What a Difference a week makes!

Well my last post was very whiney, but I appologise. Not having a job can really get to ya, but now I have exactly the opposite problem....I have two jobs!!

My day job is working for a company called Smurfit Kappa...I know, funny name! And what do they do? Well, they are in packaging solutions. Thats right, like Milhouse's father off the Simpsons, I work in a box factory! Basically I work in the office with 2 other people making sure the companies who order boxes get them when they need them. Exciting stuff I know, but cash is cash! And my co workers seem very cool, so I think it will be grand. Been there a week now and its definately doable.

My other job is completely different, working in a bar/ night club called Chambers. Only ever done small pub type work before so this has been an eye opener with up to a dozen staff behind the bar and the orders keep coming.

I have noticed some interesting things working in a bar in Cork....

They will order a bottle of beer with a glass of ice!

With the Cork accent and club noise, 'bottle' can (somehow) sound like pint...

Glasses dont bounce especially well.

After having a pretty full on first night, Ive kinda gotten into the swing of it. The only down side of all of this is that of course, this weekend it is Paddy's Day.....and guess what I will be doing....working in the bar! Worked last nite (thursday), then did the office job today, and I will now be working tonight, tomorrow night and Sunday Night....thank god its a day off Monday!

Had my birthday last Sunday...thanks to those who called. Had a couple of Aussie friends over for sme snags and Coopers with my flatmates. 27....my god!

With St Patricks day this weekend theres a few more of the extended group of Aussies and Kiwis in town, so in the minute or so that Im not working I intend to be very drunk!

Ok, so I'm a bum....

Well I have been in Cork for 5 weeks now and I am still unemployed! All that bragging about never having a problem finding a job...well... I guess its caught up with me!

I have currently got FIVE job agencies looking for a job for me, and despite numerous leads and the odd interview, I'm still home long enough each day to watch Oprah and Dr Phil.

I have had the occasional job though, so there has been a trickle of money coming in, but not enough to keep me going. You've never seen a cupboard with more generic label food in it then mine at the moment!

After the thrilling job watching the printer (living the dream!) I returned to that same company for a whole day as a receptionist (no miniskirt jokes ok!) and since then I got a job for a few days through a friend working at a school. Basically I was one of those crusty old guys they bring in to supervise exams. I would have started to have a mini midlife crisis had I not been mistaken for a student on more then one occasion!

Its not all bad though. I have moved into a very cool house with one French guy, a French girl, a Dutch girl and a German guy, and we have already had a couple of big household nights out and in, so I think Im going to enjoy my time here.

Another one of our friends from Edinburgh, Katrina, has also joined us, and managed to get TWO jobs since she arrived 3 weeks ago....thats not good for the ego, but good for her.

Anyways, I have a couple of leeds on jobs at the moment, so keep your fingers crossed that I can afford a drink on my birthday!

Cheers