Hello. Remember me? I know, it’s been a long time since I posted anything here. I’m not the first to admit it, but I’ve been complacent. I’ve been focussing solely on writing for my job and not writing outside of the office. And I should be writing on here more because I loved this blog. I still love this blog.
So I’m going to kick start this post with explaining to you how rotten I feel.
I feel like shit. Continue reading
Bonjour! And a happy New Year!
Towards the end of 2016, I became what society deems an adult. I bought a flat. Hurray! Isn’t that marvellous?
It is marvellous, but it’s also scary. So, for the next wee while, I’m going to lay out why it’s scary so that when you get round to buying property, you can hold your nerve. Much unlike I did.
So, let’s start from the beginning. As of July 2015, I (with Davit) had rented a lovely wee flat in Mount Florida. It’s nestled sweetly in the south side, is walking distance to three chippies and a Tesco. Bliss.
Well, as of October 2016, everything changed.
(Insert crackly voicemail message from letting agency here): “Hi Nicola, listen, the landlord needs to come in and have the flat valued. When is the best time for you to let her in?”
Oh bollocks. That can only mean on thing. She’s selling up.
Landlord comes a week after, has flat valued and leaves. Tells me she’s selling her house so is getting her finances sorted. Nicola breathes a sigh of relief realising she won’t lose her lovely wee flat.
WRONG! Continue reading
When you make it to your mid/late twenties a lot of things change. You realise that alcohol makes you bloated, it takes a week in the gym to burn off a fish supper, you enjoy curling up on the couch watching gash Channel 4 documentaries on a Saturday night and separating the recycling gives you a feeling of self-actualisation.
Upon realising these things, I have also come up with a list of things I wish that I had never done. Sure, I should forget about them and move on, but where’s the fun in that?
My list ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous so feel free to agree, laugh or feel downright sorry for me. Fine by me!
Right, here we go. Things I wish I’d never done. Ugh jeez, I can feel my teeth clenching in cringe already. Continue reading
Oh no, no. Before you say anything, I’m not back on Tinder just yet.
This blog post was inspired by this weekend I have just spent mostly to myself. I’ll play it out for you.
I woke up on Saturday morning, helped the bf to pack for a trip up north and I raced away to our letting agency to sign a new six month contract for the flat we share. How very grown up of me. I enjoy this.
Then, I came back, said goodbye to bae and started work.
I was working pretty much all Saturday from around 1pm to 7pm. I got lots of work done, thanks, and made my deadline. YES! I was in my own company here, yes, but we haven’t got to the good part just yet. Continue reading
Since passing my driving test at the rip old age of 22, I have’t been without a car for any length of time. As soon as I passed the horrendous test, my legs soaked in my own sweat, I was nipping about in a faded, red Corsa. The car leaked when it rained and I tore the arse out of the exhaust but it served me well.
Now, as a slightly older adult, I pay finance on the most beautiful duck egg blue Mini you’ve ever seen. She’s such a doll.
Speaking of which, like most drivers, I carry out many ridiculous tasks whilst in the car I’d never normally do. These include, yet are not limited to: Continue reading
Startling as it may be, in three short months I will be joining the 26 club. I am so, so not ready for this.
I’m also not ready for being called a ‘lady’ in shops, in my head I’m still a ‘girl’, and having to manage my own miniature stash of money.
There are so many things I wish I could go back and change when I was younger.
Some being: not to jump out from my gate to give my neighbours a fright as they walk down the street (this still haunts me to this day), not to spend an extra £20 on a shitter laptop I bought for college, (I left college seven years ago, this should not still bug me) and many, many, many horrendous fashion choices that I cannot get over (mismatched Converse anyone?) *shudder*
And here we are! Somewhat older, somewhat fatter but a lot/little more wiser than what I was ten years ago. So here is my advice to my younger self, and for those younger than me (I’m looking at you Tara Cameron! You’re my cousin so I’m here to save you from years of teenage angst) to let them see that it’s not always as bad as it seems. Not like I’m worth basing your life on. I’m still struggling to work out if I’ll make it to 26 with my kinda good credit still intact!
So here it is, my top 5 points of advice I’d give to my younger self had she not grown into myself. I’m working myself up in circles now, aren’t I? Continue reading
As some of you may or may not know, I am the ripe old age of 25. I am a quarter of a century old, I’m closer to 30 than I am to 20 and I sustain a, fairly, adult life.
This, at times, has brought me sorrow and joy.
Sorrow as in those, “What the hell am I doing with my life?!” moments and sorrow as in, “Shouldn’t I be able to understand this car finance statement without my mum?” life questions.
On the other, thankfully happy, hand, I take great joy in being an adult and living away from home.
Here are four of my most favourite enjoyable tasks that being an adult entails: Continue reading
Bonjour my little babies! We have come to the end of our four part series of Foreveranitchynose at the Job Centre! Are you sad? Well, I’m not! As some of you may know I have just completed my first week at my new job. Wah! Yay!
So anyway, let’s get to the juicy stuff, ya know?
For our final instalment, I’ma tell you about my appointment at the Job Centre, the only one that really matters BECAUSE I GOT A JOB! YAY!
As I’d told ya’ll in Foreveranitchynose at the Job Centre – Part 2, the boyf and I were told we both had to be at my appointment as we were essentially claiming as a couple. So, I drag the poor sod on the 10 minute walk to the Job Centre. My appointment is for 10:10am but the lady on the phone told me to, “Head there for about 10 to 10 Nicola, there’s some forms to fill out so that will give you a bit more time.”
So! We make our way to the job centre, me moaning at him for making us leave slightly later, to get there for bang on 10 to 10! Yes! I walk to the door and the stupid thing doesn’t open. The door says the Job Centre opens at 9am, there are people inside walking around, yet the blinds are closed. Crafty buggers. So here we are, waiting out in the cold until some smarty pants opens the door 15 MINUTES LATER! I have never felt more unemployed in my life. All us jobless wasters stood outside in a line waiting for our dole money. Yay! Love life!
Ok, so we get in the door, I give a lady my name and we’re told to take a seat. Another 10 minutes go past and we are told to go over to Gillian’s table as she will be my advisor. Smashing! Hiya Gillian! How are you? Continue reading
And we have arrived at the penultimate episode of Foreveranitchynose at the Job Centre! Are you excited?
I’ll keep this post brief, as it was a relatively brief moment in my job centre journey.
So, as well know, I had visited one Job Centre location, around a 10 minute drive from my flat, only to be mucked about and told to return the next week with my partner.
Ok doke! I’ve popped the new date in my phone calendar and I’m willing away the days until my next appointment, the next Wednesday, rolls around. Low and behold, my phone rings…
Itchy nose (that’s me btw): “Hello?”
Job Centre Call Centre Lady (JCCCL): “Hello, is that Nicola?”
Itchy nose: “Yes, speaking.” Continue reading
Well what do we have here? It’s Foreveranitchynose at the Job Centre part 2!
I told you it was going to be a good ‘un and it most certainly was for everyone receiving benefits except me!
We left our last instalment with me receiving a text message from the Department for Work and Pensions asking me to attend an interview at my local Job Centre that Friday. I thought to myself, ‘Fantastic! I’ve been accepted to receive benefits. This is the last stage of the journey. I’ll go to the interview on Friday and all will be well.’
HA! It never runs smoothly for me. Ever.
So fast forward to Friday and Bae and I head off to the Job Centre which is a 10 minute drive from our flat. We park outside, I saunter in and Davit heads back to the flat to get some work done. Seems about right, right?
The minute I enter the door, two burly smiling G4S Security guards approach me, completely silent! And just kind of, stand in front of me, staring and smiling in silence for a few seconds.
Not knowing what to do, I do what any normal person would do. I stammer and stutter until a lovely little lady with blond hair nips over to me and laughs about how I was hounded by security. Not to worry ahaha! There are G4S chaps everywhere and I can understand why, there may be a few weirdies floating around that like to kick up a fuss.
The lovely little lady hands me a form to fill out, tells me who my Benefits Advisor will be and says it should only be about a five minute wait. Splendid! I shall sit here, fill out the basic form and await Michelle’s gracious Benefits dishing-out powers.
As I finish filling out my forms, I have a shifty glance around me. No junkies, nothing sinister. There are only a very small few who are not native to Scotland in the Job Centre so we can put an end to that stereotype. I’ve been waiting around 20 minutes now. Growing a little more worried by the minute. Continue reading
