This is my first full day at home. Gardening leave. Such an innocuous term for the hunt for another source of income. I was fairly discouraged when I searched online and found only contracting roles that required DV clearance - nothing I could even apply for. Still, the agencies have my CV now. I did find one potential one, so one of the agents is putting me forwards for that.

I determined to be productive whilst at home, so today I have cycled to Tesco and bought ingredients for, and started cooking Beef and Beer in the new slow cooker I have. I also cleaned the kitchen a bit and managed to get ( a reasonable picture of Ratchet )

I just lifted the lid to the slow cooker and it smells absolutely WONDERFUL. Oh god I hope it tastes as good as it smells. I need some lunch.

Right, I think it's time for a bit more searching, this time to some music. Then, I might play a game for a bit or get on with one of the many little geek things I've been planning to do. Well, it's kind of gardening, I suppose...

I've just given all mywork's stuff in to work. A week early.

( details )

So here I am, sitting on kissycat1000's sofa, typing this entry, officially 'between jobs'. I feel quite knackered and run down and probably glad I don't have to go into work this week, but still. Bit of a weird way to go.

Oh, note: Anyone who thinks they have a mobile number for me - you don't. I don't currently own any mobile phones.

I've accepted the Messagelabs job, and handed in my notice here.

I'm not quite sure it's hit me yet.

I've unhidden all my entries about the job (hidden for obvious reasons).

More, perhaps, later.

Couldn't get to sleep last night for nerves. Woke up early for the same reason.

Today I have:

• A pre-assessment appointment at the hospital at 9am for my impending tonsillectomy (which according to the daft letter I've already had) which promises needles and other unpleasant things.
• A list of questions already written to ask the HR person at Messagelabs - I'm hoping they can satisfy them on the call, otherwise that's going to be another tortuous wait.
• Go into work for 12pm - I'm working until 10pm tonight to help them test out bridge functionality over a 10Mbit link
• While I'm at work - the biggie - corner my boss and tell her the news and wait for her reaction.
• Oh, and if I get through all that and feel like partying, there's Emergency Judder tonight.

I have no idea what it will be: crying, pleading, on knees etc? anger? snide comments? cold and calculating? warm and calculating (*shudder*) - or possibly worst: simply "OK - seeya!"

( More gibber under here )

They want to make me an offer!

Details by the end of the day hopefully.

Shattered. Won't know until mid-end next week, while I'm on holiday. Ah well.

Not sure how the interview went. It was via video conference although he only had a freeze frame after a minute or so (probably me with my finger up my nose or something equally repugnant). Didn't get to talk about what I've been up to recently, so wasn't able to sell myself like before. It was just a technical interview and I had a tough time understanding exactly what he was driving at with his questions. Realised afterwards I'd made a couple of silly mistakes, but hopefully that'll be put down to nerves.

He talked about the benefits offered at the end of the interview, so I'm taking that as a good sign.

Not much else to say right now - a bit of an anti-climax.

Phone interview (second interview), possibly this evening!

Meeeeeep!

Otherwise any evening this week after 4:30pm to my (Intercall's, natch) mobile.

Well last night I was fairly stressed - I should have sorted all these things out well in advance.

• I couldn't find my degree certificate (yes I did think at the time that it's not going to end up being important, but I will ring the uni today and see if they can't fax me a copy for now, and request a duplicate to be posted to me).
• My suit's been nibbled by moths! Argh! The trousers are fine, but the jacket has two tiny but noticable holes. Ruined! That's fairly annoying (and not good for stress levels). I'm just going to wear the trousers I think.
• Last night I ended driving back to my house twice from kissycat1000's where I was staying to pick up first my belt, then my good shoes.
• ev1ldonut very kindly polished my shoes, and the iron wasn't horribly against me this time so I managed to get the wrinkles in the right place on my shirt.
• I managed to get back in touch with my old unix mentor - she's one of the top people in her field (network security), and she's agreed to give me a reference, so that's a big plus.

I was so tired last night I was feeling rather down about the whole thing. This morning I've managed to get a reasonable night's sleep and apart from occasional pangs of anxiety I'm not feeling too bad. I guess things may change as the day wears on.

Messagelabs want to interview me Monday/Tuesday next week!! More details to follow...