Yes, I have been unemployed for quite a while. Here are some important statistics:

• It has been 146 days since I lost my job.
• I have been unemployed for 112 days (almost 4 months)
• I have been on the unemployment statistics for 11 weeks.
• I have been to 20 interviews for 9 positions, out of which 8 interviews (for four positions) that went beyond the initial filtering process and into serious consideration.

The beginning was great. I really needed a break after a year and a half of very hard work. Then came my house hunt that deflated my motivation, but I was happy to have all the spare time I needed to take care of the moving tasks. This coincided with a period of holidays in which most companies slowed their recruitment processes to a halt, and my hope to finally come to an agreement with one company, which caused me to slow my search as well.

Now I’m back to a fierce attack of job hunting activities. I gave my CV a major facelift, and I’m sending it out to whoever would be willing to have it, or pass it on. I get in touch with numerous recruiting agencies, and email companies directly whenever possible. Being off work was fun for a while, but now I feel the need to be around people again, have a slightly more organized routine, and get some money flowing into my account.

The one thing that I have not been able to do during my holiday is travel. It is ironic, considering that I have so much spare time for it. E. also needs a break from his work, and he really wants to get away, but unfortunately I can’t afford it. He was talking about a few weeks in Canada, and even started planning a route. I was happy to see him so excited about it, but I had to let him down and back in touch with reality. Then he started talking about going to Ireland or Scotland for a shorter break, but even that’s something I can’t commit to at the moment. It would have been easier if the bloody insurance company hadn’t been delaying my severance pay! I hate being broke, especially when E. is the one who has to be disappointed. It’s something I’m not used to and I do not enjoy. I just hope at least one of these problems will sort itself out soon enough.

In the past few nights my flat has been filled with little mites that just wonder around every lit room. I wouldn’t mind that much if they didn’t crawl wherever I was sitting, or on me. The cats are doing nothing about it. What am I paying them for?!

I know that as a vegetarian I shouldn’t think of harming them, but this is beyond what I can take. They should just stay away. Tomorrow is insect repellent day.

…your friends are concerned, because they haven’t seen you online for almost twenty four hours.

I upgraded my bandwidth to 2.5/150.
It does not mean that I will blog more often, just that it would be faster when I do.

I haven’t written much about music recently, but I have actually been catching up with quite a lot of new music, as well as some classics. So much, that I haven’t stopped for long enough so I can write a review about anything in particular. Maybe I will do that soon.

Here’s a quick update about some of the things I’ve been listening to (Oded, feel free to skip):

• Placebo – Meds – The new album from Placebo is brilliant. I haven’t gone thoroughly through the lyrics yet, but addictions and chemicals seem to be a major feature.
• Graham Coxon – Love Travels At Illegal Speeds – Brilliant and simple music, with the Coxon melodic brilliance. As good as Happiness in Magazines, if not better.
• The Strokes – First Impressions Of Earth – Not bad, but The Strokes still haven’t recaptured the genius of their first album. Definitely better than Room On Fire.
• Editors – The Back Room – It’s not very new, but it was difficult to get hold of the album in Israel for some reason. Great music. What else could I ask for?!
• Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit – I haven’t made up my mind about it yet. It is everything that can be expected from B&S.
• Sigur Rós – Takk… – I haven’t got used to it yet. Sigur Rós take time and attention.

More soon…

Conservation of dirt states that the total amount of dirt (including potential dirt) in a closed system remains constant. In other words, dirt can be converted from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

Example: during the process of house cleaning, the floors become clean while dirt is moved to the person who is performing the process and any tool being used.

(Thanks, Wikipedia)

My new flat is finally looking like a home. At last, it is time to enjoy it properly. Obviously, there are still little things that need to be done: the curtain in the bedroom is still missing (my mum is working on it), the carpets have not yet been brought back from cleaning, and I haven’t got around to putting plants in the windows. At least there are no boxes, and no things waiting around to be put away in other rooms. I’ll try to post some pictures soon.

The cats are also getting used to the place. The panic stage is over, and they have taken to sitting on the windowsill and staring out to the park and the birds in the trees. Willy is still unsure, and tends to run and hide under the sofa now and again, but since I still have to come to him with antibiotics a couple of times a day, he has a good reason to be scared.

Now that the pressure is down it is time to take care of myself a little bit. I went to the gym today after a two weeks absence, and I am expecting a very painful body tomorrow. It is also time to get back into job hunting. There are no upcoming interviews that I know of, but at least I know my CV is being sent out.

There are biscuits and coffee, and you’re invited.

I just had a call from the company that I was close to agreement with about a job. They cancelled the position. The search continues.

The toilet in the new flat is blocked. I have been visiting my parents a lot in the past couple of days. They don’t seem to mind.

I’m in my new home.

The move went smoother than feared. Everything fitted well; the movers were brilliantly professional and helpful. The cats went into panic as expected, but it was the kind of terror that caused them to just stay quiet and hiding, which is the type of behaviour that stops them from disturbing the process too much and keeps me calm. They have been in their room since Thursday afternoon, and have been relatively peaceful since. Being the pessimist that I am, I’m expecting hysteria to hit soon.

Now boxes are open, and most things are already in place. The place is beginning to look more like a home by the minute. There is still plenty of work to do, cleaning, shopping, installing and arranging, but hopefully it will all be done by the end of next week.

Once the cats are settled well, I will start inviting people over.