Christmas again!

This year was a full on Christmas celebration for me, filled with tree decorating, shopping, wrapping and being a part of a pile of presents under the tree being opened on Christmas day. I was also fed so full on Christmas day that I faced a food coma. To top things off, Ieven got a job starting in the new year! It was more than festive for me, it seemed like this is how this day is usually spent in non-Chinese homes. I like it. Now for more food!

We can't forget the trifle, I had always wanted to try one since I watched that episode of  FRIENDS. (you know which one) Consisting of cream, custard, sponge cake and strawberry jelly/jam. It makes for one tasty dessert.

Pork Pie, a traditional British pie. Dense with pork baked into a thick pastry.  I prefer delicious turkey. 

Gammon: cured smoked ham, the lower part of bacon.

Caramelized Onion Chutney is amazing. I have never tried this before today, I have  eaten the mango chutney before and I thought that was fantastic. Now I know this exists I can make it at home. You should totally try it, they put it on meat here but I read on the interwebs that people put it on cheese and crackers.

I do have to say it is hard not being at home with my mother eating hot pot with FRIENDS playing on the TV, waiting until later hours of the evening when my brother and I would make our walk to 7-Eleven for twizzlers, root beer and something random like cereal.

Stony clouds in Sandiacre, an excellent walk on Christmas day. 

Who doesn't love sunsets. The celebration of the day.

A small recap.
Last year's x-mas was spend in Vietnam with my best friend  boiling in 30C weather over a Vietnamese ice coffee eating vermicelli.

In 2009 I was in Jilin with many ex-pats and Chinese friends celebrating Christmas the only way we knew how. Lots of drinks and Christmas games, everything from music trivia, pin the tail on the reindeer.

Oh yes, Danny and I bought half a kobo for each other. I wonder now why I didn't have one sooner. YAY, free manga! Everyone wins.

Previous to then I usually worked Christmas at the hospital and then a quick drive after work to one of my friends houses to catch a Christmas dinner and to play with their new toys. Enuff ramblings.

I want to say that every year I have a very memorable Christmas no matter where I am, it is about spending time with the people you love. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Finding work in Derby

I wasn't planning to write a post about looking for work but in the end I have something to share. When I first arrived I thought that finding a job would be easy since getting my national insurance number was three phone calls, a form and about 10 days wait. When I finally got online and started applying for jobs there were tonnes of postings in every sector that I was willing to work in.

Now it has been about a month and a half I have gotten 11 refusal letters saying they can't take me on at this time. It doesn't sound that bad does it but I have applied for over 80 job postings via in person, email and even letters in the mail. Over the last couple weeks I would like to think that my new skill that I have obtained is filling out forms faster than humanly possible. Time to change the approach.

Off to temp agencies, as we know at home they range from showing up at 6:30am in hopes to find work and end up with some cash in your pocket at the end of the day. I have done this once at home with some free time and insomnia on my side. It doesn't really pay off being sent out to a job site, having them dock you rental fees for work boots, gloves, goggles, etc you end up going home with about $50-60 a day. There are more of course event staff and the clerical/admin work that includes training, testing and all of that is unpaid unfortunately. When you need money anything will do to pay the bills.

I first went into two temping agencies earlier this week in hopes to find something that will by the time whilst I continue to look for work. A possible third if need be. Now after a two hour induction (their British word for orientation) I have a job that I start tomorrow.It has something to do with working in a production lines making bouquets and wreaths for Christmas at a place called Flower World. How fitting. Either way at minimum wage this will have to do, I hope by the new year I will be able to land something better paying.

The next part of this is finding a bank that will let me open an account. They say that direct deposit is the best way to get your money and I fully agree since I don't personally like depositing cheques in person and taking that time out of my day to find out that I have to wait 24 hours before I get to even touch my money. I went hunting for a bank that would take me on. Lloyd's bank instantly refused me, Co-Operative signed me up but I won't know for 10 business days if I have been approved or not, Halifax gave me a website link to do it online and could not help me in person (I have to wait another 7 working days before I find out if I get a bank account with them. I have another appointment tomorrow to find out if Barclay's will take me on hopefully they will. If not, where do all the immigrants deposit their money?

Until tomorrow.