Wednesday, October 20, 2010

This and that...

I put a whole bunch of stuff in the crockpot, and we should have a yummy supper tonight. My crockpot version of "le bouilli", beef, onions, carrots, potatoes, rutabagas... It seems I have been doing a lot of cooking in the last few days, last night I was complaining that all I have been doing lately is cooking. Oh well, as of next week, I won't be spending much time in the kitchen anymore.

I have also been doing a bit of sewing. That also is something I won't have much time for later on. So enjoying my free time for the next few days. I know it won't be easy getting up very early in the morning ad NOT going back to bed, but hoping on a bus to get my b*tt to work. Interesting. I am looking forward to learning new things, meeting new people, and facing new challenges.

I saw another house 2 days ago, thought maybe we could move out of here - our tiny little abode, but finally, after re-evaluating our budget, decided that we are better off staying here for another few months,until we know exactly what to expect. Try to save a bit, pay off the debts a bit too. And really it's not that bad here. Cozy. Not much storage. But it's home. For now.

Finally figured out how to upload to the ipod. It turns out I had an older version of itunes which didn't recognize the ipod. So I've been uploading a lot of our favorite cds, but whne I'm doing that, of course, I am not doing anything else. So... housework awaits for me in dark corners and leaps up from behind bedroom doors... and makes me wish I had a maid. Haha, that'll be the day!




Daughter got the little surprise I sent her in the mail yesterday. Glad she liked it. The cutest little winter hat, (not quite this colour) I'm sure they have some kind of name for that style, but can't think of it now. You'll get your socks at Christmas, dear, as usual... :)

Monday, October 18, 2010

The search is over.

I found the perfect job! Not exactly customer service, even better: Member Services, for a great organization, close to downtown, beautiful building, great benefits, and the job sounds really interesting. Plus great starting pay too. And normal office hours. Although in order to be there before 8:30, I will probably have to get up around 6 am. Me the totally not early bird. But hey, it's worth it.

All went well during the screening, and follow-up interviews and meetings. And a decision was made very quickly, less that 3 days after the first meeting. So I am thrilled about all this. But, it will feel a little bit strange to get back into a work routine, as I have been off since mid-July because of the move. Now I need new clothes, hehe, new shoes, new lots-of-stuff... One paycheck at a time.

Reunited with my friend from high-school a couple of weeks ago. I was a little bit leary at first, not having seen her for so many years. But she seems delighted to reconnect, and I am quite happy as well. It's kinda nice to have a friend around here. Husbands are good, but still... a friend is good too. We have been getting together for coffee a couple of times, and went for a long walk last week as it was so beautiful out. She also invited us to a maroccan restaurant where we enjoyed delicious food and good company. This was also the first time she and Ous got together since we arrived here, and everyone got along more than fine.

Our routine otherwise is fairly quiet. When week-ends provide us with beautiful weather, we go exploring. Went to Wakefield last Saturday, and really enjoyed the quaint town. Also went for a walk at "La Ferme expérimentale", unfortunately forgot my camera both times. Can't believe the weather is still so nice here, usually by this time of year, we are under a lot of snow in Manitoba. So I am enjoying this a lot.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Job hunting...

It has been an interesting experience. One company has so many requirements before I started that even though they gave me a start date of Oct. 4, I ended up not accepting it. They wanted proof of employment going back to 2005! Names and contact numbers of the supervisors, and for the few years where they were unable to reach these people, they asked for my T-4. After enquiry, it seems that they cannot ask for these as they contain personal information, AND I didn't have them anyway. So they said I could contact Revenue Canada... I don't think so! Hey this is a call centre, all I was going to do was answer phones, not make life saving decisions here. So finally I said, thanks but no thanks.
Then there was the insurance company. Working there sounded interesting, I even told them at the interview that I reallly would love to work there. Things seemed to go well during the interview, but they told me they would let me know in the next 10 business days. (Which would be today). And before that there was the other insurance company that called me back to say the chose another candidate better suited to the profile they were looking for... which was fine.
I considered each of these interviews as practice for the job I would eventually want and get.
In the meantime, I went to see the agency recommended by my sister. And they had just received a request that morning for a great sounding job, fantastic pay and wonderful benefits, and was I interested? No thanks... Of course I was interested! Did a prelim phone interview with them, then they asked me to come in for a skills testing, then come in for an interview, and I met again with them yesterday as they wanted to show me the actual work environment and see if I liked it...
Late yesterday afternoon, someone from their HR called me with a couple more questions and could I provide a copy of my University Certificate (from 1985). It seemed at this point that they were just deciding, based on very specific criteria, what salary to offer me, and would be contacting me today. Waaahhh... In the meantime I managed to find the certificate in one of our numerous Rubbermaid boxes, still unpacked from the move, and called them to let them know.
So at this very moment, it appears that HR is waiting for a final decision regarding what salary to offer, and will contact me today. Hopefully this morning, although it's already 11 am. And I have not yet heard back from the insurance company, so that is good, because I didn't want to have them offer me a job, while I am waiting for the second one to offer me something as well. Especially since the second one is better in all manners.
I'll keep you posted.