Hi,
How are you, dear reader? Hopefully doing okay and significantly more cosy and comfortable than my dash through the rainstorm this morning. I am drying out slowly and a good warm cup of spiced tea is ticking all the right boxes. Hopefully, I will have better luck when I do the school run and doggo walk later in the afternoon.
Tech changes
Depending on your blogging platform of choice, you may have been seen notifications about the upcoming changes to Google’s CAPTCHA service. That’s the system that helps detect and block spam on forms and in comments. I am guessing that Blogger and non-hosted WordPress sites will just keep on trucking, as the platform(s) will just update automatically for you….. which is nice 😉
Meanwhile at YATGB, a bit more technical jiggery-pokery is required, so there’s a few changes to the site. Due to pricing changes from Google, I’ll be dropping their reCAPTCHA system and staying with Jetpack. The latter has been running here for a few years; keeping an eye on comment spam and ensuring the site is secure.
I am hoping the removal of Google’s reCAPTCHA won’t affect comments, and nor will the new Getting in Touch form be an issue either (feel free to test, BTW 🙏).
Mind you, a number of your regular commenters and fellow bloggers have my email address, so there’s a way in if things really start to play up. Fingers crossed it’ll all be fine. 🤞
Job searching
A slow and steady week of looking through the sites, and picking out a role I feel I might be able to do. Due to caring needs, I need something I can do from home, and with some flexibility around the school runs too. The latter is only for another eight months maybe, but still it needs to be done.
Funny, you mention this in interviews when they talk about EDI, respecting special needs, and….. yeah, I get that Disturbance in the Force feeling, that for some organisation, there’s a lot of trumpet and not much tune. A whiff of “Oh yes, we’re an Equal Opportunities employer – just look at our badges! – and we fully support flexible approach to work….. provided you’re in the office between 9 and 5…“
To use a famous film quote:
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
So, I am focusing on the positives and just keeping going. I did see a project focused role which was fully remote and I took a look at what the organisation wanted. On reading the application, they’d added some interview questions rather than just asked for a CV. On reading those, dare I say – dare! dare! 😉- that I felt quite excited about the idea of working with them. Fingers crossed eh?
I also got an email from an ex-work colleague who’s been helping out with a national charity that’s based just down the road. They asked me if I’d be interested in helping out with some advice & guidance, so I’ve said yes, and there’s a conversation booked for the end of November. TBH, that feels quite good, in that it’s pressing the button for helping people and the work they’re looking to do feels very interesting as well.
Events
This week were were due to have a visit from an image consultant, but due to illness; sadly Suzanne was unable to attend, bless her. We’re going to reschedule for the new year, so that’ll give us something to look forward too post-Xmas.
Talking of Xmas, I’m doing my best to avoid looking at the party outfits. I’ve got three dresses in the cupboard – and four pairs of separates – that could make something fabulous for our Christmas ‘Do.
Chams
A number of new folk visited this time around. This included a parent & teen, who were looking for support and friendship. The teen is of similar age to our son, so there’s some common ground around needs & wishes. I think we get about two to three parent visits a year at Chams. I wonder if I should update the site to highlight groups that might be more age related? I mean, most of us at Chams are 50s, 60s, and 70s – plus a few at the younger and older ends of the curve. Possibly not much for a young person. I guess it depends what they’re looking for.
Given the weather and it’s a week until my waxing appointment, it was time for semi-opaques. It’s that or buzz the small patch of strands on my inner knees, and then that misses the longevity that waxing gives. I guess I could’ve epilated that small bit, but that would required not being a bear of little brain 😉
I wasn’t 100% on what to pack, so rather than faff about with umpteen things at home, I just packed two dresses, a pair of shoes, and some boots. On the night itself, the boots won out, so that made things easier.
Diane had brought in some cake as it was her birthday – happy birthday, Mrs! – so that topped up the calories for the evening. We also made a list of who would be bringing what to the Xmas fuddle. Well, it’s only two meetings away, so best to start organising I guess!
L x
Its pointless looking for a job at this time of year, most people are focused on the big piss up due in about 6 weeks. By the time job CV has been processed, its will be the party season. As a result January is a very good time to look as people start to get over Xmas. April is another good time to look, start of the new tax year and projects will be funds.
If you are going to use AI to rewrite your CV, you might want to consider using an anti AI to be scramble to the results.
Given a choice send something like a CV as a pdf, by default word keeps a history of when a document has changed and unless you delete it people may be able to work out any recent changes.
For anyone involved in organisational catering, please now refer to all festive events as “The Big P*ss Up” 😁
On a less silly note, thanks for the advice, Anon. I noticed a dip in activity around half-term, and I completely agree that December – and possibly late November – will have folk checking out mentally.
Hopefully the new year will be more fruitful and thanks for the tip about April 🙏
I have my CV in PDF as I don’t have Word on my devices. Point taken about Previous Versions / Tracked Changes.
I did run my CV through AI to see if that improved it, but I didn’t like the language or phraseology. Instead I picked the bits that seemed useful. I’m wondering if I need to tweak it a bit, make more a I Can Do This For You, so it’s obvious.
Righto. Pass the veggie egg nog, I’ll be conscious on Jan 1st 🙃
Just update your entry at places like linked in, the bots that service it will notice and hopeful you should get something in Jan.
As for piss up, I was talking about the after effects of all those evening outs
Enjoy your Egg Nog, mines cider with a bit of holly in it
Linkedin has been duly updated and I’ve had one contact & shortlisting through that. 🙏 Nothing solid yet, but it’s another route to finding something 🤞
Careful knocking back the holly sprigged cider – it might sting a bit down, in, and out. 😁
That reminds me, there’s some rather good winter spiced ones out. V tasty and good cold or warm.
Yeah, that CAPTCHA shift has been… a whole thing. I’ve been feeling it both at work and on my own site, so I completely get why you’re shuffling things around. Fingers crossed the Jetpack setup plays nicely for you.
I’m really hoping that remote project role works out. It sounds like the exact kind of thoughtful, flexible work environment people keep claiming to offer. The charity conversation feels like such a bright spot, too.
Yeah, I’ve been putting off having to faff about with the Google stuff. Pretty much since the alert came out before the summer.
I had thought about jumping ship to hCAPTCHA, but that’s another registration and another integration 🙃
By dumb luck, while looking around in the settings, I noticed the Askimet system is already on for comments. So, a quick test on the JetPack contact form – which also uses the same protection – and it seems okay 🙏 If not, I’ll look into another option. Good luck with yours! 🤞
I guess I’ll see if I’m lucky around the remote job. Hopefully something will work out, and if not, I can keep busy helping the charity get their systems & processes in order.
Good luck with the job searching, Lynn.
As for xmas piss-ups – do any organisations allow or tolerate alcohol on their premises these days (or even lunchtime drinking) or is that firmly a pre-90s thing in places like the fashion and publishing industries?
Not sure what you could do to encourage/boost lower age membership. I remember the same thing even back in the 1980s at The Beaumont Soc. when I was the only person under 30 and everyone else was in their 50s,60s and 70s.
It’s a long game, this job searching malarkey 🙂 For all the talk of super targeted ads and AI slop, you’d think search systems would be more accurate. Maybe that’s the point: to show you things you might want, as it widens the stats. In a lies, dammed lies, and statistics kinda way 😉
Thankfully the last few decades of work organised ‘dos, have been a token glass of something booze adjacent and nibbles. A few team night started off with a gentle pint, but with most folk eating, driving, and all over 30; there wasn’t any hardcore drinking. Last time I saw that was in the 90s and I don’t miss it at all 🙂
Apologies around the youth situation. I think it was more about trying to give the information, so folk could find groups that would be more their age. It’s absolutely not about keeping them away: it’s not wanting to waste their time. 🤞
Just to reassure you that this comment is not spam. I make no other guarantees for its quality, though!
Nice smart frock and boots combination for Chams. Bright red beats back the late autumn gloom nicely.
Wishing you all the best in your job hunt, Lynn. Employers with all the badges but no understanding of what they’re supposed to represent? Ah yes, been there, done that and got the bruises. A real quality employer picks the right staff and treats them right without the need for song and dance. Thankfully, I’ve had those, too. To use another famous film quote, the latter attitude seems to be, “Badges, badges, we don’ need no stinkin’ badges!” If you genuinely don’t discriminate or mistreat then it wouldn’t occur to you that there’d be accolades for conduct that to most people is normal and unremarkable.
Have a nice weekend.
Sue xx
I’ll resist the urge to comment about eggs, beans, spam, sausage, spam, toast, spam, and spam, then Sue 🙃
Thanks for the kind words about the outfit. The brighter colour – even if an autumn hue – was the aim. Quite partial to a pop of red from time to time.
As to badges – good film quote (Las Federales?…. and Blazing Saddles) – I remember running through the Investors In People paperwork a few years back…. Sadly, that did not lead to the training or opportunities hoped. But then, that’s – IMO – the classic Big Plan Upfront fallacy; which real life eats for breakfast. Still, we did have a lovely plaque on the wall…. 🙄
Conversely, I worked for a different organisation which was also accredited, but they were much more people focused: listening, upskilling on the job, and very supportive. I really enjoyed my time there. Well, as much as you can work 😉
Hi Lynn,
Sorry for my late reply. I hope you’ve had a chance to completely dry out after all that rain!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your job search. I’m sure the right opportunity will come along soon, and I hope it’s something you genuinely enjoy.
This time of year makes it very hard to resist browsing party wear, so if you’re managing to hold back, you definitely have my admiration! 🙂
I loved your outfit photo, as always. You really do have such a natural sense for the right pose. The necklace finishes the look beautifully, and I think I can spot a floral pattern on those tights.
Have a good week.
Lotte x
No worries or rush, Lotte. 🙂 Thankfully there’s not been another downpour and we’ve managed to dry out. You know it’s been bracing when all the dog coats need a run in the tumbler! 🌧️
Thanks for the week wishes on the job front. I’ve seen a few that I fancied doing, but didn’t make the cut. At least I’m finding things and I’ve had a handful of interviews. I guess I just don’t want things to drag on too long.
I think what’s helped on the party clothes situation, is that by luck, I happened to look in the wardrobe, and see what I’ve already got. That birthday gift from Mrs J, and at least two black dresses. Then the separates I could mix and match to make others. I think I’ll be okay as is….. assuming they all fit 😉
I had some help with the pose, as Val pointed out I was standing “square on” a few times. Truth be told, I have read up on how to stand and lean. Partly for my benefit and also if I’m taking another person’s photo. The necklace is quite old now and I felt the length worked with the cut of the dress. I thought the tights were just plain semi opaques, so either my eyes have gone or the camera has caught something 😁