job-centre-plus | Adrian Phelan

Adrian Phelan

Post 5

Five will make you get down now

I’ve reached post 5 and I need to be careful not to become a caricature of myself. I’ve rounded off each of the first four with thanks, but having reached this mini-milestone I wanted to bring that to the top. I really am grateful that you’ve stopped by. If I could ask one more thing, it would be if you could tell a few people about the blog and share the link so they might read it. If you do that, I promise not to go ahead with the miniature printed version I was going to bring out as a stocking-filler for Christmas.

What have you come as?

Happy Halloween. It’s great that it’s on a Friday this year, with no work the next day. Oh yes, work; I did some of that this week. First time I’ve dipped my toe into something non-comms related for over 20 years and what an experience. It’s also the first time I’ve been in the office five days in the one week since before the pandemic. I’ve had to resurrect shirts I haven’t worn since I was in my early forties; and I only have white trainer socks. I’ve looked like I’ve been dressing up for Halloween all week. I need to go shopping at the weekend. Everyone in the team is lovely though, especially the colleague who is training us (a reminder it’s a customer services role) and I am very grateful for the opportunity. Ultimately, I’m glad to do something where I’m helping people while I’m searching for the next career move. On that, one thing I’ve totally forgotten to do in the blog is share my LinkedIn profile so here it is.

Boss

My film recommendation this week comes with a nice side story. I went to see ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ and on the way out I met a lady who was a big fan of The Boss and by accident had attended the London premiere of the film, sitting just rows from the man himself and the other stars of the movie. Her daughter had bought the tickets for the screening not knowing it would also be the premiere, so what a result. She was still beaming and showed me a few pictures. She didn’t quite catch the movie in the detail she wanted to which is why she had come again. For those who are fans, she thought it was great. I thought it was worth 3.5 stars out of 5. However, I’m now on my second warning from Cineworld for talking to strangers so I’ll have to keep myself to myself for a while. I don’t want to be barred before I’ve seen the second half of Wicked.

Two casts in a pod

I know I don’t look old enough, but I moved to the UK 30 years ago last month. Someone I met on the very first day (at university Halls) was good friend Martyn Housley-Smith. Martyn is a talented and entrepreneurial teaching professional and has his own podcast which explores issues and topics surrounding education and learning. In the latest episode he chats to Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Lucy Shoolbred who among her many roles was a consultant on the Netflix series Adolescence. Such is the growing reputation of the podcast that Martyn has been able to secure guests of Lucy’s calibre. I’m chuffed for Martyn and what he has achieved and so not to scupper his efforts I’ve agreed not to discuss our nights down at the students’ union.

A second podcast recommendation is this week’s episode of A question of Science hosted by Professor Brian Cox who along with a panel of experts asks the question ‘Who owns space?’ I was actually in the audience for this one and if you listen carefully you can hear my distinctive clap. This is one of several episodes, all of which are worth a listen.

Do Good Well

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Prunella Scales this week. I’m a huge Fawlty Towers fan and although she was elderly, I think it’s still always poignant to find out when such iconic figures leave us. In her honour I’m sharing links to Dementia UK and Dementia Ireland. Do check them out and support if you can.

Bye until November

I can’t believe it’s November tomorrow. It comes as a surprise every year. And once Halloween is out of the way there’ll be no avoiding the ‘C’ word so brace yourselves.

Have a great week and stay safe on bonfire night.

Adrian

07974669338

adrianphelan@hotmail.co.uk

Adrian Phelan

Post 4

You can always go, Downton

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m proper posh. I’ve never watched Downton Abbey, but I went to see the film the other night, and I came out thinking, ‘Where have you been all my life?’ I would totally fit in there; my major stress being managing luxury. And I’d look great in the clobber. I think I heard an Irish accent among the cast. It should have been me. I’m going to talk a bit more like Pierce Brosnan for a while as part of the job seeking strategy so bear with me if I bump into you in Waitrose.

How can I help?

Some news on the job front. It looks like I’ve landed a customer services role at a council for the next three months (ink not quite dry). I’m not sure what the sensitivities are so I won’t expand on it for now. However, for those looking, I went to a job fair on Wednesday at a Job Centre Plus and had a good chat with the Royal Mail rep. It looks like there’s quite a bit of work going for delivery drivers including a bit of postie work so if you’re looking, consider it.

What a few months it’s been – the serious bit

Now that I’ll be starting work again, I’ve been reflecting on my emotional journey since I found out I was leaving my last job and here are my thoughts. I had five weeks’ notice to the end of my contract. That was five weeks where I had to deliver in the current role alongside pondering/worrying what will happen when I finish. However, when I finished, all the pressure of delivering in the role was lifted and I just had the one focus, finding a new job. I was walking around with half the weight on my shoulders gone. From that point I also had autonomy over my days, and although I had a job to do to find that next opportunity, I was my own boss. It remained vital to performance manage myself, but sod it, if it was 2.30 in the afternoon and 25 degrees outside, I also owed it to myself to go down to the local lido and make the most of it. I could then work that little bit later into the evening. I need to be employed and I know that, but I will leave this phase grateful for the chance to be ‘me’ a bit more. ‘However, as Dolly Parton sang, ‘Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living’. So onwards and upwards. (I know it’s been a hundred years since someone said that).

Setting a president

I didn’t want it to be overly obvious that I am Irish, but I think it was given away with the whole filim thing. Anyway, Ireland chooses a new president this week. The voter turnout will be interesting (In fact everything about proceedings will be interesting) and I am curious as to who wins. With two female candidates the forerunners, the likelihood is that the winner will be female. Our current President, Michael D Higgins (Google him now) will be a hard act to follow for a number of reasons, but whoever wins I wish them well.

Do Good Well

I had a tremendous response to the Big Issue picture I posted, so carrying on that vibe. The vendor I bought from didn’t want to be photographed which is fine but perhaps I should have asked before I suggested we did a video of the two of us singing ‘I’ve Got You Babe’. That would have been classic.

It’s Black History Month and if I was still working part of my day would have been promoting this so as we’re approaching the last week of the month I want to give it a quick plug.

Feedback and thanks

Next week’s post is likely to focus on the fact that the clocks have gone back an hour. Even though I know it’s coming, I won’t be able to believe it’s happening. However, if among the confusion you get a minute, do let me know your thoughts on the blog. You can contact me about this or anything at adrianphelan@hotmail.co.uk

Adrian Phelan

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Adrian’s All – fairy tales of a jobseeker

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