What a Difference a Day Makes!

Woke up this morning to a bright and beautiful and SUNNY G Town day. Like the rain clouds, the dark and brooding mass that had taken up residence over my head for the past few days seemed to have been blown away and I felt light and refreshed and ready (again) to take on the world of (un)employment!

So, what did I get up to on my very-productive-feeling-good-about-it day?

Started with a breakfast of a bowl of Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Clusters! Seriously folks, never underestimate the power of a great morning meal! And this stuff is awesome! Almost makes up for the lack of Honey Nut Cheerios in my life.
Anyway, started off with my usual routine of checking emails in the hopes that someone out there has realised that I'M the one they need to fill that wonderful job they have open! Not today, but that's ok. Was checking emails... but today, was different. The brilliant sunshine outside made me restless. What a waste of a day it would be if I spent it indoors at the computer. And so, I showed and dressed up - yes up. Scoured my suitcase for a pair of trousers and a shirt and actually brushed my hair and even dabbed on some liner for effect and stepped out into the sunny street.

First stop, Careers Scotland where I was told I would be able to get help with understanding the best route to take towards launching my career here in Scotland. A lovely man helped me out and in the hour that I was there, we discussed my CV and how I could tailor it to be more UK specific, the websites where I should be focusing my search, information on programs should I want to upgrade my skills and take some continued learning courses - and how I could potentially qualify for financial assistance and topped that off with information on volunteer opportunities in/around the city so that I could build up both my social and professional networks. Again, like a good breakfast, never underestimate the power of volunteering. That's how I got my first break in the T Dot when I started with YI all those many years ago.

My confidence suitably boosted and my mind bursting with the endless possibilities that we'd discussed, I left the centre a much brighter and happier camper than I'd been a long while.

With all that sunshine brimming both inside and outside, I didn't feel like going back to the apartment just yet, so I took a little detour down Buchannan Street just soaking in the spirit of the city as it bustled all around me.

And since I was there, thought I'd might as well get a few errands looked after.

• Stopped into a phone store and made inquiries about getting a pay-as-you-go plan. Turns out Vodafone has a lovely deal on right now where I'd get the SIM card free! Cheers to that!
  
• Checked in a couple of stores for Birkenstocks that I'd need for the Israel trip. Had meant to buy a pair before I left, and then life got in the way. Turns out that they're WAY cheaper here and so it all worked out for the best. Now own a lovely new pair that I hope to break in before the trip next week.
• Found a Pound store and bought a bunch of odds and ends that I had been looking for.
  

Was on my way home when I stumbled upon a de-lightful little bookstore along Argyle Street on my way home and - NO, DON'T BE ROLLING YOUR EYES AT ME. I just went in for a look. OK, fine, so I bought something. But really, t'was a very useful purchase! A guide book on Scotland called The Broons' Day Oot that was a funny and novel guide to wandering around Scotland written in a most unusual style for a guide book! See... it was a USEFUL purchase indeed!

And, I'm just back home now typing this up for you, gentle reader - to whom I owe a great big "Thank You" for helping me along with your guidance, helpful hints and even just "hang in there" comments that really mean so much to me. It helps so much to know that I'm not just spewing this into the vast depths of cyberspace! Also, I have to keep reminding myself that I CHOSE to be here, that I do have some money put away - so must not fret if I don't have a job right now, that I am earning a bit from the consultancy work I'm doing for my ex VP, that being on the same side of the world as Beans is lovely and what I've wanted for a long time now and, if all of the above don't make a difference, that I should focus on the fact that I am right now having the best sex of my LIFE - and plenty of it as well. Really, the unemployment is a little bump in an otherwise decent road!