Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. ~Confucius

Now I don't believe there is a job that anyone can love through and through which they would rather go to than stay cosy in bed...but there has to be something close. That is what is keeping me up. I tols myself I'd have an early night and get an early start on my dissertation. However, I started thinking about jobs.

So now I'm restless.

I started thinking of all the things I want to learn. There are so many language courses I want to do and the truth is, if I'm still working where I am now doing the 3pm-8pm shift 4 nights a week, I'll never be able to do any.
Now I know what you're thinking. I haven't finished my MA yet. That's true but I after that, I won't be learning anything else and I don't have two lifetimes to afford to cram what I want in to. I have just one.

I need a job that gives me evenings free so I can take the courses I want to take. I don't expect to absolutely love a job but I want one I can at the very least like. I want a job where I'm valued; it doesn't rule my life (mainly so I can dedicate my free time to the courses I want to do) and maybe something that is just a bit creative - maybe.

I need to get doing work experience, internships or something. I need to keep looking. This is my 70th blog and I have less than 70 days before the start of September which is not only my dissertation is due but also when I'm aiming to be doing something else.

Just one more thing.......

In honour of the great TV detective Lt Columbo, I have used his famous catchphrase. I was sad to hear Peter Falk had died. I love Columbo. I've always wanted to own every Columbo episode but money doesn't permit this at the moment. I love watching it at the weekend if it's on. I am also definitely going to get a copy of his book.

My other favourite detective is Sherlock Holmes, but I prefer to read Conan Doyles' narrative than watch an actor try to portray him.

This title seems appropriate for this blog too because today I got rid of just one more thing as I have now finished marking exam papers and marks have been submitted.

I have just one more thing to focus my energy on. It's a biggie: My dissertation.

I do have a job hunt as well, but one thing at a time.

Getting there......

I managed to go to the gym yesterday (although it feels like today as I've not been to bed yet) and I managed to do an hour (600 calories burnt according to the machines) which is more than I've been able to do in the past. I've never managed to keep up a steady pace to burn that much. I feel like I've made a breakthrough now and I can keep going but I can't go until Friday.

I was going to a careers fair tomorrow (or later today) but I don't think I can handle it. I'm knackered. I'm not prepared the way I want to be and I've still got loads of exam papers to mark and they all have to be done by the 27th June. I need to submit some more marks tomorrow too. I still want to go to the graduate fair on Thursday though which is why I think I'll have to hold off on the gym until Friday.

I didn't manage to mark as many exam papers as I wanted so I've got a wake-up call arranged (mum is ringing me) as my constant 9am alarm is too late. My aim is to start marking at 9.30am and keep going until I've made a sizeable dent in the number left. I'm in work at 3pm so if I do three or four hours of marking before it should set me on track. Please let me be motivated to do this.

There are really only two requirements when it comes to exercise. One is that you do it. The other is that you continue to do it.

I got this quote from www.quotegarden.com which came from something with 'diabetes' in the title.

I did well last week and I know I need to keep it up. The only thing is now I feel like I should be doing other things - like marking exam papers and cracking on with my dissertation. But I also know I need to get into a good exercise routine. I feel so good after exercising and I'm trying to watch what I eat - easier said than done.

I also need to start getting up earlier so I can fit everything into the day. As when I come back from work (at 8pm) I don't always feel like doing anything important. For this, I need an alarm clock. I used to have one that broke some years ago and then I started using my phone and this is now broken - well it is stuck at 9am and I can't change it because the trackpad on my phone is stuck.

I definitely need to go to the gym tomorrow. I need to get up a bit earlier and my aim is to have marked 25 exam papers by the end of tomorrow.

I'll update my other blog tomorrow if I manage it.

Ich habe noch einen Koffer in Berlin

On 9th July I've got an interview for a job in Berlin. Just for 10 weeks but it's scary. I also need to decide if it's the best thing for me to do right now. I'm not sure sacrificing a secure job for a 10 week work placement is sensible if I have no job to come back to. I want to start having money again and I want to be able to do a few more things I've always wanted to. I'd love to go back to Berlin, I loved it there. I'd love to gain some work experience there. I'm just not sure that if I get the job that's it's going to be a good idea.

The quotation belongs to Marlene Dietrich