Geraint Roberts - Ramblings of a would-be published novelist

May muddling

So May approached and we still had a wacky situation. Half of the family in England, half in Wales. Aile in work, me not. Lots of tension everywhere. Great.
I got a few knockbacks - at least two were turned down because of my limitrations of the Welsh language. It persuaded me that I had to go for another week's intensive course in Nant Gwrtheyrn in the Welsh language. It was tough - learning Welsh in Welsh when my confidence was low. What I gained from it was a will to engage strangers in Welsh and keep trying. The scenery was still beautiful in that lost valley on the Lleyn. I'll have photos soon.
It also meant that I decided that living in Northampton was not helping me find work in Wales, so I am now in Aberystwyth with the rest of the family. Evelin greeted being shifted two weeks earlier with a bit of a tantrum, but there we are. It was going to happen.
I now have 10 applications outstanding and one interview pending. These range from managing a dental practice to Train Driver to manager of a gold mine! I have been advised my cv is too long.
Big news on the house front though, we have a buyer for ours and have had an offer accepted on a nice place in Llanilar, some 7 miles from Aberystwyth town. A very lovely valley, the Ystywth. With a prevailing wind, we hope to be sorted asap! Things are moving fast, at least for now.
Writing wise - the first 200 words of my novel is included in the Leicester Writers Club showcase anthology, published today! i haven't managed to do much writing - I hope this will change soon. Publishing my photos of Nant Gwrtheyrn may spur me to write a travelog and the new novel is stuck. Should he go and work in Stafford or stay in Aberystwyth for the short term. There's a case for both. That's the easiest of my worries! When I have some time, I need to knuckle down and send the original novel to a publishers for appraisal.

posted by Geraint @ 10:41 pm 0 comments

April rings the changes

Frankly, I'm glad to see the back of it and move on! I wasn't used to unemployment and my great desire to seek immediate re-employment fell on deaf ears. A buzz of excitement when I landed back to back interviews, but both fell foul in the end.

I had a horrendous interview for an Assembly post, was kept waiting for ever and then subjected to some hard-nosed bullying that threw me totally off the path. I had the impression they didn't want me, well the tart remark that followed me taking a sip of water as I sat down was testament to that in hindsight. Well off out of that bunch, spoke to a few people around and the department is notorious for bureaucracy and customer 'service'. Where on earth would I fit in? :)

On to rachels and again kept waiting. this time, they were probing but interested and about 1000% more respectful. I missed the cut, there were people there who had better backgrounds. Shame in some ways, it seemed a very friendly company. Onwards and upwards (I still buy the yogurts!)

Felt as if nothing would happen, then Aile got work in a garage in Aber and before I knew it, the family was in two locations. Aile, Gareth and the cat in Aber. Me and Evelin in Northampton and the hard work just started! The atmosphere shall we say has been fraut in Wales, settling into an existing family routine at my parents. I was just about at my wits end and to top it, our dream house went. Ah well, onwards and upwards. Carry forward 6 applicatipons and move onto May, things change there.

posted by Geraint @ 10:47 pm 0 comments