Yes, the title says it all! I’m starting a new job on Sunday.

The papers were signed today, and it is finally safe to celebrate!

Here are a few statistics:
It has been 200 days since I was sacked.
I have been unemployed 169 days so far, and the final tally will be 174 days of unemployment.
By the end of the week, I will finish my 100-days unemployment allowance, so my job is coming in a very good timing.
I had a total of 30 interviews, some went better than others.

Now I need to start calling the numerous (I lost count) recruitment agencies I’ve been working with, and start spreading some disappointment. The funny thing is that I found my job through an advert on the company’s web site, which means all these agencies ended up being useless.

I haven’t written for quite a while, so I just wanted to let you know that there’s nothing to worry about, I’m still here and all is well. There just hasn’t been much to write about lately. I have gone into a routine of unemployment, which is kept by visits to the gym, the Unemployment Service (only three weeks to go), and the occasional interview. I would have loved to make better use with my time, but with the weather being too hot for any outdoor activity, and shopping centres being too crowded with kids on summer break, there isn’t that much that can be done. I also can’t commit to anything which may be disturb by my return to work, which I hope will happen very soon.

For any readers out there who may be worried about the current situation in the Middle East, I would like to reassure you that I am far away from all the trouble and my family and I are just fine. I do have some friends in the north that I am constantly concerned for. They were offered a place here in the centre, but they insist on staying at home, and to be honest, I can understand their point. Hopefully, everything will be back to normal very soon, and this won’t go much further, because if it does, there might be a real disaster which no one really wants. I must admit that the resent days have been the second time I have been following news since I moved back to Israel six years ago (the first time being after 9/11). Even for someone who hates news, politics and war as much as I do, this is just too important to ignore. There is too much at stake.

Being the cynic that I am, I wish Depeche Mode won’t cancel their upcoming gig in Tel Aviv which I already have tickets for. (However, if they do end up cancelling, I know of at least one E. who would say “I told you so” for his claims made many months ago). Meanwhile, dreams of gigs to come are up on Sfirat Haong (in Hebrew), so enjoy them while they last.

Guy from Haoneg gave his loyal readers the chance to make a difference by introducing the Haoneg Countdown (Sfirat Haoneg). Every weekday from yesterday (the weekday after Devendra Banhart’s first gig in Israel) to August 4th (Blonde Redhead’s gig), a post will be published, written by a different reader every day, in which we can write about a band that we want to see playing here, in Israel.

Today, my post about the Reindeer Section is on. You are most welcome to switch over to Haoneg to read it in Hebrew (or go directly to the post). Otherwise, you can stick around and read the translation.

You can also read an old review of Son of Evil Reindeer here.

Welcome, all Haoneg readers!

The Reindeer Section

The task is not easy: to chose just one artist or band that I would like to see performing in Israel. How does one chose? Does it have to be only one? I just have to be a smartarse! I want The Reindeer Section!

There is nothing as wonderful as putting all of Scotland’s greatest talents under one wide umbrella, and waiting to see what happens. And I am not the first one to think so, Gary Lightbody (from Snow Patrol) thought about it before me when he started the Section. He has a lot of good friends, Gary, enough to start a band of twenty odd people, with parts of Mogwai, Arab Strap, Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub and Mull Historical Society (which is actually just one guy), and many more, and make good melodic music, with lyrics full of sad sarcasm (at least if you understand the accent).

Although the Section hasn’t done anything together since 2002, when they did it was great, and now it might be possible to add a bit more, say, My Latest Novel or even Franz Ferdinand?

So I’m a smartarse because I want to be, and because I want the whole of Scotland in Park Hayarkon, and if possible, throw in a loch or two and a bit of rain in the middle of summer, then it would be absolutely amazing. (Would it be too much to ask for men in kilts?).

You have been sectioned!

I’m out of coffee!!!

P.S. Proper posting will be resumed very soon.