Phone Protection.

[c/o Mr Nutcase] When Mr Nutcase got in touch with me about reviewing one of their custom phone cases I figured it sounded like a pretty good deal. However, given that I basically smashed my own poor Galaxy S3's screen to pieces at the office Christmas party I felt like a jazzy new case might be a bit wasted one me.

As Mr Nutcase sell cases for most phone models (as well as tablets), getting one for Moon's S2 seemed like the right way to go, allowing me to have a proper look to review it and let Moon get a new case to replace his trendy wooden one that broke a few months ago.

I went with getting pictures of our friends much like I did for my Casetagram case, there's quite a good choice of layouts to choose from but I must admit that the way you choose the type of case was a little confusing. I think image-wise, to be honest with you, I'd still pick Casetagram but for the price (starting at just £14.95) and the fact that you're getting a completely custom design for your phone, Mr Nutcase is certainly providing a purse-friendly option.

Life update in pix.

Feeling a lot better now that I have that 'article monkey' off my back. Now to regale you with some fascinating phone photos etc. Only three days left with Ink, super scary stuff, unemployment looming...

As I have mentioned in a few previous posts, I quite like the novelty of having a decent camera on my phone for quick snaps while generally out and about. While saying that, I must also say that the combination of working in an area with so many cool things and not having any money to do anything about it definitely the biggest downer when it comes to interning in Shoreditch, but that's down to the compulsive shopper in me.
I really love Maiden, a shop I intend to visit tomorrow but have passed every day for the last three and a half weeks.

It has the cutest sign outside with such nice things to say for itself, so enticing.

Tomorrow, I have made plans with Moon to soothe my urges to run amok in my lunchbreak and we're going to visit Spitalfields and a few pop-up things that are happening around Brick Lane this weekend. It's the antiques market tomorrow, which I'm very excited about because I didn't get a proper chance to snoop when I was there a couple of Thursday's ago, I adore anything Snooper's Paradise-y.

I never really know where I stand on taxidermy, as a great animal lover as well as a massive fan of the Natural History Museum. I'll probably have to put it out there and say that I quite like it, but you can't deny that this guy has character regardless of your feelings towards stuffed animals.

Regarding my previous statement, the more I see this guy, the more I feel a bit squeamish.

I'm really quite liking all the fog that we're getting at the moment, it makes the walk from home to the station so eerie. I do feel a bit sad that it's now usually dark when I wake up but I think I'm used to it now, I haven't even really been tired this week, despite it being my first actual full and proper five day working week.



This is my favourite outfit from this week, it was so cosy and I think this is my current favourite t-shirt, it's from Tee & Cake at Topshop, which is great but pricey.

So here is a more miscellaneous selection of photos from the last week or so, I'm a bit bummed that I wasn't able to keep as on top of it as I would have liked to, but I've been spending all day at a computer working and I think it would make it less fun if I made myself do this.

This is Ink's atrium, it's quite a nice place to sit, with a comfy sofa and you can nose on people on the other floors while they nose back at you.

I am the first to admit that I'm a fairly clumsy girl, but I never usually hurt myself. When it happened, I thought I hadn't, turns out I did, tripping up concrete stairs is never great. Still can't really kneel, I am an idiot.

Fave Pret lunch, cannot recommend it more highly, there are pistachios!

I met up with my friend Tom for lunch today at Liverpool St Station where there were lastminute.com men everywhere handing out free chocolate, I was running late so rushed past but Tom got two and gave his second one to me ♥. I nearly considered using the discount code inside, but then I remembered that I am poor, if anyone wants it there's 15% off at lastminute.com with the promo code: STAYCLASSY.

I have a few links and pictures saved up for a 'favourite things' post, I found a literal goldmine this morning. I plan to spend this weekend as far away from the computer as far as using it to catch up with Walking Dead as possible so watch this space but it won't be for a few days. Looking forward to getting my first session of Christmas shopping out the way as well as finding somewhere delicious to eat, and of course seeing Moon, I've seen more of regular commuters than I have of him this week. It still sucks that we're not able to live together yet.

Oooft, I should probably get some shut-eye, my lie-in is not very good tomorrow due to a driving lesson (which I still need to get on top of in terms of theory).

In further news, the Battlefront programme is on on Sunday at 8:40am, it seems like years ago, the trailer can be seen here, please don't watch it actually, I want to proof it first ;)

TY for the memo.

In case you hadn't noticed, it's apparently Halloween, this is not something I have an issue with in fact I enjoy Halloween as much as any post-student, but everyone seems to be getting in on the act. Maybe I'm feeling slightly bitter because all the people I would usually spend Halloween with are all over the country and I won't be doing anything.

I like scary movies and I like dressing up, I'll also stretch the Halloween theme and express my love for the colour orange, however, when it comes down to 'spooky' cocktails and popcorn, it's a bit strained. I understand that it's all fun but sometimes it's an excuse and it just looks stupid. I'm kind of glad that I'm not participating in Jack O'Lanterns this year, the gunk inside pumpkins stresses me out.

Here are some photos that I took within the space of a less than twenty-minute walk up Dorking high street.






All this talk of 'spookiness' and ghouls mainly means just one thing to me, bonfire night is soon and I will be able to enjoy fireworks.

(via HelloYou Creatives)

I'll end this with an apology for the moan, I'm all for skeleton tights, orange flowers and eating sweets, but I like my popcorn standard and drinks that aren't green, that don't contain every drop of alcohol that's on it's way out of date.

Wednesday 14th September.

Day 10 of 'keeping myself active', it certainly is weird to be home while knowing that in a week's time students will be returning to University and I won't be, probably ever again.

Thorpe Park yesterday was good, and it was great to catch up with my friend Laura too, who I haven't seen in ages. I think my favourite ride was 'Stealth', which I forgot was so fast. Probably the best freebie, I've had all year.

It was Mid-Autumn festival a couple of days ago and the moon looked beautiful, so I took the opportunity to get a snap. I don't think that it's quite as good as what I got when the moon was really big (Supermoon), but I like the result, especially as there was no tripod involved and I just took it from my bedroom window.

I've noticed more and more that a lot of bloggers seem to be posting photos taken with their phones, so here's a bit of a weekly digest. It's quite useful to have a camera on your phone, I used to hate the idea of it, but since I now have a decent camera on my phone I tend to use it a fair amount when out and about. Although an actual camera/my SLR (when I'm feeling strong) is obviously preferential.

Ed Sheeran paw prints outside Banquet Record Store, Kingston

Cute prizes at Thorpe Park that reminded me of Moon's drawings.

Sadly, despite being out all day yesterday, I had no replies from any jobs, but I do have a 'professional' blogging opportunity in the works, which I'll link to if I'm successful.

My second driving lesson went much better than the first one, which I'm very pleased about, I actually can't wait until I've had enough lessons and can drive off and around all over the place. I know I've still got a while to go yet, but it's still exciting, even though there's still things like parking to learn and the actual proper rules when it comes to the test.

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What I wore 14/09/11:

Cardigan: H&M
Dress: Primark
Belt: Primark
Tights: New Look
Nails:

Stripes: Models Own, Sophie's Pink
Models Own/WAH Nail Art Pen, White
Leopard Print: Models Own: Peach Puff (My new favourite colour)
Models Own/WAH Nail Art Pen, Black
It's back to the grind of the job hunting this afternoon, which of course I must write down in my Jobseeker's 'diary'. I just received a rejection for my application to Kingston Disney Store, darn, there goes my post-degree hopes and goals down the drain...

604.

So, I've been away from my computer basically all week to take a brief trip into the world of work. Yes! I finally got a job, albeit in the form of a trial period for an unpaid position. I was working for a company called Shoot Experience, based in Hackney. They are the organisers of the London Street Photography festival, so it was a good opportunity to gain more of an insight into a creative field, somewhere much more specific to my discipline.

I only worked for two days, but due to the fact that I was down in Dorking and was up before 7AM to travel for nearly 3 hours door-to-door both days, it felt like much longer, so I was pleased to sleep-in a bit this morning. I feel that I got quite a lot out of the two days though, although there was a fair amount of admin, such as printing, stapling and laminating, I was also able to frame a couple of pieces that Shoot Experience were auctioning at their Fundraising Event (which was tonight).
I helped to frame the Vivian Maier photo, which was valued up to £1,500, not to mention beautiful, very nerve-racking! I framed Lot 19 (Polly Braden & David Campany, Burnt motorbike on the Greenway) and Lot 4 (David Gibson,Audition) unsupervised though, so it was nice to be able to put one of the practical skills that I got from my degree to use. I also packaged a lot of the prints, which is what I spent most of the first day doing. Yesterday I did some online promotion for their new event 'Capture Tower Hamlets', a photography competition/heritage project based throughout the Tower Hamlets borough. < plug > Click the link to find out more, and if you're a photographer in the Tower Hamlets area you can capture a pre-2012 Tower Hamlets to preserve images for future generations < /plug >.

Despite the success of the last couple of days, I'm not resting on my laurels and have quite a few things lined up when I come back from France, but it would be nice to continue working with Shoot Experience for a few days a week if I'm able to. I'm not sure how things will be after my next two (yes, two) recruitment sign-up interviews, hope not all the jobs that they offer me are in 'sales' though... *cringe.
I think I had a photography-related answering machine message too but was unable to contact the caller back as they didn't leave a number - bit annoyed about that because I got all of this and last week's answering machine messages all in one go yesterday (of which there were nine so that was good), then my phone ran out of battery...

Anyway, if you're quite finished reading about my life, here is a feast for your eyes. I found a lovely café down the road from Shoot Experience called The Ginger Pig, it does beaut food, I went there both days because I was too lazy to find anywhere else, I had a pancake breakfast on Monday and Eggs Benedict on Tuesday, yum. I've also included a few others, including the beautiful sky we had on Monday night (it's been weird weather recently, hasn't it?!) and some gratuitous ones of my cat and my cousin's hamster. Most of these were taken on my phone but I don't think they're too bad, it can be quite nice to have a camera on your phone sometimes.

'Graduate Nightmare'.

If you follow me on Twitter, you will know that my current 'most talked about' topic is my ongoing job hunt. Hashtagging and talking about it generally has struck me up many conversations over Twitter as well as got me a couple of potential (but eventually unsuccessful) job offers.

Today I signed up for my first real-life recruitment agency since graduating in July and beginning my serious job hunt in May. I have been with a recruitment agency before, but only for temp work over the summer after the first year of University and it was only to earn a bit of extra cash, not to find a real-life serious job. It is looking as though this recruitment agency is going to be a similar case to the one I faced all those years ago. While it's nice to have a bit of extra money, I don't want to do catering and basic admin for the rest of my life, and I'm not really sure why I was told to come in if they didn't have any relevant jobs for me, they must have read my cover letter and CV before inviting me in?

I'm waiting on hearing back from another recruitment agency in a few days and have a prospective meeting with another one some time before I go away. When talking about this on Twitter, the response was 'Post-Grad hell', and it's probably a correct statement. It's becoming more and more disheartening as the time goes on. I feel like I'm definitely going to have to put my wants and wishes on hold and have to settle, for a stable job in recruitment or sales, not that I believe I would be competent in either role.

I have also discovered that all is not lost when it comes to my current 'Jobseekers' position, I can re-apply any time between when I went away and six months, meaning I can probably get back on it with no issues when I come back from France. It really upsets me that doing Jobseekers properly is kind of engaging me.
Things may be looking up slightly but only just, I contacted a Digital Media agency and they may have some graduate roles that are appropriate for me. I just really hope I get a response because I'm really interested in that area and to stay away from generic recruitment jobs and to be more specific to what I actually want is so much more appealing.
I suppose that I'm just feeling really worn down, particularly after the rejection I faced from a role I was really excited about. It should all be fine. I personally don't think the fact that I took a Photography degree is limiting, people do realise that degrees generally are quite academic, do they not? I'm a bit of a clever clogs, you know.

Here is what I wore to my sign-up 'interview' this morning, although I shouldn't really have bothered because it was pretty casual really. I'm off to a family party this afternoon, where I can discuss my failing job hunt and how difficult everything is. I'm not really as down as what I'm writing makes me seem, just frustrated. I want to be a real grown up.

Cardigan: H&M (borrowed from my sister)
Shirt: H&M
Belt: Dorothy Perkins (w/ dress)
Skirt: Dorothy Perkins
Tights: Primark
Shoes: New Look


Cardigan: H&M
Shirt: Dorothy Perkins
Trousers: New Look (love them, picked them up yesterday as final birthday gift to myself)
Shoes: Converse

Sorry these are just on my phone, the last few days have exerted a lot of energy.