In a way I’m glad. In a way I’m not. But however you look at I have got to choose one of them. Yes that’s right, as of ten minutes ago; I’m a lucky bugger that has two job offers. The first is with recruitment firm Oyster Partnership in London. This one lasts up to 12 months and will pay for me to survive. The second is a 4 week internship at HKR Architects. Don’t know much about this one, only that I liked the practice and they have already interviewed me. Both are such great opportunities I have no idea what to do!
So I’m sitting here trying to figure it all out. I like them both. Both have good experiences to offer for my career, but gosh darn it I can’t decide. I will keep this blog posted on my decision.
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Notting Hill to Noodle King
I don’t seem to be able to update this blog as much as I would like to! I get so bust I actually forget all the stuff I have been doing and can’t post stuff up. It’s been a good few days. I found myself at the Notting Hill Carnival. It was almost over by the time we rolled up but you got the gist.
My brother came back from Paris with April and I proceeded to show them the underbelly of London’s drinking culture. Namely the dive-that-is The Rocket on Euston Road, and quite possibly the best pub I have been to in London, the Bree Louise near Euston Station. Great night! Much alcohol was consumed, not for the sake of it mind; but because the latter has a fine selection of ales. Dark Star was my regular pint. A kind of soapy looking pint with no bubbles or head and completely opaque. Basically it looks like oil! Brilliant stuff.
Siobhan’s parents were down for the weekend also, this culminated in a rather depressing visit to the Imperial War Museum, specifically the Holocaust exhibition, which was moving to say the least and put a bit of a downer on the whole day really. Only slightly remedied by a Noodle King (cheapo Chinese restaurant near us). Good God I love that place. It shouldn’t be good- it just is. I always get the same, tofu and green peppers in black bean sauce; this had to be watered down with a pot of Chinese tea. All of which comes under a fiver which as always is a bargain, thus why we go there. Us vagrants must survive you know!
Until....about five minutes actually when I tell you some more news which I feel needs its own post oooooooh.....
My brother came back from Paris with April and I proceeded to show them the underbelly of London’s drinking culture. Namely the dive-that-is The Rocket on Euston Road, and quite possibly the best pub I have been to in London, the Bree Louise near Euston Station. Great night! Much alcohol was consumed, not for the sake of it mind; but because the latter has a fine selection of ales. Dark Star was my regular pint. A kind of soapy looking pint with no bubbles or head and completely opaque. Basically it looks like oil! Brilliant stuff.
Siobhan’s parents were down for the weekend also, this culminated in a rather depressing visit to the Imperial War Museum, specifically the Holocaust exhibition, which was moving to say the least and put a bit of a downer on the whole day really. Only slightly remedied by a Noodle King (cheapo Chinese restaurant near us). Good God I love that place. It shouldn’t be good- it just is. I always get the same, tofu and green peppers in black bean sauce; this had to be watered down with a pot of Chinese tea. All of which comes under a fiver which as always is a bargain, thus why we go there. Us vagrants must survive you know!
Until....about five minutes actually when I tell you some more news which I feel needs its own post oooooooh.....
Friday, 27 August 2010
Busy Busy Busy!
I haven’t posted in two days because of the sheer amount of stuff I’ve had going on!
On Wednesday my brother and his girlfriend came down to London and hung around the flat until Thursday when they went to Paris for a few days...lucky buggers. While they were here it was pretty much constant rain so we didn’t do much. But I did take them to the Wetherspoon’s at Liverpool Street Station which is always a laugh! If you’ve been there you know exactly what I mean. The place is decked out like a stately home from hell. Complete with cherubs on the ceiling which one drunken bystander pointed out to me as “A fine example of Art Deco”. I laughed it off even though I was crying inside. Once I had regained consciousness from my plaster induced seizure, we randomly bumped into a friend of mine. A ‘cheeky chappy’ by the name of Vortex. He was skulking around with a fella from the city and generally up to no good so we made it our duty to contain him if only for a few minutes while we ordered our swill. He has landed a cushy job as an Actuary for a big ole firm in the city and I believe he's on *****....bit of a difference from my situation but I’m pleased to say it hasn’t changed him. He’s still always up for a can of Special Brew, best served spread-eagled on the pavement down Brick Lane on a Friday night! After I had consumed far too much alcohol on a relatively empty stomach (I’m on a diet you know?....no, it’s not because I’m poor!) we made our way through the driving rain to Pizza Express. We had an amazing meal for a ridiculous price. For once I’m referring to the loose change we parted with for the food in our bellies. Yes the bill came to £45 for four people having a starter, pizzas, a bottle of wine and four beers. Remarkable! A good time was had by all and we were in bed by midnight even though we would only have five hours sleep.
We departed for the train station early on Thursday morning heavily hung-over. I could have done without the trip but it was my duty to protect them from the harsh realities of London, and besides I needed some pure liquids in my system. When I’d dropped them off I ended up falling asleep till about eleven when I awoke lazily and went to good old Sam’s for a fry up. As this is the first time I’ve mentioned Sam’s I think I ought to explain. This isn’t your ordinary fryer! Located just a few steps from my door, I rarely leave Sam’s feeling better than when I went in. It’s not their fault of course, it’s just the nature of their trade, like a tobacconist I suppose, specializing in things that make you feel worse than you already do. Still, it's good value and I always get a cheery reception.
Then it was off to the job centre, my fortnightly venture into the abyss. Needless to say I’d rather not be there but it is, and always has been, amazing to me that I can roll up and receive benefits for my troubles. The meeting went well and I always have a laugh with them about not having any luck. Yes that’s 44 job applications now, three interviews and zero job offers. Wow that’s a sobering thought (I’m stone cold by the way...please excuse the opus). Free for another two weeks, I glided down the road and visited ‘me old mucca’ Vortex at his new pad. He moved in on Wednesday and was looking a bit lonely in his cell (all he has at the moment is a bed and a table) We had a good chat and I’d brought him a can of Special Brew as a moving in present...you know something you can position with pride on your shelf in the fridge and say yes I’m a cheap drunk and proud of it, so really the best present to get a man living with a group of strangers for the first time. We had a great conversation covering many topics, some clean some not so. This blog came up as he’s interested in doing something similar; though I’m sure it would be ten times better than this one (he’s a bit of a genius). Currently he’s reading a book a day which took me aback. What a brilliant use of his time. I should learn from him. He’s good like that, he can dedicate himself to a task and really do it!
Anyway all this talk wasn’t going to hide the fact I had work for Lucy Hall (a part time catering company) in an hour. The shift would prove to be a hard one. Don’t get me wrong, the work was easy and it wasn’t even that busy, but the characters they had herded into that auditorium were savage. Whether their hysteria was caused by the racket emitted by the BBC orchestra or spurred on by a deep seated hatred of all things under 40, I wasn’t popular tonight. In fact one man was so incensed by my service (always pleasant I might add) and the measures I was pouring (the industry standard!) he proclaimed I needed to seek psychiatric help. I thanked him for his advice and sent him on his addled way safe in the knowledge that the rat poison, procured from the traps under the counter earlier that very evening, would finish the job for me nicely. Filled with glee, I laughed manically all the way home, much to the disgust of the bus driver.
So now here I am, sockless on my couch, nursing my wounds, safe in the knowledge I have four CV’s ready to post tomorrow and a list of others yet to write. It will be a long day, let’s hope it’s raining!
On Wednesday my brother and his girlfriend came down to London and hung around the flat until Thursday when they went to Paris for a few days...lucky buggers. While they were here it was pretty much constant rain so we didn’t do much. But I did take them to the Wetherspoon’s at Liverpool Street Station which is always a laugh! If you’ve been there you know exactly what I mean. The place is decked out like a stately home from hell. Complete with cherubs on the ceiling which one drunken bystander pointed out to me as “A fine example of Art Deco”. I laughed it off even though I was crying inside. Once I had regained consciousness from my plaster induced seizure, we randomly bumped into a friend of mine. A ‘cheeky chappy’ by the name of Vortex. He was skulking around with a fella from the city and generally up to no good so we made it our duty to contain him if only for a few minutes while we ordered our swill. He has landed a cushy job as an Actuary for a big ole firm in the city and I believe he's on *****....bit of a difference from my situation but I’m pleased to say it hasn’t changed him. He’s still always up for a can of Special Brew, best served spread-eagled on the pavement down Brick Lane on a Friday night! After I had consumed far too much alcohol on a relatively empty stomach (I’m on a diet you know?....no, it’s not because I’m poor!) we made our way through the driving rain to Pizza Express. We had an amazing meal for a ridiculous price. For once I’m referring to the loose change we parted with for the food in our bellies. Yes the bill came to £45 for four people having a starter, pizzas, a bottle of wine and four beers. Remarkable! A good time was had by all and we were in bed by midnight even though we would only have five hours sleep.
We departed for the train station early on Thursday morning heavily hung-over. I could have done without the trip but it was my duty to protect them from the harsh realities of London, and besides I needed some pure liquids in my system. When I’d dropped them off I ended up falling asleep till about eleven when I awoke lazily and went to good old Sam’s for a fry up. As this is the first time I’ve mentioned Sam’s I think I ought to explain. This isn’t your ordinary fryer! Located just a few steps from my door, I rarely leave Sam’s feeling better than when I went in. It’s not their fault of course, it’s just the nature of their trade, like a tobacconist I suppose, specializing in things that make you feel worse than you already do. Still, it's good value and I always get a cheery reception.
Then it was off to the job centre, my fortnightly venture into the abyss. Needless to say I’d rather not be there but it is, and always has been, amazing to me that I can roll up and receive benefits for my troubles. The meeting went well and I always have a laugh with them about not having any luck. Yes that’s 44 job applications now, three interviews and zero job offers. Wow that’s a sobering thought (I’m stone cold by the way...please excuse the opus). Free for another two weeks, I glided down the road and visited ‘me old mucca’ Vortex at his new pad. He moved in on Wednesday and was looking a bit lonely in his cell (all he has at the moment is a bed and a table) We had a good chat and I’d brought him a can of Special Brew as a moving in present...you know something you can position with pride on your shelf in the fridge and say yes I’m a cheap drunk and proud of it, so really the best present to get a man living with a group of strangers for the first time. We had a great conversation covering many topics, some clean some not so. This blog came up as he’s interested in doing something similar; though I’m sure it would be ten times better than this one (he’s a bit of a genius). Currently he’s reading a book a day which took me aback. What a brilliant use of his time. I should learn from him. He’s good like that, he can dedicate himself to a task and really do it!
Anyway all this talk wasn’t going to hide the fact I had work for Lucy Hall (a part time catering company) in an hour. The shift would prove to be a hard one. Don’t get me wrong, the work was easy and it wasn’t even that busy, but the characters they had herded into that auditorium were savage. Whether their hysteria was caused by the racket emitted by the BBC orchestra or spurred on by a deep seated hatred of all things under 40, I wasn’t popular tonight. In fact one man was so incensed by my service (always pleasant I might add) and the measures I was pouring (the industry standard!) he proclaimed I needed to seek psychiatric help. I thanked him for his advice and sent him on his addled way safe in the knowledge that the rat poison, procured from the traps under the counter earlier that very evening, would finish the job for me nicely. Filled with glee, I laughed manically all the way home, much to the disgust of the bus driver.
So now here I am, sockless on my couch, nursing my wounds, safe in the knowledge I have four CV’s ready to post tomorrow and a list of others yet to write. It will be a long day, let’s hope it’s raining!
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Jobs and low emissions
So I took the bus like I said I would. Good trip! But why do they give the best seats on the bus (the front four seats at the top) so little leg room. I think I changed seats 3 times!
I met Siobhan (my girlfriend) and we went for lunch in a nice new restaurant/takeaway called Otarian (Link to their Website down below) and was pleasently surprised! They are a "low carbon" eatery (aparently the planet's first) and really do do some good food. I had the tex mex burger with a choco surprise and a Diet Coke (I know, I know I was wondering the same thing, just how carbon neutral are Coca Cola?) but despite that it was a bloody good lunch. The burger was roughly 600calories and tasted amazing. In fact I'd go so far as to say the best I've tasted! It was the opening day so there was a 15% off campaign which we took full advantage of. We could even refill our Cokes (at least I think that's what the lady said) and all this in what a McDonald's in Heaven might look like, complete with smiley pre-programmed staff! So in conclusion I highly recommend the place. Go....Go now!
I've just taken the plunge and accepted a 24 month contract again with Orange even though I'm unemployed :0 though I see it as an investment in my future......:D I chose the new Blackberry 9700 Bold. Looks the part and has all that Internet mumbo jumbo that I so crave. So I'll keep you posted on how it is, I'm supposed to receive it tomorrow. Watch this space for a review!
Wow so architecture....yea.... well I applied for a job this morning with HUB Architects. I saw it on RIBA appointments and thought I'd give it a shot. Is it me or can you never know enough programs? I think they wanted Vectorworks....I'm surprised anyone still uses it! Anyway, all this is meaningless as I got an almost instantaneous email back saying "Sorry, we've had more suitable applicants for this position," which came as no surprise. This seems to be a daily trend at the moment. But at some point someone will have to give in.
The link to Otarian: www.otarian.com
I met Siobhan (my girlfriend) and we went for lunch in a nice new restaurant/takeaway called Otarian (Link to their Website down below) and was pleasently surprised! They are a "low carbon" eatery (aparently the planet's first) and really do do some good food. I had the tex mex burger with a choco surprise and a Diet Coke (I know, I know I was wondering the same thing, just how carbon neutral are Coca Cola?) but despite that it was a bloody good lunch. The burger was roughly 600calories and tasted amazing. In fact I'd go so far as to say the best I've tasted! It was the opening day so there was a 15% off campaign which we took full advantage of. We could even refill our Cokes (at least I think that's what the lady said) and all this in what a McDonald's in Heaven might look like, complete with smiley pre-programmed staff! So in conclusion I highly recommend the place. Go....Go now!
I've just taken the plunge and accepted a 24 month contract again with Orange even though I'm unemployed :0 though I see it as an investment in my future......:D I chose the new Blackberry 9700 Bold. Looks the part and has all that Internet mumbo jumbo that I so crave. So I'll keep you posted on how it is, I'm supposed to receive it tomorrow. Watch this space for a review!
Wow so architecture....yea.... well I applied for a job this morning with HUB Architects. I saw it on RIBA appointments and thought I'd give it a shot. Is it me or can you never know enough programs? I think they wanted Vectorworks....I'm surprised anyone still uses it! Anyway, all this is meaningless as I got an almost instantaneous email back saying "Sorry, we've had more suitable applicants for this position," which came as no surprise. This seems to be a daily trend at the moment. But at some point someone will have to give in.
The link to Otarian: www.otarian.com
Travel!
Yay finaly awake. Thats what having no commitments does for ya! But I do have some pretty fun stuff to do today. I get to go paper shopping :O and also look at this insanely cheap phone that looks to good to be true!
I'll also pop in to see whether the new edition of BD is out.....aw heck i'll just subscribe. It'll do me good and its only sixty-odd pounds for 48 issues. Not bad if you ask me.
I'll take the bus to Totenham Court Road from right outside my house! The number 8 is an amazing bus. It takes you on an amazing sight seing tour including, the lloyds building, St Pauls and Centre Point. All for £1.20, Bargain!
I shall have to try and keep away from the coffee shops as this is a bad habbit I could easily get used to. I dont know what it is about the unemployd and coffee shops, but I understand my dads point of view now.
The jobs front is looking gloomy. My best bet at the moment is that I get this Architectural Tour Guide possition and can stay on the dole!
Anyway I'd better actually get something done today, no rain :(
I'll also pop in to see whether the new edition of BD is out.....aw heck i'll just subscribe. It'll do me good and its only sixty-odd pounds for 48 issues. Not bad if you ask me.
I'll take the bus to Totenham Court Road from right outside my house! The number 8 is an amazing bus. It takes you on an amazing sight seing tour including, the lloyds building, St Pauls and Centre Point. All for £1.20, Bargain!
I shall have to try and keep away from the coffee shops as this is a bad habbit I could easily get used to. I dont know what it is about the unemployd and coffee shops, but I understand my dads point of view now.
The jobs front is looking gloomy. My best bet at the moment is that I get this Architectural Tour Guide possition and can stay on the dole!
Anyway I'd better actually get something done today, no rain :(
Monday, 23 August 2010
Rain!
What a day!! Man this rain is great. I love the smell of it!
I've printed out five CV's now and they're going in the post in a minute. They came out nice. A covering letter, two page CV and a brief sample of my final year project. All printed on some lovely paper I picked up in Hobby Craft (probably the worst store in the world, it has the potential to be great but the lack of signage drove me close to physical violence!). I may be sad but there are few greater pleasures to me than choosing a pen from a selection of close to a hundred. Pretty embarrassing, maybe my dad was right and I'm more of a technician than an artist. Oh well!
Considering the day started off well with a stack of pre-packed CV's just waiting to go off in the post it's been rather depressing. It's not the weather, oh no i love the rain! Its the lack of response from two jobs I was supposed to hear from today. Both promising, both non-architectural unsurprisingly. Perhaps I'm taking the press too seriously! What the hell do I know about the economy? I'll try not to pass much more judgement till I've sent off at least ten CV's.
Just watched the film Belle Du Jour. Engrossing film but a bit of a metaphor fuck when it comes to the story. The end had me scrambled. This is what I do with my time you see. Try and educate myself in things, often things that don't need education necessarily, like films, music and not too long ago Special Brew. You know the stuff tramps drink. Well I had to stop that one dead because it would have gotten out of control pretty quickly. I've also been listening to King Crimson!! Insanely good band which deserve more "Hall of Fame" stardom than they get. Who knows maybe Beefheart is next.....well maybe in a few more years.....that one's going to take a few listens I predict!
Still, I'm gradually working my way through an old edition of BD, probably where all the doomsday paranoia is coming from. Fun though!
I've printed out five CV's now and they're going in the post in a minute. They came out nice. A covering letter, two page CV and a brief sample of my final year project. All printed on some lovely paper I picked up in Hobby Craft (probably the worst store in the world, it has the potential to be great but the lack of signage drove me close to physical violence!). I may be sad but there are few greater pleasures to me than choosing a pen from a selection of close to a hundred. Pretty embarrassing, maybe my dad was right and I'm more of a technician than an artist. Oh well!
Considering the day started off well with a stack of pre-packed CV's just waiting to go off in the post it's been rather depressing. It's not the weather, oh no i love the rain! Its the lack of response from two jobs I was supposed to hear from today. Both promising, both non-architectural unsurprisingly. Perhaps I'm taking the press too seriously! What the hell do I know about the economy? I'll try not to pass much more judgement till I've sent off at least ten CV's.
Just watched the film Belle Du Jour. Engrossing film but a bit of a metaphor fuck when it comes to the story. The end had me scrambled. This is what I do with my time you see. Try and educate myself in things, often things that don't need education necessarily, like films, music and not too long ago Special Brew. You know the stuff tramps drink. Well I had to stop that one dead because it would have gotten out of control pretty quickly. I've also been listening to King Crimson!! Insanely good band which deserve more "Hall of Fame" stardom than they get. Who knows maybe Beefheart is next.....well maybe in a few more years.....that one's going to take a few listens I predict!
Still, I'm gradually working my way through an old edition of BD, probably where all the doomsday paranoia is coming from. Fun though!
Sunday, 22 August 2010
As Seamus always says: "Play the game"
Hello,
My name's Cosmo aka. Part 1 architect aka. Unemployed Part 1 architect.
I thought I'd set this blog up to record my life, post university, as it is in danger of being forgotten forever by myself and my future self. As some of you undoubtedly know, the days seem to run into one another when you're unemployed and it's hard to motivate yourself to be self motivated!
As I've just committed the past four years of my life to architecture and all its related areas, this blog may focus quite a lot on the subject.
There seems to be a problem affecting many recent graduates at the moment, especially architects. The industy seems to be one of the worst hit and it's understandable that when you've just had to "let go" half your team it must be gruelling for them to have a bunch of 3rd years bugging them about placements.
Needless to say I haven't had much luck and I'm still sending out applications as I write this. So instead of losing all memory of this period of drifting I have decided to record it. Both for myself and hopefully, fingers crossed, as a record of this Part 1 architect's journey from unemployment to architect....... bear with me, this could take some time.
Anyway I'm off to write a new covering letter...."Once more unto the breach...."
My name's Cosmo aka. Part 1 architect aka. Unemployed Part 1 architect.
I thought I'd set this blog up to record my life, post university, as it is in danger of being forgotten forever by myself and my future self. As some of you undoubtedly know, the days seem to run into one another when you're unemployed and it's hard to motivate yourself to be self motivated!
As I've just committed the past four years of my life to architecture and all its related areas, this blog may focus quite a lot on the subject.
There seems to be a problem affecting many recent graduates at the moment, especially architects. The industy seems to be one of the worst hit and it's understandable that when you've just had to "let go" half your team it must be gruelling for them to have a bunch of 3rd years bugging them about placements.
Needless to say I haven't had much luck and I'm still sending out applications as I write this. So instead of losing all memory of this period of drifting I have decided to record it. Both for myself and hopefully, fingers crossed, as a record of this Part 1 architect's journey from unemployment to architect....... bear with me, this could take some time.
Anyway I'm off to write a new covering letter...."Once more unto the breach...."
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