I have been scouring the internet and papers for jobs to apply for. I have applied for less jobs than application forms received, and sent off for less application forms than I could have done.

Upshot. I have only applied for two jobs. This isn't a great seek-to-application conversion rate.

But the good news is (touch wood) that I've got an interview for the second job I applied for next week. I would have been gutted had I not got an interview, even though I was by no means sure I would get one, because it is a dream job. It's only covering for maternity leave, but that suits me fine, because it is also full time, and I have huge doubts about how well I can manage full time for any length of time.

But when I saw it in the paper, I couldn't not apply for it. And when I got invited for interview, I couldn't not accept. If i get the job, and I have no idea of my chances of that, then there is no conceivable chance that I will turn it down. I've been on a high since the phone call and am enjoying these days of just knwoing I've got as far as interview, and being able to fantasise about having the job in question. I am very excited. Although I know the pain of disapointment will be hardly bearable if it comes, for the timebeing I'm not letting that ruin it for me.

And remember the New deal thing I signed up to? And the people I met who were going to help me get a job? One of them being someone I had once turned down for interview? Well, she for one got slighty on my nerves. She phoned me up to ask me if I wanted to go on a three week "placement" with the royal mail doing some sorting room job. Well, no I don't. I see that as a kind of backward step and not a great signal to future employees that I feel myself capable of very much. Fortunately I didn't need to tell her that, I just told her I was recovering from an op and wasn't going anywhere for two weeks at least. (at the moment I can't fit into any pair of trousers because I'm so swollen - I am sincerely hoping that will change by next week's interview!)

I don't think she was that pleased I hadn't told her about the op. I had meant to e-mail her but trying to get rid of that god awful cold in time to have the op kept me away from the computer and so i never did.

Anyway, she said that a placement would be good for me because I could get a reference. Er, hello! I can get a reference from the company I worked for for six years, and worked for well. Thank you.

At the time I spoke to her I was still holding out for an interview for this job i've mentioned, so I didn't mention it to her. She's now on holiday for two weeks and so i don't have to ever mention it to her if it goes pair-shaped.

Actually, the other thing she did to annoy me was ask to see "copies" of the application forms I had filled in. It felt like my teacher asking for proof that I'd done some course work! Well she couldn't see "copies" of my application forms, one, because I had hardly filled any application forms in (didn't tell her that) and two, because I don't keep "copies". You fill these things out on paper. I do have some notes, but they are scribbled things only I can make sense of and that I keep in a folder and that I need to help me fill in other applications. I'm not going to send them off in the post to her.

Told her I'd consult her on future apps instead, and put it in such a way she couldn't argue.

I don't know yet when my interview will actually be, because they were going to be held on Thursday but "something has come up". I don't see this as a bad sign. Let's just say I can understand if my possible future boss is rather busy right now.

And on that cryptic note, I bid you goodnight.