Some time ago I applied for a part time post in a well-known pet supplies store. Not my ideal choice, however getting an admin job in these parts is proving tricky as they’re as rare as rocking horse sh*t. Anyway, I thought nothing more of it, until I received an email stating someone would call me for a telephone interview on Monday. Monday came, and I spoke to a woman from the company who asked me questions and then stated she’d like me to attend a training session and interview the next day or day after. She confirmed this by email, including the actual day and date, and I accepted. Well, the day came, and I attended as per email, all togged up in my smartest clothes, and asked for the manager as instructed. He wasn’t in, nor was he going to be in. I explained why I was there, only to be told the interviews are the following week! Blushing furiously, and feeling like a total idiot, I left and drove home. Once home I checked my email, confirmed I’d arrived on the day specified, and wrote back asking them to check this and get back to me as I felt foolish and highly embarrassed having turned up a week early. Now, I can’t decide whether to attend on the correct day as I feel I can’t show my face there again for a while; I was so embarrassed. What a cock-up, and not on my part! The store is also not on a bus route and would entail walking into town, a 30-minute bus, then walking more than half a mile to the store if my car is off the road, or if I can’t drive following (hopeful) eye surgery. I feel like telling them to stuff it to be honest, politely of course.

The Deckhand has his Birthday next month, and out of the blue, his Dad has emailed asking him to confirm his bank account as he’d like to send him some Birthday money. He read the email, then deleted it. I only know about it as his Dad is in the habit of copying me in, goodness knows why, our son is an adult after all. After speaking to my kid sister regarding this, I approached the Deckhand and asked if I should accept on his behalf; the man left us almost broke, and quite literally homeless and frankly any money he deems fit to give either one of us should be grabbed with both hands. The Deckhand disagrees and wants nothing to do with him and that includes not wanting any money from him. Oh well, I tried.

The past 2 days we’ve had some welcome sunshine and warmer temperatures. Prior to that we had 2 days of thunder, lightning, rain and hail, and high winds. Saturday, it didn’t stop raining all day long and over 3 days we had almost 3 inches or 7cm of rain fall. Good grief.

Good news - for the second year in a row my pension had a good percentage rise. I never had a good raise like this whilst working and it’s well received.

The Deckhand is back to university this week and whilst I do enjoy his company, and he’s no trouble, I am looking forward to some time alone in the house, apart from the Ship’s Dog of course; the Deckhand can’t be persuaded to take him to uni with him LMAO.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Update: After being home a few hours I received a very apologetic phonecall. It transpires my interview was the date specified, however head office had given the local branch no notice. The manager was on leave, and by the time the deputy manager got there to see me, I'd already left. I told him I felt so embarrassed at appearing to be a week early, that I left in a hurry. He offered to interview me the following day and at first I accepted, however after talking it over with my son, I phoned him back and told him I'd decided not to proceed with my application. He said he wasn't at all surprised, and thanked me for letting them know. The phrase that contains the words 'piss-up' and 'brewery' springs to mind...