry more as a half-way-through-the-year (give or take a week or so) update on Project 9626 as there is lots to update you on.
NEW JOB!!!
Last time I posted, I came THIS close to getting the No7 Assistant Marketing Manager position at Boots. To not get it was a big blow but apparently I was doing something right and had made an impression on them. Fast forward about ten days and I was invited to apply for a position on the Christmas Campaign Team for In-Store Marketing Communications. The would-be manager had been impressed by my CV and recommendation from the No7 interview and wanted to see me as soon as possible... she'd met with two internal applicants already and wasn't sold so there was a big opportunity there for me.
i.e. interview well and it's yours BQ!
I went for the interview a few days later and seemed to impress enough as I was offered the job of Assistant Marketing Manager the following day.
The one slightly negative issue is that it is only a six month contract with it being a Christmas-focused role. But it is a route into the company, and an opportunity to hopefully impress enough so that I can get a permanent job in the New Year.
I'm basically treating it like a six month placement or job interview. It will be a hell of a motivator to knuckle down and work hard to secure a longer term career at Boots, whilst at the very least six months at Boots will be very strong on my CV if I wasn't able to stay on after.
Whilst I had a couple of other interviews lined up (one at a final stage), I wasn't in a position to turn Boots down. A job offer always outweighs a one in three chance.
I start on Monday 6th July!
South Africa: Booked
This actually happened quite some time ago, but the blog took a big turn to misery-inducing job process entries but the big end of year trip booked!
I've decided to travel with the Barmy Army tour party so that I'm part of a big group of England supporters, with everything taken care of and not having to rely on anyone in Cape Town to put me up and entertain me for ten days. It is the more expensive option but having saved up for a good while, I'm not too worried. Travelling on my own and on my first cricket tour it felt like a no brainer to make it as easy as possible. Hopefully there will be some future tours where I can rope in some mates and we can go cheaper.
I fly 29th December!
Running
Man, I run a lot.
I'm in that dead space that was always going to arrive in the middle of the year. Months from my last Half, months until my next Half. So it's very much a case of ticking over the miles and working on my pace.
I'm well ahead of schedule in the race towards 600 miles and at this stage wouldn't be surprised if it topped 700 miles before the year is out.
My pace is steadily improving with a ten miler a few weeks back at 7.48min/miles (which is a long way quicker than the 8.12min/miles at the Reading Half in March) and a 7.33min/miles five miler this morning... so the pace is there, it's just a matter of maintaining it.
I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but for some utterly ridiculous reason I have decided to enter the ballot for the 2016 London Marathon.
I won't find out till October if I have a place, and at the moment I really don't want a place but I guess it's always good to keep pushing yourself. Right?
Right?!
Christ.
Books #10, 11, 12 and 13
As it's been such a while since I did a normal post, I've read four books.
Book #10 was 'Natchez Burning' which was fourth instalment of the Penn Cage series and it was probably the best of the lot. An 850 page mammoth though!
Books #11 and #12 were two books I picked up from Waterstones without really checking out their reviews on Goodreads. And it showed. 'The Three' and 'The Accident' ranged from meh to ok and taught me a valuable lesson. Never judge a book on it's cover and always, always check them on Goodreads.
Book #13 was the absolutely glorious 'Station Eleven'.
This is probably the most beautifully written book I have ever read. It focuses on a group of people adapting to life after an apocalyptic event wipes out 99% of the world's population, touching on fame, art and general day to day life in response to the world ending. It's brilliant.
So there we are! Half way through the year and things are looking positive. Three weeks left in my current job so that promises to be very busy, and then the first day at big school will be here.
I better go and buy a pencil case.
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