One last little tweak...

...and that's it. Done. Never to be touched again.

Yep, so there are now just 2 days until applications are closed for the CRP for 2012ish positions. Last night I went in to my application - which was submitted in December, even before they opened - and edited my CV and the covering letter.

I'm not sure why, it was obviously good enough the first two times I got on to the Waiting List, but I feel like I've learnt a little bit more since I've been at my work placement about how employers receive these kind of things, so, phooey I edited it.

Recently of course, with me having to apply for lots of jobs and actually feeling more enthused about getting a career in general, the whole issue of where my life is going has been more prevalent in my mind. As any of you who have ever applied for the CRP will know, you have to apply so far in advance that planning for the future is a lil hard!

This time around, that's been stepped up a whole notch, with Yummy Jobs and Disney Recruitment looking for people to start work in what potentially could be 18 months time. Talk about limbo.

Enough about that though: what will be, will be. Let's just say I don't envy Yummy Jobs staff in March, having to sort through thousands of applications and sort out the Waiting List from the previous interviews...

On a nice note, yesterday was pay day! Disaster almost struck when I spilt drink on my laptop keyboard, but since I'm writing this now, all seems to be well. I've hardly started paying this laptop off yet, so that would not have made me a happy bunny at all!

So I've been keeping up with various people's blogs/vlogs recently and apparently some of you have actually been reading what I randomly compose, so massive thank you Emma for saying nice things about my blog. Those blogs I'm particularly enjoying are Vikki's http://www.mydisneyjourney.co.uk and Myah's http://doddi92.tumblr.com and Suzie's http://suziewdwcp.blogspot.com
So a big thank you to them and to everyone else who blogs for allowing me to live a lil Disney magic through you all! Keep up the awesome work, especially so you can have a record for years to come of all you got up to. Occasionally I start from the beginning and read my whole blog: it amazes me what it has bourne witness to and reminds me of all the little things I'd forgotten.

Ummm massive amounts of good luck (can't believe I haven't said that yet!) to everyone whose application is in for this round of apps. It's been great to chat on WDWIP about all the ups and downs of this journey we're on together, so be happy the first milestone is almost upon us. Two days til that's it, the apps are officially under review. Thanks heavens for February only having 28 days!

Other things that I'm happy about (apart from the fact my laptop isn't dead!!) is that my JobSearch day has been switched to a Friday, which means now that the weekend starts at lunchtime Friday for me! Soooo good because I only have one day off a week - now its 1.5 days!

So Tom's in his flat, Sarah's in the Cassel, I'm at my work placement, Ellie's been to Istanbul and is teaching Yr 4, Jenny is pregnant (well excited!!) and life goes on.

Charlotte (my Momentum buddy) and I have set a provisional date of April sometime to meet up in London as she's going travelling at the end of March for a little while. We also have another potential buddy - Joy - who may join us at Momentum.

Have everything crossed for those still on the Waiting List as I know how hard it can be to be them.

What else can I tell you of my life, the universe and everything in it? Probably not a lot (will probably think of it after I post this blog).

Toodles!

I happen to think this is the cutest photo ever! So I'm posting it here:

Maybe I'll blog....?

Maybe I am!!

So you may be asking yourself "Oooh, I wonder what amazing thing has happened in Vicki's life since she last blogged, to warrant a new entry?" Answer = nothing.

So why am I blogging?? Not sure really... (You can tune out, stop reading, go on Facebook etc, if you're bored at this point)!

WAIT! I have news...

1. Oh who cares about laying it all out neatly and under headings. Plus I can't really think of heading right now. On with the show!

Today it is exactly 6 months until Momentum!!!! Hooray for counting down to important events. Charlotte - who I'll be camping with - and I are geting to know each other very well and getting on like a metaphorical flaming abode. We have loads in common and think quite a lot of things the same, so its been really exciting and encouraging to make a new friend. So I'm well hyped for the summer!

Of course, the other great occurance of the summer is Keswick and I'll be heading to London on 12th March for the prayer day, where I get to see the one-and-only Miss Ruth Gill and possibly visit some of my favourite shops.

There are 9, yes 9 days until applications close for the CRP for positions in 2012. E*X*C*I*T*E*M*E*N*T!! As ever there are many, many people on the WDWIP forums all in ardent discussion and various stages of nervousness etc.

Placement continues to go swimmingly. Jenny and I get along very well together and get along fine with all the staff in the office. Sometimes we have quite exciting stuff to do, other times we do shredding, stapling and copying! Although the excitement of this week is that we got to learn to use the binding machine...!

What else??? The weather is naff at the mo, so my "commute" to work isn't as pleasent as it could be, but with my trusty ipod by my side then it goes quicker! On the subject of ipods, I'm considering the merits of purchasing an ipod touch...one with 32G of memory. However timing is tight to get a good deal.
Watch this space...

So "maybe I'll blog" has turned in to a blog, but not one of any great substance. I'm considering the creation of a bucket list of things I'd like to do in Florida, but I don't want to be too optimistic...yet! I may save that for a future blog.

Cheerio!

*EDIT* Sunday 20/02/11

I hate Argos

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

UPDATE early hours of Monday 21/02/11

I now have 73 things on my Wish List for Florida, should I ever have the immense fortune to be accepted to spend a year there!

The Cost of the Dream

So I was intrigued and pretty worried about the exact cost of completing the Cultural Representative Program and so I decided to actually bring all the info I've gathered together and get a grand total. Here goes!

Pre-acceptance costs

Since I've gone through the Application Process twice, I can give you a pretty accurate idea!

Clothes for the interview £30

Travel to & from London, as well as Tube £23

Accomadation in London £30

Food and sundries in London £15

Post-acceptance costs

This is what I've found out from seeing a lot of people prepare for their departure over the past couple of years:

CRB check £36

Visa fees:
1. Cost of call to the US Embassy to book appt £10
2. Visa fee ($150) £97
3. Travel to & from London, as well as Tube £23
4. Accomadation in London £30
5. Cost to have Passport returned to you £15

Program Assessment Fee ($100) £65

Flight (depends when you go...) £300-450

Insurance (for just 4 months) £200
OR
Insurance for the whole year £500

Let's face it, there'll be some shopping to do £60

The G*R*A*N*D T*OT*A*L would be £ 925 - 1375

Then you have to consider the fact that there is money to be paid out almost as soon as you arrive:

Travel from the airport to Vista Way Housing Complex

Your first trip to Walmart that day (including a cell phone!)

Eating out/hanging out/going out in the first fortnight

Paying your first fortnight's rent

Perhaps buying Annual Passes to Universal, Busch Gardens & Seaworld

So there's all of that to begin paying out when you first arrive. You don't start work that is paid for almost a week, and then that's only training so not full time. However you still have to pay housing rent from day one(!)
Annual Passes Cost (for Florida residents!):

Universal Studios = $159.99 ~ monthly payments of $8.04
Seaworld = $79.99
Busch Gardens = $77.99

Hmmm, very much money eh? Tell me about it!
Well all we can do is look to the future and wait & see.
If I don't get in this won't mean anything...meh!

Pah to Argos and other news of note

So yeah, since I teased you all on Facebook, I thought I'd better tell you all what's going on!

1. The Placement

This is the Community Task Force thing that I mentioned in my last blog. From now on, I'll be referring to it as just "placement" or so as not to confuse people who might think I'm still at Uni, I'll call it "work".

I knew straight away I wanted an admin placement, because countless job vacancies I've looked at and though I might go for, ask for experience. So then I'll have it...
Each week we have to do a day's worth of jobsearch, so that's what I'll be doing each Monday too. Hopefully then, I'll be able to find a job(?)
So far I've done filing, spreadsheets, petty cash payouts, answering the phone & taking messages, shredding etc. I'll probably get to do more as time goes on!

I'm still a little bit wary but I guess I'll settle in as time goes on! I'll be applying for jobs tomorrow, so watch this space...

Which is just as well really, because Argos has just announced that they're cancelling our time and a half pay for Sundays. Bad idea to tell us that when on that self same day we have to do our Speak Out Survey. I may have made a few choice comments.

2. Fun Stuff and Summer Plans

So I was moping around Facebook a few days ago, thinking how I was going to miss out again this summer on Momentum because of having no-one to go with.
I was on the Momentum facebook page and I saw a post from a girl who was going alone and for the first time. So I posted after her saying I wanted to go and would be alone too and did she want any company...
So she replied and said yes and so we messaged back and forth and she's really nice and so I booked to camp with her and I'm going we're going to Momentum!

I haven't applied to be on Team for Week C yet at Soul Survivor, but I still feel really strongly about it so I haven't ruled it out yet!

It's also less than 6 weeks until I see Ruth in London for the Keswick Prayer day! I booked my Sundays off of work today for the above events, so that was all good too!

3. Disney news

The Waiting List has actually moved - 2 people at least have got places, so I'm hopeful for all of the others, especially Megan. We have a month now until applications for this round of interviews close, so all the waiting is beginning to get to some people. I'm used to it by now, but it doesn't get any easier!

Ummmm, what else is there to say? Nowt, I believe.

OH YES! How could I forget? Tom has a flat, Tom has a flat! He's moving in to his own little place. This came as a complete suprise to me, because he thought he'd told me, but he actually hadn't! Men.
He moves on February 5th, so not long now! Good luck and have fun Tom. I await my invite to a totally happening house-warming partay!

February soon! Hooray for Pancake Day, boo for Valentine's Day!
Bye!

The times they are a-changing...

So, hello everyone. This blog is mostly cos lots of things are happening and are either up-in-the-air or a bit weird. Also, its an update.

1. JobCentre related stuff.

I'm back at the JobCentre now and cos I've been signing on for suuuuch a long time I have to do a mandatory community taskforce placement. Oh yes. A mandatory placement! On the 25th at 10am, I will find out what this placement will be and where... *bites nails nervously*

2. Job-hunting and plans for the immediate future

I am job-hunting of course. Lack of experience (for example for admin/office jobs) and lack of transport are the main problems for me right now.

In other plans, I really feel called to serve on the Kids Team at Soul Survivor Week C and then to stay on to Momentum the following week.
The main issue here is that I'm scared to go on team on my own and I have no-one to go to Momentum with...

3. Disney related stuff

So applications opened on January 5th and were due to close around the end of that month for what Yummy Jobs (the Disney recruiters) said were positions starting July-December 2011.
People on the WDWIP forums were confused because as far as we could see there was a large Wait List from the last interviews and no-one had been given a start date later than September 2011.
Then the Yummy website changed and displayed this information: "Applications are open from January 5th 2011 to February 28th 2011. We are currently accepting applications for positions primarily starting in the latter half of 2011 and early 2012. Applications will be reviewed in March 2011 and all applicants will be responded to by early April 2011". That was last night.
This evening I had an email in my inbox from Yummy Jobs which I assume was sent to everyone whose application had already been submitted:
Greetings and Happy Belated New Year!

Thank you kindly for your online application for Disney’s Cultural Representative Program.

Applications officially opened on January 5th 2011 and will close at midnight on February 28th 2011 – we’ve received an amazing (huge!) response already, so thank you for your interest!

We have received an update from Disney on their recruitment plans for this year and next and we wanted to let you know a timeline for when you will be receiving a response to your application.

Once applications have closed on February 28th 2011, just six weeks away (!), all applications will be reviewed throughout March 2011. You will receive an emailed response by approximately mid-April to let you know if you will be invited to the next stage of the application process or not. ALL applicants will be responded to so please check your junk mail in case any emails slip in there!

The Disney Recruiters may be looking for applicants to start the program throughout 2012. Of course, as always we may have positions starting earlier than 2012 which will be discussed with you individually if you are invited to the next stage of the application process. This is great news as they may be looking to fill positions over a longer period and not just a few months!

Applicants who are invited to the next stage of the application process will be given details at that time of the following stages and timelines, and any updates at that point.

Best of luck with your application and we look forward to contacting you in the coming months!

Kindest regards,

The Yummy Jobs Team

Soooo on one hand a lot of people were annoyed because (1) they have a life and may not want to start that late (2) they have a life and have given notice at jobs/need to submit university applications (3) this is quite a change from anything Disney/Yummy have done before.
On the other hand " this is great news as they may be looking to fill positions over a longer period and not just a few months!" to quote the aforementioned email!

In other more mundane - but nonetheless hilarious - news, my parents (especially my Dad) have become obsessed with the Wii ever since I bought myself Wii Play for my birthday 2 weeks ago. Its very funnny to watch (in a good way of course) and I'm glad to have finally got them in to it after all this time!

I'm doing some invigilating this month: one session down, two to go!

The new Spring- Summer Argos catalogue comes out in 8 days!! We have to attend a preview evening at work, so I'll know all of the secrets pretty soon! Until then I'll content myself with the Clearance sale!!

That's it really. I'll report back when I know more!

Love n chuzzles!

Shall I let you in on a secret......?

So today is the 5th January 2011 and today may not be a special day for most people.
Unless your birthday or anniversary happen to fall on this day.

However the 5th January this year is quite a special day for me and a small group of others up and down the UK.
You see, today is the day applications open - with Yummy Jobs of course - for the Disney Cultural Representative Program in the UK Pavillion at Epcot.

Guess what?

That's right, for the third time, I am submitting my application for review by Disney recruiters. This time, there's no hype, I just did it on the spur of the moment, having made some modifications to my CV and covering letter.

Soo, applications open today (that's when they are reviewed for the first time) and the number they get will - I guess - determine how quickly they close them again!

Michelle Park is also applying again - the only difference is, that she's done a Program before and I haven't!

So this round of applications open 5th January and are for positions starting July to December 2011. So they're going to have to move the process along quite quickly!
That's the one bizarre thing. The other weird thing is that a number of people have already been accepted for the UK CRP for positions right up to September 2011! There are also a number of people on the Waiting List who have been told they will be on there until March 2011 for positions starting in the summer...

Who knows eh?

Yummy Jobs have changed the application process since the last time around, so I don't know and no-one else does either. I'm going to play it by ear and keep it on the down low. At the same time, I need to step up my game in preparation for the interviews!!

* Wish me luck! *

Good Morning 2011

I'm typing this blog after 11pm on December 31st 2010, and will publish after midnight so that it becomes my first entry of 2011 and will be published on my 23rd bday. Hooray!

So I'm gonna do a little bit of looking forwards and a little looking backwards here.

Some happy memories of 2010:

O Spending the weekend in London with Ruth for her 21st where we were also attending...

O Tom's Baptism!! Where Sarah and I were sponsors and got to read a verse that we'd chosen. It was Proverbs 3:1-12 from The Message.

O Spent the day in Camden - some of it was just shopping but I was actually there for an interview/info session. Fell in love with Camden on that day.

O Started at Helenswood as an invigilator, which I already mentioned, but one of the good things is that I've been able to put my previous experience to good use. I was in sole charge of my first big exam last month and in the New Year round of exams, I'm with withdrawn candidates throughout - another sign of trust!

O Not a memory as such, but got a Christmas card from Joan Tumblety (my old tutor from uni) who told me to definately keep in touch! Good news for her, she's getting published by Oxford Uni Press in the New Year. She's a brill lady.

O My 22nd celebrations are a definate happy memory :-) Going to see We Will Rock You in London and seeing Tom and Sarah really enjoy themselves was awesome. Especially when Sarah then took her parents to see and they enjoyed it too. We ate out beforehand at a fab restaurant on the Strand called Salieri.

O Decorating my room and then being able to go in and see the finished item and sleep in there and spend time in there with it just as I planned it! Cooool.

So that was looking back to 2 0 1 0, now as for 2 0 1 1... what am I hoping to achieve or rectify etc?

O Must learn to drive again!! No good having a car and a license and not being able to use them (except the license when I want alcohol!)

O Must continue with the home improvements and sorting/chucking out of superfluous stuff so we have a house that is nice enough to have people round and maybe even get some money for all the stuff we got rid of...?

O Must look after myself more. Now this may be not eating so much junk food, it may be getting more active; I don't know, but its important.

Now on to the biggest, most important and life significant stuff:

O Truly important is to get a job. A real, full-time, properly paid, fulfilling, rewarding, graduate-worthy job. Hastings has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, but it is possible and can be done. Watch this space...

O Once I have a proper job, I'll have my Sunday's free and be able to commit to a church. To have a real church family here in Hastings would be awesome, but while I can't drive and don't have Sundays free, its been a no-go. Tsk tsk.

Thus, things can only get better next year. Its all to play for in 2011 (20 mins to go!)

I'LL LEAVE THIS BLOG WITH SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT SUCCESS

FIRST, ONE I FOUND ON FACEBOOK THAT MADDY HAD POSTED:

The road to success is not straight.

There is a curve called FAILURE, a loop called CONFUSION, speed bumps called FRIENDS, red lights called ENEMIES, caution lights called FAMILY and flat tyres called JOBS.

BUT, if you have a spare called DETERMINATION, an engine called PERSEVERANCE, insurance called FAITH, and a driver called JESUS, you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.

SECOND, FROM THE BIBLE, FROM MATTHEW 6 & 7:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also... 6:19-21

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 6: 24-25

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 6: 33-34

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 7: 7-8

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 7: 13-14

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. 7: 24-27

Happy New Year to one and all. What will 2011 bring to each of us...? Well here it comes, let's see!

:-D