So I sit here frustrated as all hell, a little worried with a sprinkle of screwed, blogging. With TAFE finished for the year, and summer holidays now very much in progress, I've noticed that this wasn't the way I wanted to spend it. Rather being all cryptic like, I'll be straight forward with this blog.
Towards the end of TAFE I had two plans which revolved around my holidays.
Plan #1 - Work at Safeway but get my hours reduced to like 10hrs a week or something, and get a full-time job during the day. I was looking at places like Cotton On and JayJays as a Christmas casual. I wanted a day job where I work during the day, and since the stores aren't open late, it gave me time at night to relax, or do a shift or two.
Plan #2 - Work at Safeway with increased hours, and get some work experience with a design firm. This could have tired me out something shocking, as I'd need to work a lot to live, and do work for free during the day.
I then decided I wanted to use this summer to make money, so I can save up for uni in a couple years, and worry about experience next summer. So I started looking for a second day job, and applied for a couple, but no responses. I thought, 'No big deal, I can keep looking, I still get a income from Safeway'
The last two weeks of TAFE, which was the busiest time of the year with assessments due, work was giving me 20-25hr weeks, which I just couldn't do. The first week I did it, and I ended up going to TAFE on the Wednesday from 9-5, came home to work on assessments, then went to work from 8-3am, then continued working on assessments, pulled an all-nighter, went to TAFE on the Thursday from 9-5, then worked from 8-12am, then finally slept. This killed me, and I knew I couldn't do this again, so I left a note at work saying I couldn't do some shifts the next week. I went in and did the shifts I could, checked next weeks roster, only to find no shifts....
That wasn't such a big deal because I could of lasted one week without work, but then I was hoping for a phone call. Fast forward 3-4 weeks now, and still no shifts. I approached the department manager about it and he said there was no work around, which was BS. Anyway, the main point is, I haven't had work for about a month now. This is the summer holidays where I want to work a lot, and the irony being they gave me work when I couldn't do it, and haven't given me work when I can.
So there goes that plan.
I thought then, f' them, I'll find a new job, which hasn't ended in the desired result. Most jobs around the area are for skilled workers, like for today's paper for example...
Graduate accountant
GIS contractor
Chef
Truck drivers
Presser
Quad dog driver
Shed erectors
Tyre fitter
They were the bulk of jobs, I could not find a job I could apply for. Sure there was a Trainee aftersales assistant, but I'm not looking for a traineeship because I already have a large study commitment. Saturday's paper was not much better, advertising jobs for teachers, professors, accountants, drivers, everything under the sun which I couldn't apply for.
If I'm to find a job, I need like a cafe job (low money and crappy work, but requires next-to-no experience), or a pizza delivery driver, or another supermarket job. Thought about the old Maccas, KFC and that, but I've applied for them jobs about 8 times each, and I've figured out why I can't get a job. Why would they want to pay a 22 year old $21/hr when they could get a 16 year old to work for $10/hr....
My brother then encouraged me to apply for a job as a designer/draftsman/anything in industry they may have for me. So I got a resume all done up, got a portfolio of my work for the year gather up in a nice display folder and hit a few builders. You can read about my efforts below.
It would appear most places wouldn't be hiring until the new year, so I need to hit it again after that. But, it still leaves me jobless, and the possibility of being jobless until the new year, which isn't good at all. I've applied for Centrelink again, and waiting to get a letter back from the landlord so I can continue with it, which might be able to keep my head above water for the time being, but certainly not to live.
So now that vision I had for summer, care-free, fun, hanging out, working and all that junk, has been dismantled. I now face a stressful summer, with no money go out and enjoy and reward myself, having to deal with banks and phone companies and looking for work. It's funny, I remembered I wrote a blog about looking for a job, well now it's time to practice what I preach.....
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life & Times
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Path That Lead Me Here
It's 1:44am, since about 3:00pm, maybe a bit earlier, I've been working on a design for a beach-house, I had all the plans drawn in AutoCAD, but I wanted to practice Revit, seeing it will be the main program next year. I got the floor plan up, walls, roof, landscaping, and even been working on neighbouring properties (very basic however, just to show context), and I even added in the beach and ocean. Then after the program crashed and lost a bit of my work (just some neighbouring buildings, and the beach/ocean extended) I sat back, compressed my anger, and in that moment I thought back to around this time last year where my journey started. Below is a quick render of the beach house I've been working on, still not completed, but getting close.
I remember being 15 or so and buying a landscape program where you could design your own gardens for houses, and I had so much fun with it. I then also got a job working for a lady down the street doing her gardening and small landscape projects (mostly me digging a trench in summer). It seemed I had quite an interest in gardening, uhh I mean landscaping, especially the design. Actually, it seemed I had a keen interest in just design, as for about a week when I was 16/17, I wanted to be a graphics designer, then there was the trial as a sign writer. Anyway, not part of the main story.
While I was living in Melbourne working at Safeway, I was browsing Seek.com.au hoping to find a way out, then I stumbled across a job ad. "Landscape Design Apprenticeship" I don't have the ad in front of me anymore, but basically it was an apprenticeship to become a landscape designer (not an architect) and this was exactly the thing I've always wanted to do. So I applied for the job, sadly, I did not get it. While the outcome was heartbreaking, it did spark something, so I researched landscape architecture courses, landscape design courses and the like, emailed landscape architects and went on this mad spree about this field.
I spoke to a landscape architect who informed me it was very difficult to get a job, and maybe I should consider architecture. This got me thinking, so I looked up architecture courses and saw the UAI required and my heart sunk. You needed something like a 93 or something crazy like that, and I did not come anywhere near that in my UAI. Then again, I'd be applying as Mature-Aged Student (ha! far from mature but) so the UAI was not a big factor, then I read about portfolio, work history and all that relating to architecture. The closest I had was some landscape work as a 15 year old kid, and some very, VERY, minor labouring hours with my dad.
While I was looking up architecture jobs on seek, and there was heaps out there, I saw some for building designer. Putting all my faith into Google, it popped up! Not legally an architect, but allowed to design buildings. Perfect! Requirements was a TAFE qualification which ran for 3 years, and there were a few places that offered it, including two campus' close to where I was living at the time, and Wodonga.
When I was able to, I changed my uni preferences (which were up until that point all health/fitness related) and chucked the two nearby campus, which was NMIT, as 1st and 2nd, Wodonga as 3rd, RMIT 4th, and a couple architecture courses for the rest.
So after countless emails between both NMIT and Wodonga, a interview with Wodonga was set-up and I was very exciting. I got all dressed up, in a shirt, vest, suit pants, my sexy black shoes, and I think I even had a tie, not sure, jumped in my car and head down to Wodonga. Now I'm not sure exactly the date, but basing it on my work roster, it had to have been a Wednesday, because I spent all day down in the Donga. I remember leaving at a beautiful 4am, as my interview was at 11am, and I like to be early, punctual is very important. I made such good time I got there a bit too early, and with it only being 9am, not many places were open to kill time, so I just went down to the river and sat on the bench, sipping on a Red Bull.
That time rolled around and I headed to the campus, where I met a old, but very nice fellow, Tim O'Keefe. Little did I know this man would become the greatest teacher I've ever had, but that's a whole different blog. Most interviews I've heard is that you need work, or a portfolio or something, but I didn't have that, all I had was me and my personality. So he asked me a bunch of questions, including why I wanted to study the course, any exposure to building design at all, and my skill level of computers. There was some extended truths, but all-in-all I think it went well, and he informed me looking over my answers, I'd get a place in the course. This was such great news to hear, but then it forced me to decide where I would study, live, work.......
After catching up with a friend, and the family, I made the trip back to Melbourne, returning at like 11pm or 12am or something like that. A couple days later I was emailing NMIT, trying to organise a interview, but there was a lack of communication, even when I tried ringing. Then a week later I got a letter from Wodonga TAFE saying I got an offer into the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) and if I wanted a spot, I had to ring an attend orientation day. At this moment I wanted to stay in Melbourne, so I sent NMIT an email saying that they were my top preference in my VTAC, and that I got an offer from Wodonga, and I wanted to know if I had a chance of getting a spot because I couldn't get a interview in. I got a email back the next day saying that if I didn't get a offer, give them a ring and they would work it out.
A week or so passed and I made the decision to go to Wodonga, as Melbourne was expensive, my lease was running out, housemates were ditching me (can't blame them but!) and needed to find somewhere to stay. All of these con's made me decide to move back home, which had lots of positives.
When the offers came out, I wasn't in a mad rush to check as I already had a place in the course I wanted, but was interesting to see what I got. Turns out I got my first preference of Advanced Diploma of Building Design & Technology (pretty much exactly the same course I think) at NMIT Preston Campus. I had instructions of attending their orientation day and enrol, however, I declined the offer and did the exact same with Wodonga.
Looking back, you can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if I took the NMIT offer. At the start of the year when I was jobless, broke and the like, Melbourne looked so much better. But if I go to imagine now, it is scary because I've made some very good friends, the teachers have been great, and I even met the girl of my dreams until she crushed my heart! Ha, not really, I was just friend-zoned, hope she doesn't read this, oh well. So if I took the NMIT, I wouldn't have met her (and we are now very close friends), BUT, I would of had my job at Safeway still, continuing to earn an income, I had a couple close friends from work but I'm sure I would have made heaps at TAFE. If I just had a offer accepted for a room in Melbourne, everything would be different, apparently it's like some movie where a butterfly flaps it's wings and everything ca change.
It has been a bumpy path, council should really look at filling in the potholes, but am I happy where I am right now? Well, I just completed my first year of TAFE, and even though it's just TAFE, it's actually a huge accomplishment because I have been so use to quitting right near the end of completing things. I now live in town with a bunch of nice homies, and it sure beats travelling 200km a day, or sleeping on a couch, or sleeping in my car. I've made some awesome friends where I believe lots of beverages will be consumed between us all. Downsides? After working all year, well, since May, work has been so kind and given me a lovely holiday, which is a pain being a casual employee, they can do that.
Right now I am imagining my life if I took the NMIT offer, and here is what I can gather. I would of had low money troubles because I had a contract with work, so I had set hours every week, all I would have done was either switch some shifts around, or lose 1 or 2, but then apply for Centrelink and get some back. I know for a fact, if I'm in the same environment, whether it's work, school or sport, everyone ends up loving me, so I would have made plenty of friends at TAFE. That's about all I can see, which means my year would have been fairly cruisey, which would have been great compared to the year I've had, but again, that's a whole new blog.
So do I regret my decision? Not at all! I've had a very up-and-down year, I've shared some good times with great people, and look forward to continuing it in the new year. I kind of went of track a bit from my main point, which was, I started out wanting to do landscape design, then landscape architecture, then architecture, but ended up doing building design, then looking to do architecture in a couple years. Wow, my whole blog summed up in 28 words, hope you enjoyed reading all the crap I just spilled! Til next time....
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life & Times
I remember being 15 or so and buying a landscape program where you could design your own gardens for houses, and I had so much fun with it. I then also got a job working for a lady down the street doing her gardening and small landscape projects (mostly me digging a trench in summer). It seemed I had quite an interest in gardening, uhh I mean landscaping, especially the design. Actually, it seemed I had a keen interest in just design, as for about a week when I was 16/17, I wanted to be a graphics designer, then there was the trial as a sign writer. Anyway, not part of the main story.
While I was living in Melbourne working at Safeway, I was browsing Seek.com.au hoping to find a way out, then I stumbled across a job ad. "Landscape Design Apprenticeship" I don't have the ad in front of me anymore, but basically it was an apprenticeship to become a landscape designer (not an architect) and this was exactly the thing I've always wanted to do. So I applied for the job, sadly, I did not get it. While the outcome was heartbreaking, it did spark something, so I researched landscape architecture courses, landscape design courses and the like, emailed landscape architects and went on this mad spree about this field.
I spoke to a landscape architect who informed me it was very difficult to get a job, and maybe I should consider architecture. This got me thinking, so I looked up architecture courses and saw the UAI required and my heart sunk. You needed something like a 93 or something crazy like that, and I did not come anywhere near that in my UAI. Then again, I'd be applying as Mature-Aged Student (ha! far from mature but) so the UAI was not a big factor, then I read about portfolio, work history and all that relating to architecture. The closest I had was some landscape work as a 15 year old kid, and some very, VERY, minor labouring hours with my dad.
While I was looking up architecture jobs on seek, and there was heaps out there, I saw some for building designer. Putting all my faith into Google, it popped up! Not legally an architect, but allowed to design buildings. Perfect! Requirements was a TAFE qualification which ran for 3 years, and there were a few places that offered it, including two campus' close to where I was living at the time, and Wodonga.
When I was able to, I changed my uni preferences (which were up until that point all health/fitness related) and chucked the two nearby campus, which was NMIT, as 1st and 2nd, Wodonga as 3rd, RMIT 4th, and a couple architecture courses for the rest.
So after countless emails between both NMIT and Wodonga, a interview with Wodonga was set-up and I was very exciting. I got all dressed up, in a shirt, vest, suit pants, my sexy black shoes, and I think I even had a tie, not sure, jumped in my car and head down to Wodonga. Now I'm not sure exactly the date, but basing it on my work roster, it had to have been a Wednesday, because I spent all day down in the Donga. I remember leaving at a beautiful 4am, as my interview was at 11am, and I like to be early, punctual is very important. I made such good time I got there a bit too early, and with it only being 9am, not many places were open to kill time, so I just went down to the river and sat on the bench, sipping on a Red Bull.
That time rolled around and I headed to the campus, where I met a old, but very nice fellow, Tim O'Keefe. Little did I know this man would become the greatest teacher I've ever had, but that's a whole different blog. Most interviews I've heard is that you need work, or a portfolio or something, but I didn't have that, all I had was me and my personality. So he asked me a bunch of questions, including why I wanted to study the course, any exposure to building design at all, and my skill level of computers. There was some extended truths, but all-in-all I think it went well, and he informed me looking over my answers, I'd get a place in the course. This was such great news to hear, but then it forced me to decide where I would study, live, work.......
After catching up with a friend, and the family, I made the trip back to Melbourne, returning at like 11pm or 12am or something like that. A couple days later I was emailing NMIT, trying to organise a interview, but there was a lack of communication, even when I tried ringing. Then a week later I got a letter from Wodonga TAFE saying I got an offer into the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) and if I wanted a spot, I had to ring an attend orientation day. At this moment I wanted to stay in Melbourne, so I sent NMIT an email saying that they were my top preference in my VTAC, and that I got an offer from Wodonga, and I wanted to know if I had a chance of getting a spot because I couldn't get a interview in. I got a email back the next day saying that if I didn't get a offer, give them a ring and they would work it out.
A week or so passed and I made the decision to go to Wodonga, as Melbourne was expensive, my lease was running out, housemates were ditching me (can't blame them but!) and needed to find somewhere to stay. All of these con's made me decide to move back home, which had lots of positives.
When the offers came out, I wasn't in a mad rush to check as I already had a place in the course I wanted, but was interesting to see what I got. Turns out I got my first preference of Advanced Diploma of Building Design & Technology (pretty much exactly the same course I think) at NMIT Preston Campus. I had instructions of attending their orientation day and enrol, however, I declined the offer and did the exact same with Wodonga.
Looking back, you can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if I took the NMIT offer. At the start of the year when I was jobless, broke and the like, Melbourne looked so much better. But if I go to imagine now, it is scary because I've made some very good friends, the teachers have been great, and I even met the girl of my dreams until she crushed my heart! Ha, not really, I was just friend-zoned, hope she doesn't read this, oh well. So if I took the NMIT, I wouldn't have met her (and we are now very close friends), BUT, I would of had my job at Safeway still, continuing to earn an income, I had a couple close friends from work but I'm sure I would have made heaps at TAFE. If I just had a offer accepted for a room in Melbourne, everything would be different, apparently it's like some movie where a butterfly flaps it's wings and everything ca change.
It has been a bumpy path, council should really look at filling in the potholes, but am I happy where I am right now? Well, I just completed my first year of TAFE, and even though it's just TAFE, it's actually a huge accomplishment because I have been so use to quitting right near the end of completing things. I now live in town with a bunch of nice homies, and it sure beats travelling 200km a day, or sleeping on a couch, or sleeping in my car. I've made some awesome friends where I believe lots of beverages will be consumed between us all. Downsides? After working all year, well, since May, work has been so kind and given me a lovely holiday, which is a pain being a casual employee, they can do that.
Right now I am imagining my life if I took the NMIT offer, and here is what I can gather. I would of had low money troubles because I had a contract with work, so I had set hours every week, all I would have done was either switch some shifts around, or lose 1 or 2, but then apply for Centrelink and get some back. I know for a fact, if I'm in the same environment, whether it's work, school or sport, everyone ends up loving me, so I would have made plenty of friends at TAFE. That's about all I can see, which means my year would have been fairly cruisey, which would have been great compared to the year I've had, but again, that's a whole new blog.
So do I regret my decision? Not at all! I've had a very up-and-down year, I've shared some good times with great people, and look forward to continuing it in the new year. I kind of went of track a bit from my main point, which was, I started out wanting to do landscape design, then landscape architecture, then architecture, but ended up doing building design, then looking to do architecture in a couple years. Wow, my whole blog summed up in 28 words, hope you enjoyed reading all the crap I just spilled! Til next time....
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life & Times
Friday, December 17, 2010
Lolly Day
Quite possibly the greatest day ever, as a kid we use to have 'Lolly Day'. "What is lolly day?" Glad you asked, during our primary school days, once a fortnight (back then I didn't really know what a fortnight was, so I'm taking a stab) our dearest mum would pick us up from school, in her usual spot, then pull up outside the corner shop. She would proceed to give us $1 each and we got to spend this on lollies!
Now this is going to make me sound really old, but back in my day you could get heaps of lollies for a $1. Around the start of the footy season this year I went to the same shop and bought some lollies for pre-game and half-time consumption. This was the first time I bought lollies like this for a long time, so I thought $1 would be sufficient enough, oh how wrong I was! $1 got me next to no lollies, and it made me depressed!
Back when I was a kid, I remember my favourite lollies being red frogs, racing cars (especially the blue one, this is probably what started my blue cruiser obsession), milk bottles, strawberry's and cream and pineapples. On occasion I'd go for the chocolate frogs, or a packet of fads or big bosses, but why settle for something less than the best.
Of course there was times when we would get $2! This usually occurred after a trip to the local doctor for needles, or we got a good report card. I will admit, I never got $2 Lolly Day for a report card, but, I did get $2 Lolly Day for doctor trips!
These were very fond memories of my childhood, and I still remember one day catching mum stealing lollies out of my bag as I went to get a drink, and me feeling angry. That is, until she tried to give the lollies back she had in her mouth, than I felt a bit ewwey and let her keep the lollies.
This was a simple, affordable option of rewarding us, or just giving us a treat. Sometimes we could get the ultimatum of either having a larger item such as ice-cream or a mars bar and miss the next lolly day, or miss the ice-cream and have that lolly day and still keep the next one. Sometimes it was worth getting the ice-cream, although, there was time where we could buy Paddlepops with our $1! But of course you wouldn't scwonder a potential 2 lolly days on something like a paddlepop or billabong, you would go a heaven or heart (which was mum's favourite ice-cream, so if you got this, you had to be prepared to share).
One day if I am to ever find a girlfriend (hey it could happen!), to whom would become my wife (I'm delightful, no reason why she wouldn't want to marry me), then would then bear me a child or 8 (I would hope she would have sexual intercourse with me), I think I will employ the same ritual and give my kids Lolly Day! However I don't think it would be $1, maybe with inflation it would be maybe $100, but them whippersnappers probably won't have racing cars and red frogs!
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life & Times
Now this is going to make me sound really old, but back in my day you could get heaps of lollies for a $1. Around the start of the footy season this year I went to the same shop and bought some lollies for pre-game and half-time consumption. This was the first time I bought lollies like this for a long time, so I thought $1 would be sufficient enough, oh how wrong I was! $1 got me next to no lollies, and it made me depressed!
Back when I was a kid, I remember my favourite lollies being red frogs, racing cars (especially the blue one, this is probably what started my blue cruiser obsession), milk bottles, strawberry's and cream and pineapples. On occasion I'd go for the chocolate frogs, or a packet of fads or big bosses, but why settle for something less than the best.
Of course there was times when we would get $2! This usually occurred after a trip to the local doctor for needles, or we got a good report card. I will admit, I never got $2 Lolly Day for a report card, but, I did get $2 Lolly Day for doctor trips!
These were very fond memories of my childhood, and I still remember one day catching mum stealing lollies out of my bag as I went to get a drink, and me feeling angry. That is, until she tried to give the lollies back she had in her mouth, than I felt a bit ewwey and let her keep the lollies.
This was a simple, affordable option of rewarding us, or just giving us a treat. Sometimes we could get the ultimatum of either having a larger item such as ice-cream or a mars bar and miss the next lolly day, or miss the ice-cream and have that lolly day and still keep the next one. Sometimes it was worth getting the ice-cream, although, there was time where we could buy Paddlepops with our $1! But of course you wouldn't scwonder a potential 2 lolly days on something like a paddlepop or billabong, you would go a heaven or heart (which was mum's favourite ice-cream, so if you got this, you had to be prepared to share).
One day if I am to ever find a girlfriend (hey it could happen!), to whom would become my wife (I'm delightful, no reason why she wouldn't want to marry me), then would then bear me a child or 8 (I would hope she would have sexual intercourse with me), I think I will employ the same ritual and give my kids Lolly Day! However I don't think it would be $1, maybe with inflation it would be maybe $100, but them whippersnappers probably won't have racing cars and red frogs!
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life & Times
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The Search For The Job - Day 1
This isn't any old job search, this is the search for THE job. "What is THE job?" you ask, well, basically it's just a job in the industry of building design. If you know me, or have read some of my blog, you should know I've been studying the Advanced Diploma of Building Design at Wodonga TAFE, and just completed my first year. I now have holidays in which I want to work in industry and gain some invaluable experience.
Our search began a couple days back after sending my brother my resume for him to tweak, and myself preparing a portfolio of some of my work for the year. Everything was fully completed yesterday afternoon, both resume and portfolio, and then it was a matter of tracking down who to go see first.
After making a list of prospective employers this morning, I got all dressed up in my vest, tie, shirt and pants, and headed out. First stop was Hadar Homes...
I approached the building, and actually felt a wee (hehe, wee) bit nervous, but I pushed that aside. I spoke with a man, Travis, where I told him what I studied and what I was after. He informed me to get hold of their manager Andrew, as he handles all that business, and he looked like next year should be busy for them. I told him that this was the type of place I'd like to work, and I grabbed Andrew's business card. Travis did tell me Andrew is very difficult to get hold of and track down, but just keep being persistent and it will pay off in the end. I left Hadar Homes confident.
I pulled up at Metricon next, and I didn't get very far as they were closed from 12-1pm, and it was 12:09, so I got back in my car and hit the road again...
The next place was Davis Sanders, and appeared to be most promising as my dad is mates with the manager Murray Pidgeon. I entered the building, and approached the reception lady and asked to speak to Murray Pidgeon, and the lady was going to see if he was available and asked if I wanted to wait. I plopped myself down on the couch and was just flicking through one of their architecture magazines, then a few minutes later a woman entered the seating room. It took me a second or two to realise who it was, and it was, drum roll please...................................................... One of my teachers from TAFE! It was very unexpected, and she told me this was her part-time job. The funny thing is, yesterday when I was doing some printing for my portfolio I saw her and told her I was preparing to look for industry work, so to see her the next day in the circumstances is a bit of a bonus.
We had a quick chat about everything, and she told me a Year 2 student was on work experience at the moment, and I was the second person to enquire there, so it kind of put me second-in-line for a job if some open up. However, she told me there wouldn't be anything until the New Year, than I realised, that was only 2-3 weeks away anyhow. I gave her my resume, but only really for contact details because with her being my teacher, she said she knows what I am capable off. Which is a bonus, as long as it doesn't involve model making, because I suck at that! So I left there fully once again full of confidence, and ready to hit Simmond Homes.
The rest of my adventure is kind of boring and unpromising, so I'll quickly go over them. Simmonds Homes I left a resume there, and plan to call Monday to see if the manager received and acknowledged. I then went to Southernvale Homes where I left my resume, grabbed the business card of the manager, and the reception lady said she'd pass on my resume to the manager, but not feeling confident there. Last visit was Metricon, again, but it was quickly shut down as all the design work is done in Shepperton, 2 or so hours away, and all they had in staff was construction workers and herself.
So all-in-all, not a bad day putting my name out there. I just left a voice message for Andrew at Hadar Homes, and just waiting on a call-back. With it being so close to Christmas and the new year, I may not have high chances of employment until 2011, but when it does come around to that time, hopefully I am the first person in their minds. Davis Sanders should be promising as I have two strong connections, my father and my TAFE teacher, and Hadar can be just as good if I stay on top of it. Sadly, after all the work I put in my portfolio, which wasn't really much at all, no one looked at it, as all the managers were either busy or not in the office.
Next step is to either approach design/architecture firms, or to approach specialised builders such as Apollo Patios and the like. Stay tuned for more...
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life And Times
Our search began a couple days back after sending my brother my resume for him to tweak, and myself preparing a portfolio of some of my work for the year. Everything was fully completed yesterday afternoon, both resume and portfolio, and then it was a matter of tracking down who to go see first.
After making a list of prospective employers this morning, I got all dressed up in my vest, tie, shirt and pants, and headed out. First stop was Hadar Homes...
I approached the building, and actually felt a wee (hehe, wee) bit nervous, but I pushed that aside. I spoke with a man, Travis, where I told him what I studied and what I was after. He informed me to get hold of their manager Andrew, as he handles all that business, and he looked like next year should be busy for them. I told him that this was the type of place I'd like to work, and I grabbed Andrew's business card. Travis did tell me Andrew is very difficult to get hold of and track down, but just keep being persistent and it will pay off in the end. I left Hadar Homes confident.
I pulled up at Metricon next, and I didn't get very far as they were closed from 12-1pm, and it was 12:09, so I got back in my car and hit the road again...
The next place was Davis Sanders, and appeared to be most promising as my dad is mates with the manager Murray Pidgeon. I entered the building, and approached the reception lady and asked to speak to Murray Pidgeon, and the lady was going to see if he was available and asked if I wanted to wait. I plopped myself down on the couch and was just flicking through one of their architecture magazines, then a few minutes later a woman entered the seating room. It took me a second or two to realise who it was, and it was, drum roll please...................................................... One of my teachers from TAFE! It was very unexpected, and she told me this was her part-time job. The funny thing is, yesterday when I was doing some printing for my portfolio I saw her and told her I was preparing to look for industry work, so to see her the next day in the circumstances is a bit of a bonus.
We had a quick chat about everything, and she told me a Year 2 student was on work experience at the moment, and I was the second person to enquire there, so it kind of put me second-in-line for a job if some open up. However, she told me there wouldn't be anything until the New Year, than I realised, that was only 2-3 weeks away anyhow. I gave her my resume, but only really for contact details because with her being my teacher, she said she knows what I am capable off. Which is a bonus, as long as it doesn't involve model making, because I suck at that! So I left there fully once again full of confidence, and ready to hit Simmond Homes.
The rest of my adventure is kind of boring and unpromising, so I'll quickly go over them. Simmonds Homes I left a resume there, and plan to call Monday to see if the manager received and acknowledged. I then went to Southernvale Homes where I left my resume, grabbed the business card of the manager, and the reception lady said she'd pass on my resume to the manager, but not feeling confident there. Last visit was Metricon, again, but it was quickly shut down as all the design work is done in Shepperton, 2 or so hours away, and all they had in staff was construction workers and herself.
So all-in-all, not a bad day putting my name out there. I just left a voice message for Andrew at Hadar Homes, and just waiting on a call-back. With it being so close to Christmas and the new year, I may not have high chances of employment until 2011, but when it does come around to that time, hopefully I am the first person in their minds. Davis Sanders should be promising as I have two strong connections, my father and my TAFE teacher, and Hadar can be just as good if I stay on top of it. Sadly, after all the work I put in my portfolio, which wasn't really much at all, no one looked at it, as all the managers were either busy or not in the office.
Next step is to either approach design/architecture firms, or to approach specialised builders such as Apollo Patios and the like. Stay tuned for more...
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life And Times
Sunday, November 28, 2010
My Life
Right now it's 3:52am, Sunday morning, and if you are wondering, no, I am not drunk. I finished work at midnight, Sunday morning, came home, and had so many thoughts swimming through my head. I did however do the usual facebooking for a little bit, but being a Sunday morning, most people are out, enjoying themselves. Once 1am rolled around, and still felt sleep was far away, I engaged the activity of watching a movie, The Other Guys. It was a good movie to watch, as I needed a laugh, and it provided me with plenty. However, still couldn't sleep, so I did a little bit of home work, mostly fine tuning and getting ready to print and hand everything in on Monday, then after half-an-hour or so, maybe more, I thought I'd force myself to sleep. Sadly, I laid in bed, eyes closed, brain wide open, thoughts buzzing around, unable to turn it off and sleep. With it raining outside, a run does not seem fit, so I am hoping, with this very personal blog, I can clear my mind, then fall asleep.
It is now 4:01am, and I will try and get everything off my mind. Usually I would send a facebook message to a very close friend, however, over the past couple days I have sent her messages and to send her another one close to the same subjects as the other, I feel like I am just annoying her with my "problems" So everyone who reads my blog, you are acting on behalf as my close friend (Although, I don't think you can replace her)
So where do I begin with all this? I think the most prevalent issue at hand is money based, and is the most worrying. You would think going 2 weeks without any potential income would be no biggie, as in the last 21 months (Since Feb 2009), I have spent 8 months unemployment with no real income (or 38%) Last year, if you have been reading, or know me, I lived in Melbourne for the year, so it was a big change, and I went to Melbourne with about $250 saved and a paycheck going in on Wednesday night, which included annual leave payout, oh and a job in telesales. This year, I left Melbourne, where I was stable, and moved back home. Seemed like the cheaper, better decision at the time, however, I moved back thinking I'd get a transfer right away to another Safeway store. I started my nightfill job in May.
In Melbourne, around this time of the year, I was making enough money to cover my living expenses, and had a little play money some weeks, I was living with people who I considered pretty much family, I was in a good job where I had a bunch of work friends (even a co-worker who I had a mo-off with), didn't work a Saturday night (actually I may have worked 3 Saturday nights during the year) and from them work friends I developed several close friendships. And, I'm not exactly sure, but I may have got a job as a Christmas Casual at CottonOn, or it may have been a couple weeks later. Anyway, the point is, this time last year, I was stable, secured, care-free and was having fun.
Fast-forward to now, and let's see. I am unsure on my hours at work because I am a casual, I never can have a social life thanks to work rostering me on Saturday nights (I think I had maybe 5-6 Saturday nights off since I've started work, which has been 6 months), I pretty much live in my car for 3 months before finding a room to rent, I can never go see my friends in Melbourne because either I have no time or no money. Work always, for some reason, gives me a lot of hours when I can't do it, mostly due to TAFE. However, once I finish TAFE and able to work as much as possible, I get next to nothing.
I feel like, if I had stayed in Melbourne, my entire life would be different. Some might say that this year has made me a stronger person due to the hardship I have faced. I say, what's the point facing hardship when it could of all been avoided if I didn't accept the offer from Wodonga TAFE and went to NMIT to study Building Design. If I did that, I would have still had a job which I could have tweaked the hours to suit my study, but still had a steady, stable income, I would of had a place to live, and I would of been around my Melbourne friends.
I look back on this year and I think to myself, what have I seriously accomplished this year? I mean sure, I've nearly finished my first year at TAFE but big whoop. I failed a couple assessments, and got marks well below what I wanted. TAFE I mucked around, didn't pay attention at times in class, was a smart arse to teachers and co-students, and pretty much acted like I did in high school. That attitude in high school is what set me up to what will be a very hard blog to write in the near future. Back to my original point, to be honest, I feel like I don't deserve to pass. If I get told by the teachers I will need to re-submit the year, I wouldn't be surprised, I'd be mad and annoyed, but not surprised. My designs were foolish, not well thought out, and weren't taken seriously at times.
Right now I am staring down the barrels to what can be a very bumpy road leading into Christmas. I don't have a rostered shift for the next fortnight, and on Wednesday, I will be getting paid like $150-$200. I have a massive phone bill to pay, so don't be surprised if you go to ring and you get told the number has been cut. I have rego to pay, and my car has been unregistered for a couple days, so I have the potential to be fined heavily for that. I got the usual loan to pay, and my weekly rent. On top of that, food, petrol and other household bills. All in all, $200 won't do much for a fortnight, maybe longer.
I have to sit and hope that my phone rings every afternoon, asking if I want to work that night. If not, it will not be a very merry Christmas at all. I know lots of people have it worst than me, big woop, so does that mean my feelings don't mean a thing? All my life I have given up, or quited, or something along those lines, and right now, I feel like quitting. I mean sure, I've made a couple friends this year, but apart from that, I feel like I've accomplished nothing this year. Right now I'm considering going to the op shop, buy raggy clothes and a hat, sit on the sidewalk, and hope people drop some spare change into it. I mean I've been a bum for 9 months, may as well make a living like one.
There is so much more I could divulge, and let out, but I am hoping what I have here is enough to allow me to sleep. With the time being 4:40am, I am looking to a Sunday pretty much wasted because of this insane bed time. Anyway, I am signing out now, hoping to catch some shut eye.
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life & Times
It is now 4:01am, and I will try and get everything off my mind. Usually I would send a facebook message to a very close friend, however, over the past couple days I have sent her messages and to send her another one close to the same subjects as the other, I feel like I am just annoying her with my "problems" So everyone who reads my blog, you are acting on behalf as my close friend (Although, I don't think you can replace her)
So where do I begin with all this? I think the most prevalent issue at hand is money based, and is the most worrying. You would think going 2 weeks without any potential income would be no biggie, as in the last 21 months (Since Feb 2009), I have spent 8 months unemployment with no real income (or 38%) Last year, if you have been reading, or know me, I lived in Melbourne for the year, so it was a big change, and I went to Melbourne with about $250 saved and a paycheck going in on Wednesday night, which included annual leave payout, oh and a job in telesales. This year, I left Melbourne, where I was stable, and moved back home. Seemed like the cheaper, better decision at the time, however, I moved back thinking I'd get a transfer right away to another Safeway store. I started my nightfill job in May.
In Melbourne, around this time of the year, I was making enough money to cover my living expenses, and had a little play money some weeks, I was living with people who I considered pretty much family, I was in a good job where I had a bunch of work friends (even a co-worker who I had a mo-off with), didn't work a Saturday night (actually I may have worked 3 Saturday nights during the year) and from them work friends I developed several close friendships. And, I'm not exactly sure, but I may have got a job as a Christmas Casual at CottonOn, or it may have been a couple weeks later. Anyway, the point is, this time last year, I was stable, secured, care-free and was having fun.
Fast-forward to now, and let's see. I am unsure on my hours at work because I am a casual, I never can have a social life thanks to work rostering me on Saturday nights (I think I had maybe 5-6 Saturday nights off since I've started work, which has been 6 months), I pretty much live in my car for 3 months before finding a room to rent, I can never go see my friends in Melbourne because either I have no time or no money. Work always, for some reason, gives me a lot of hours when I can't do it, mostly due to TAFE. However, once I finish TAFE and able to work as much as possible, I get next to nothing.
I feel like, if I had stayed in Melbourne, my entire life would be different. Some might say that this year has made me a stronger person due to the hardship I have faced. I say, what's the point facing hardship when it could of all been avoided if I didn't accept the offer from Wodonga TAFE and went to NMIT to study Building Design. If I did that, I would have still had a job which I could have tweaked the hours to suit my study, but still had a steady, stable income, I would of had a place to live, and I would of been around my Melbourne friends.
I look back on this year and I think to myself, what have I seriously accomplished this year? I mean sure, I've nearly finished my first year at TAFE but big whoop. I failed a couple assessments, and got marks well below what I wanted. TAFE I mucked around, didn't pay attention at times in class, was a smart arse to teachers and co-students, and pretty much acted like I did in high school. That attitude in high school is what set me up to what will be a very hard blog to write in the near future. Back to my original point, to be honest, I feel like I don't deserve to pass. If I get told by the teachers I will need to re-submit the year, I wouldn't be surprised, I'd be mad and annoyed, but not surprised. My designs were foolish, not well thought out, and weren't taken seriously at times.
Right now I am staring down the barrels to what can be a very bumpy road leading into Christmas. I don't have a rostered shift for the next fortnight, and on Wednesday, I will be getting paid like $150-$200. I have a massive phone bill to pay, so don't be surprised if you go to ring and you get told the number has been cut. I have rego to pay, and my car has been unregistered for a couple days, so I have the potential to be fined heavily for that. I got the usual loan to pay, and my weekly rent. On top of that, food, petrol and other household bills. All in all, $200 won't do much for a fortnight, maybe longer.
I have to sit and hope that my phone rings every afternoon, asking if I want to work that night. If not, it will not be a very merry Christmas at all. I know lots of people have it worst than me, big woop, so does that mean my feelings don't mean a thing? All my life I have given up, or quited, or something along those lines, and right now, I feel like quitting. I mean sure, I've made a couple friends this year, but apart from that, I feel like I've accomplished nothing this year. Right now I'm considering going to the op shop, buy raggy clothes and a hat, sit on the sidewalk, and hope people drop some spare change into it. I mean I've been a bum for 9 months, may as well make a living like one.
There is so much more I could divulge, and let out, but I am hoping what I have here is enough to allow me to sleep. With the time being 4:40am, I am looking to a Sunday pretty much wasted because of this insane bed time. Anyway, I am signing out now, hoping to catch some shut eye.
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life & Times
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Project 001... The Bathroom
After getting drunk and throwing darts at a board, I finally landed on a topic to blog about first. I will be blogging about my very first project in my course, which was to design a bathroom.
The brief was fairly straightforward, design a bathroom to house a bath, shower and toilet, using the space of 2000mm by 4000mm. Before I go through the design, below is the floor plan and 4 elevations of the room.
The brief was fairly straightforward, design a bathroom to house a bath, shower and toilet, using the space of 2000mm by 4000mm. Before I go through the design, below is the floor plan and 4 elevations of the room.
At the time I thought this was great design, looking back, there is some alright features, but there is a lot to change. However, to run through the design, the shower is an open shower with a recessed base. The vanity is of basic design, and the basin in the corner is of a cylinder design. The toilet is your basic toilet, but where the main feature comes in is the bath, which connects to the C-Bus system.
I like to think I have revolutionised baths with my design, as the bath I design is so amazing, so brilliant, so, there isn't enough words in the entire universe to describe just how good of a bath it is. When you step into the bathroom for a bath, you select your mood on the keypad located just at the door. You might of had a hard day at work, so you want to "Relax" or perhaps you are bathing just before a party and want to get "Pumped" or maybe you are spending it with a special someone and want to be "Romantic". By selecting one of the three options, this determines your bath experience, so after you select an option, you head to the bath, for the rest of the blog, let's say you chose "Relax".
You turn the taps, but what, "What is that?" You asked yourself. You look at your clear base of your bath and noticed it has lit up in a calming and sensual blue light of orbs. The bottom of the bath contains hundreds of LED lights which light up the bottom and some of the side, and once water starts filling up, the bath is lit up. If you chose Pumped, the colours would be changing from Orange, Yellow and Green. If you chose Romantic, the water would be turning red, but not from a blood source, oh no, from the LEDs.
"But how does it actually work without shocking the person?" You question me. Quite easy my good lad, you see, the base of the bath has a very good seal. Yup, it's that simple, it's almost criminal.
Some things I would change however is, well, nearly everything. The bath could be in a better position being a dominant feature of the room, and the toilet best suited maybe in a full separate room. Window placement I did not think about, but looking at the design, the bath is positioned wrongly, as the head-base makes you look at the toilet wall, and not out the window.
There isn't too much else to say on the project, was fairly simple. I've designed three bathrooms and a couple en suite since this project, so things have improved. Anyway, that's it for Project 001, stay tuned for Project 002, Alterations and Additions
Updating Y'all
So it has been quite some time since I blogged last, and I know every single one of you have been checking on the hour for a new blog. Well, it's finally here.
The good news is, I have so much to blog about, some include the ending of my house hunting and my experience this time around, the conclusion of my first year and going through each project I completed, and one very personal blog where I go into my past and reveal I'm a big quitter. There might be a few smaller topics of discussion along the way, but I have plenty to catch you all up on, and the only question is, which topic?
I think the fairest way to do this is to do the Board. This method of deciding, anyone can do, here I will outline what you will need.
1x Bottle of Vodka (or basically any alcohol you like)
Representation of your choices (can be pictures, just words, whatever)
1x Board that can spin (dartboard is effective here)
1x Dart
1x Blindfold
1x Friend
Step 1. Get drunk
Step 2. Blindfold yourself, if you are drunk, get your friend to do it
Step 3. Get your friend (who is meant to be sober) to stick your choices on the spinning board.
Step 4. Get your friend to spin you around, just to make you feel sick.
Step 5. Throw the dart at the spinning board.
Whatever it hits, that is your new decision. This can decide all sorts of things, like your new car, new girlfriend (just make sure you still use the board method, don't be getting drunk in a bar and spinning around blindfolded and throwing a dart across the bar), or maybe even kid's name. Actually, this method can decide everything in life, so treat it with care, and use wisely.
If you want to spruce it up a bit, feel free to add water to the game, or perharps maybe a tiger, up to you, but the basics is what makes it.
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life And Times
The good news is, I have so much to blog about, some include the ending of my house hunting and my experience this time around, the conclusion of my first year and going through each project I completed, and one very personal blog where I go into my past and reveal I'm a big quitter. There might be a few smaller topics of discussion along the way, but I have plenty to catch you all up on, and the only question is, which topic?
I think the fairest way to do this is to do the Board. This method of deciding, anyone can do, here I will outline what you will need.
1x Bottle of Vodka (or basically any alcohol you like)
Representation of your choices (can be pictures, just words, whatever)
1x Board that can spin (dartboard is effective here)
1x Dart
1x Blindfold
1x Friend
Step 1. Get drunk
Step 2. Blindfold yourself, if you are drunk, get your friend to do it
Step 3. Get your friend (who is meant to be sober) to stick your choices on the spinning board.
Step 4. Get your friend to spin you around, just to make you feel sick.
Step 5. Throw the dart at the spinning board.
Whatever it hits, that is your new decision. This can decide all sorts of things, like your new car, new girlfriend (just make sure you still use the board method, don't be getting drunk in a bar and spinning around blindfolded and throwing a dart across the bar), or maybe even kid's name. Actually, this method can decide everything in life, so treat it with care, and use wisely.
If you want to spruce it up a bit, feel free to add water to the game, or perharps maybe a tiger, up to you, but the basics is what makes it.
From The One They Call Anthony, This Is The Life And Times
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