Ticket To Ride?
OK, I’ve got a conundrum to try and sort out, and I cant say its doing anything for my sanity.
At the beginning of last week, I applied for a job with a building society in Bradford, and just rashly assumed that their head office would be in the centre of town. The advert for the job just said Bradford, at their head office, so I thought, fine. Then they sent me their details, for a proposed telephone interview, on Thursday, and I saw their post code, and realised thats not the centre of Bradford, but about 3 miles out of town! So I took a look, and the only consolation was that it was at least on my side of Bradford, even if not easily reachable by public transport. At which point, I took the consolation that given my record with competency based questions, on phone interviews, it probably wouldnt go any further.
Anyway, Thursday came, and so did the phone call. I thought I did OK, but no more, but I’ve thought that before and been told my answers weren’t good enough. So, when I got a call back on Friday morning, I was expecting my usual answer, that they were taking it no further, but no, they fooled me, invite to an assessment centre next Saturday!
Yes, I’m going, I have my reasons. Firstly, I can find out whether in reality, in the middle of Saturday morning, just how hard it is to get to by public transport. There would still be a major difference between doing it for 11.15, and doing it for an 8.00 am start, or after an 8.00 pm finish, but I can see how bad it would be. There is a second reason to my logic, because in truth, I know the first isnt going to work. Simple, they also have a vacancy for a customer service role, in their branch in Huddersfield. Fine, that would be face to face, not over the phone, but I’ve done it before, so…?
The only other feasible option would be to move out from here, and move to Bradford, but thats not really a road I want to go down, at this time of life. I know I live in a pretty solitary manner, but there’s still a difference between living alone, and having people around, should an emergency arise. There is also the problem that I couldnt raise the rent, plus deposit for that at present anyway! I still have the outlet that I probably wont get through the assessment centre, on past record, and if I do, they might give me the option of the Huddersfield job, but…? Never rains, but pours lol, which with the weather at present, is quite true!
The other snag with this job, is the financial one. Even if I get it, and I can do the travelling from here, it doesnt start until 7th of March, by which time, the money funds will pretty much (if not totally) be bare. And thats right, I wont get paid until the end of March, so…help?
So yes, if I feel like screaming loudly, and ending it all, can you blame me? Mind, if someone wants to put me somewhere safe, far away from all this, I should hopefully have a passport again very soon!
Right, the song. Big clue in the title lol!
Trying to foresee the future
Normally, even when I’m writing science fiction, I tend to work in the period I would call the near future, usually about 10 years ahead, maybe stretching to 20, at a push. Beyond that, I tend to think that we really havent got a clue how things will be in 100 years time, just the same as people about a century back had no idea how things would be now. Its fair to say this video rather proves that.
Actually, some of it they got right, though not necessarily in the right decade, as per the Channel Tunnel. Others, lets just say they got it badly wrong! London to New York, taking a day by air, its about 7-8 hours, and far less when we had Concorde operating! But hey, they forecast the need for men to have pockets for their mobile phone, though I dont remember seeing too many with candies, for cuties!
So yes, for us now to imagine what this world will look like in 2100, no idea? I’m sure, like a century ago, we’d get a few things right, and a good few horribly wrong too.
So fine, you can imagine my reaction when I was supposedly setting a story in 2999, as per someone else’s story idea. What the world will look like by then, even if its still here, how can we possibly comprehend. Even by moving it to 2099, I still ended up with conundrums that I couldnt hope to get right. So I ended up playing it simple, making a few dramatic changes, and leaving it at that.
I mean lets face it, when we look back at the 1920’s, and the only practical way to cross the Atlantic was by ship, and it would take a week to cross, hard to imagine. Mind, looking back at the wild innocence of the Flapper era, maybe we’re missing out on something? Just think, 100 years from now, people will look back on us, in exactly the same way!
I guess it might be interesting to see this world in 2100, not that I will, but anyway…I suspect it would be one hell of a culture shock, for sure!
Unlike OMD, I cant see the future being silent, but I wont know, for sure.
Dress you up?
Alright, fine, given that I didnt want to do another passport office, or weather related blog, I thought I’d give this a whirl. Neither situation is great at the moment, but thats beside the point. Though in a sense, this came about because of the weather in the US, but anyway…
It seems this video has pretty much gone viral, so you’ve probably seen it before, so I’ve pinched one of the shorter sections
Yes, absolutely adorable, but people do forget that parts of China do get well below freezing in winter (Harbin has an ice festival), so this may not have been as much of a shock for this panda, as some might have thought. He had probably never seen anything quite like it in Washington, mind.
So fine, someone decided to play along with it, and this morning, I saw this,
Yes, great fun, and probably not a bad way to stay warm in some parts of the US at present, safely inside of that outfit, even when rolling in the snow. And yes, most definitely I would, given the chance. Which leads me on to…
I’m actually putting up tips for a site, on Facebook. No, not anything I dont like, like football, or stuff I dont think I know enough about, like horse racing, but on the sports I think I do, like American Football, and Golf. And fine, I’m doing a decent job on it, even more so after posting a number of winning selections for the Carolina game on Sunday. Not getting paid, but at least its keeping the mind ticking over, if not assisting the ever decreasing bank balance! There is a very good subscription service there too, I might add. Any gamblers who want details, ask at any of my many routes of contact (Here, Facebook, Twitter), and I’ll provide you with them.
But at the moment at least, I’m just posting on the non subscription board, along with a few others. What happened last week was that someone posted suggestions for one of the all weather meetings, and they didnt do very well. Someone else took note of them, backed them, and lost money, and then proceeded to call the whole thing a group of muppets, or something like that. At which point silliness abounded, and the Miss Piggy jokes started to flow, and developing into a few other muppet characters for other regulars. The trouble is, both us ladies fancied being Miss Piggy, but anyway…a few photos went up about it, great fun.
Oh, and me, I love the whole dress up idea, whether you call it cosplay, or just dressing up, take your pick. So yes, fine, I commented that I’d happily dress up in any of those type of suits, given the outfit, and given the chance. But fine, especially at the moment, I’m in no position to buy any for myself! But if anyone wants to get me something, I’ll definitely provide photos, though I cant guarantee playing in the snow, around here!
I know, not going to happen, but it would be fun! Oh, and one last photo before I sign off, this got posted on one of the many vintage type boards I inhabit on Facebook today, a couple at the races, about a century ago.
Not quite what I’d normally wear to go to Doncaster races on Saturday (if invited), but I would if the outfit was provided, you bet I would!
Lastly, the video. Well, as so often, the clue is in the title, though its not one of Madonna’s greatest musical moments, I must say
A Drop Of The White Stuff
Yes, I know a few people who were hit by the snow storm over the weekend, on the East Coast of the US. Thankfully, as far as I know at least, all are fine. As an added treat, Storm Jonas is now heading for the UK, but thankfully (I think?) by the time it gets here, having crossed the Atlantic and all, it wont be snow that hits us, it will be rain. Mind, given how flooded some areas have been in Yorkshire, I’m not sure that a possible 4 inch dump of rain is necessarily a good thing?
I have seen several feet of snow on the ground before. Thankfully, I was on a nice warm train, crossing the Rockies in the winter of 2003. And by the time I got off the train briefly, in North Dakota, it wasnt snowing, but was exceedingly cold! Minus 25F, dont ask me what that is in centigrade, but its cold. But of course, much of the snow had been swept off the platform, so all was fine.
Thats not to say I havent been out in a snow storm, because I have. November 2014, in Albany, I experienced a snow storm where 11 inches of the stuff was dumped on the city. Do you know what, the buses kept running, though admittedly, that was down a main road, I’m not sure if it was the same on lesser routes, but…they were used to it, nothing ground to a halt, unlike when we have more than an inch over here, probably less!
I’ve seen pictures of New York, I’ve also seen pictures of more rural areas, and the way the snow built up, is quite amazing. Yes, I know, public transit was stopped in places, roads were closed in a few too, but I do think that was wise on the whole.
Who, me, I prefer California weather, I think. Last night I was watching the golf, from Palm Springs, much more my kind of weather lol!
Given that one dear friend on Long Island, said he would do nasty things to anyone singing ‘Let It Snow’, I thought I’d better choose something else for the video tonight, so you can have this Doris Day track instead.
Can I drive, and have I been made to forget?
Silly title, but events today have driven me to the point of stupidity, or is it concern? Yes, more less than memorable moments in the battle to get this passport in my new name!
As you may remember from Wednesday’s blog, I had a letter from the passport office, requesting details that I’d registered my name change with the driving licence people, and I told them that I didnt have a driving licence, issued solved, I hoped? Wrong!
Today, I got another letter from the passport office, telling me that I was actually issued with a driving licence in 1983. Well, I know I certainly didnt do that, as that was the year I moved to Somerset, and I certainly didnt apply for one then! And no, I certainly didnt order one either in the 2 and a half months I lived in Kent, before moving down there. I did in fact hold a provisional licence, somewhere in the late 1970’s, but that was it. Mainly because my driving talents matched those of Frank Spencer (of Some Mothers Do Have Them fame), so I quickly gave up on the idea.
As far as I remember, since then, I have never held a driving licence, nor have I ever driven a road vehicle at any time. So yes, this news concerned me, a lot, even if its long before identity stealing became popular! So I rang the passport office up, informed them of this, and they told me an examiner would be requested to get back to me quickly. That was 11.00 this morning, still no call. I’ll leave it until Monday afternoon before I chase them, but anyway… The thing is, why didnt all this come up when I changed my name in 2010? Thats right, I heard nothing then, when only changing name, but not gender. Suspicious, maybe? Hopefully not?
Or did I really learn to drive, pass my test, apply for a licence, and was then brainwashed to forget it ever happened? Much though I’d love that to be discovered to be the truth, its not going to be the case, is it? And lets face it, if I was brainwashed by a sinister government department, surely another government department wouldnt now be telling me about it?
I suspect the more likely story is far more dull. When I applied for a joint mortgage in 1987, we had an issue, because of a man with the same name as me. He lived in Derbyshire, I had to prove I’d never lived there, and all was solved. And yes, my intuition is that this driving licence was issued to him, not me.
But its all dragging out this event (its now 5 weeks, instead of the standard 4, and I still havent got it) that is causing me problems with job hunting, at a time I really dont need it! And of course, its Catch 22, to get identity papers anywhere, you need a passport. And they are doing their best to slow down this process, and I really dont need this! This will lead again to stress issues, which makes getting through interviews, getting a job, and some much needed money, even harder! And people wonder why I dont feel like going on with life, seriously! Yes, its getting that bad, about 6 weeks before I have major problems, and thats far too soon for my liking.
Right, rant over, though if anyone wants to issue me a passport (USA would be heaven), so I can travel, and job hunt legally, I’d love it. Before I decide to do something silly, anyway!
Right, video. Alright, the licence issue is going to be related to a guy, but I’m now a girl, so this great track will do nicely.
No phone, no car, what do you do?
Yes, the title of the blog is a play on Adam Ant’s song, Goody Two Shoes, but thats not the video tonight, just saying…
As regular readers will know, shortly before Christmas, I took my chance, over the holidays, and sent off my old passport, along with the application form, for the new one, in my new name, and gender. And when, before Christmas, the money was taken off the card, I thought that was a good sign. And also given that the standard 4 week period for return came up last Thursday, I’d reached the point of expecting it to arrive sometime soon, even allowing for the holiday period, and all that. So, when I received an envelope back from the passport office on Monday, I assumed they were returning my deed poll, and stuff, as that tends to come separate to the passport, delivered by courier, for obvious security reasons.
I wish!
No, it was a letter asking me to prove evidence that I’d changed my name on my driving licence too! Yes, I remember vaguely from before this happening, that they check for a licence in your new name, and if they cant find it…it gets queried! Of course there is a good reason why I havent told said authorities about my name change, I dont drive, and dont hold a licence! I wouldnt say her surprise at the other end of the phone that I dont drive matched those when told that I dont own a mobile phone, but it was pretty good, all the same!
Anyway, the good news, seemingly that was the last issue outstanding, and therefore, with luck, that new passport should arrive in the next few days, I sincerely hope! It will make things so much easier when I have it again. Not that I currently have the funds to use it for trips (however tempting the idea might be), but for ID purposes, please! Yes, at present, all charitable donations would be very much gratefully received!
But anyway, regardless of that, tomorrow, I get to do my first agency registration as Harlean. Yes, they know the situation, and I will have to show them my passport when it arrives, but they’re going ahead with it anyway. Thankfully, by now, I’m well used to the name, and dont even blink when called it, so all is fine on that front. Fine, in fact, I love it!
Right, the video. What I dont do, OK? 😉
Last Thing On My Mind
Yes, lets start with the hypnosis session, on Saturday, as given the title of the blog, its a good place to do so. I guess its a case of when you go for the first time to someone you’ve only known through Facebook, you have to be a little cautious with these things. I know, its only in fiction that your mind becomes totally controlled unwillingly, but anyway…lol!
Well yes, it did what it was meant to do, relaxed and destressed me. All in all, a very pleasant period under trance, in very able hands. Fine, I’m not known for my hypnotic resistance skills, but she got me under quite easily. No, I dont remember all the details, but then again, you’re not meant to, just your subconscious that is. Has it worked? Well, in the sense of being more relaxed, then yes it has. If you mean in the related sense of allowing me to find competency based questions any easier, then no, it hasnt! 😛
After that, we had a pleasant chat for a while, and the subject of my past life self came up. And so intrigued was she by it all, that she said that she was likely to study up on past life regressions, so Clara might not be hiding away much longer! In fact, later that day, she tried it on a friend, it worked, so now she’s fascinated by the subject. A possible win/win, with luck. Oh, and if anyone in the area wants my recommendation of a hypnotherapist, ask!
So, what else has happened in the last few days? No, I didnt win anything on either lottery, before you ask! What a shock, not! A nice meal out, last night with the others from here, it being Ella’s birthday today, but given she wouldnt be here tonight, we celebrated then. I passed on the dress given the current weather, as mine dont tend to be of the warm, winter kind, you see!
Today has been more of the same, a few job applications, a couple of early rejections, and a couple of possibles. I’m trying not to let the rejections get to me, but as the money runs lower, then yes, the more concerned I get. Hopefully something comes through before I start contemplating silly things! Vicious circle, absolutely! I know its getting bad when I start contemplating doing the lottery again this week, just because a decent win could end all my worries. But me, winning anything like that, I wish! Never happened when the money wasnt a concern, let alone now!
Right, before I stop relaxing, and stress myself again, I’ll stop here, not much else to say, anyway.
The video, well the clue is in the title, but given I dont even remember this track, I’m pretty sure most wont!
Money for nothing (well, just £2 anyway)
Its funny, nearly a week on from the big lottery jackpot over here, I was thinking, just how much do you need to win before the amount becomes irrelevant?
I know, previous huge lottery winners have seemed to manage to go on crazy spending sprees, and blow all the money, but I know with my Yorkshire nature, I’m sure I couldnt do a thing like that. And before anyone comments on the ridiculous concept of possibly winning £66 million, as was available last weekend on the lottery over here, that was absolutely nothing compared to what has been happening in the US. Yes, seriously, the Powerball lottery over there, which was actually won on Wednesday (and which has no rollover limitations) had actually reached a pool of $1.4 billion (1400 million) dollars, before being shared 3 ways. But fine, does the average person really need a prize of over $400 million dollars? And how, in a normal way, are you going to spend all that?
So fine, I’ve bought a lottery ticket for tomorrow night, and its not for the rollover value yet, its because instead of the normal 1 millionaire prize, there will be 5. And I’ll be honest with you, if I won one of those, I’d be more than happy, and could give up this exhausting job hunting lark. I might not have enough to be able to buy a property, and move to Hollywood, but it would be a pretty good prize all the same, and I could afford to spend plenty of 90 day allowances out there, with that! Spend even about half on various things, I could probably get by on the interest from the rest!
To be honest, the 20 £20,000 prizes, one of those could solve a lot of concerns for quite a while. Even treating myself to 2 or 3 stays over there, I could survive for 18 months, very easily. Even half that, I could go for at least 9 months treating myself, probably about 12 if I’m sensible, but I’d prefer the 20 K option.
But for me, what would be a nice amount to win? One that solves all issues, but at the same time is not so insane an amount that it would blow my mind? Yes, I guess the million would more than do that. And fine, thats why I got talked into buying a ticket for the Euro millions draw tonight, with a rollover of £61.5 million! First time I’ve ever bought one, have no idea whats involved, or the prize scale is, to be honest. But its done, and another £2 I’ve wasted, that I probably shouldnt have done, in all honesty. But for a few hours, this girl can dream, or is that panic, about winning that jackpot?
The video, as so often, the clue is in the title. This is a live version, featuring 2 of the greatest guitarists of all time
Oh, I meant to add, I might have found one way of getting over the trauma of winning so much money. Yes, hypnosis. Tomorrow, I’m doing a relaxation, and stress busting hypnotherapy session somewhere near Huddersfield, at a reduced price special. This should have happened on the Saturday I was doing training for the ‘job from hell’, I wish I’d stuck with the original plan. At least for 45 minutes, I can let all the stress, and worry float away, I so need it!
Time to move on?
I can think of a few people who will see that blog title, and think “what the ….?” but no, currently at least, its not related to me. Thats not to say it might not happen. Who knows where this dating lark might lead me, ha ha? Yes, fine, since changing the ad, the only inbox message I’ve had is from one of the men I was talking to before, and thats been it. So maybe it just wants time, or maybe I’m right, lesbian women arent interested in women with extra bits, such is life. Still think I’m happier making that my main hunt, but thats not to say that if the right man came along, I couldnt swing back the other way. Especially if it was a wealthy man from LA, and then…Fine, stop laughing now!
But actually, this piece does relate to moving to Los Angeles, though sadly not me. This piece relates to an NFL team taking that step. Back in the early days of the NFL (and yes, I am a history nut) in the 1920’s, teams upped, and changed homes more often than you could imagine. Even more teams turned up for a couple of years, then disappeared without trace, especially after the 1929 Crash. But the first ‘big’ move didnt happen until 1946, when the Cleveland Rams became the first team west of the Rockies, when they moved to Los Angeles in 1946. This was because until then, travel simply couldnt cope with the distances to have teams placed out there. It was not until 1960, and the introduction of the AFL, that numerous teams sprung up on the western coast.
There were a few changes in location for those new teams in the first few years, but after that, with few exceptions, things calmed down until the 90’s. In the 80’s, the Raiders moved from Oakland to LA, and the Baltimore Colts sneaked off to Indianapolis. Oh, and irony, a team left St Louis, though in this case, heading for Arizona.
In the 90’s, both Los Angeles teams decided they couldnt make it pay there, the Raiders headed back to Oakland, and the Rams to St Louis. Yes, I know, amusing thing, hindsight? Cleveland moved to Baltimore, though ironically we now have another team there, also called the Browns, but anyway…And Houston left for Nashville, though Houston now has another team, though with a different name! But then, nothing.
Until in the last couple of years, the corporate clamour to get a team into LA has grown again. Ironically, the 3 teams most mentioned had all been there before, and left! The other? The Chargers played 1 year in LA, before moving to San Diego. And now, St Louis no longer has a team, the Rams are moving to LA for next season. San Diego may, or may not have a team, and Oakland might find itself in the same situation too. Ah well, crazy world, I guess? Or is just money talking, who knows?
Fine, the video. Well, this has been all about moving on, so I guess the video might as well be too.
Lets Be A Little Rebel
OK, lets have a look back on that dramatic dating agency experience, looking for men, and ponder the next, perhaps more daring step.
As I said a few posts back, the one thing that surprised me, was that men didnt seem to want a submissive transgender girl to perform sex on them, they wanted to perform sex on me! And yes, I expect most of them would say they were straight, but anyway…Of course, as history shows, that might all be talk, as that seems to be as big a step as anyone on there wants to take, well, for men of my age at least. Younger people might tell a different story, but for those of us of an older generation…
But as one friend pointed out to me, they were surprised at my choice of gender chasing, because as they said to me, I’d be happier with a woman, in a lesbian relationship, and yes, I think they’re right. But was it worth trying it out, to see what happened? Yes, I think it was, and I’m glad I did it, in one sense, though I’m not sure it was ever the right one.
But yes, tomorrow, I plan to change the advert to woman seeking woman, and see what happens? Me, I’m not sure that lesbian women will really want a woman around them, with an extra bit, but who knows, I was surprised by the number of men looking for women who wanted to, and did contact me. I’ll be honest, I have no idea what level of contact I will get, if any, but I wouldnt be surprised to get a small number at least. Maybe more, who can tell? And whether those that do, want to do more than chat, that might be another issue!
And after that experiment has had its time, I suspect it will be going back to a single life. A female partner would be wonderful, but seriously…?
OK, fine, tonight, lets go for the double, artist wise at least, for the video. Well, some might say that a Transgender girl, looking for a female, lesbian partner, might a be a little rebel?
stevielounicks 
Recent Comments