Last week at the programme centre a chap asked me to help him with his jobsearch. His concernwas that the job centre was getting a little impatient with him. My concern was that he was asking me to do his applications for him.

You see, I don't mind helping people. it's just that I prefer to help people who try to help themselves. If he'd actually shown any willingness to pull his weight, I would have backed him to the hilt. As it happens, he had no intention of doing anything at all. Nonetheless I told him I was not going to make his job applications for him, so I sat there there for three hours guiding him through the typing of his CV.

Now he's complaining that his benefits have been halved. Why am I not suprised? Because between the last session at the centre a week ago he had done absolutely nothing toward completing his CV. Again he came in and asked for my help. When it became obvious I wasn't going to do everything for him, he sat there looking helpless until he caught the attention of a willing assistant.

You know what? I find it difficult to have any sympathy for him.

Stop it!

Over the last decade I've had plenty of experience of job searching. The techniques, especially those concerned with websites and emails, an increasingly prevalent means of finding employees, are a matter of practise. Even my mentor at the programme centre had said I was fully capable of this activity. At least I impressed someone.

After a search and a few applications to likely looking vacancies, I sat back. Because of my education and experience, sometimes the staff at the programme centre ask me to help out and assist those struggling to cope with modern electronic devices designed to make Bill Gates richer.

So I started browsing a certain site while I waited for the first desperate plea for assistance. As a child I always wanted to be one of Gerry Andersons Thunderbirds, rushing in with fantastic vehicles and saving the day before everything blew up spectacularly. Well, maybe a computer sin't quite Thunderbird 7, but I do help where possible.

Unfortunately one of the programme centre staff was checking on my computor use. That happens. I suppose they get lots of kids using Facebook to communicate with other members of their tribe, downloading explicit images, or all sorts of shenanigans.

The first I knew was when an irate lady stormed across the office and yelled at me to stop using that site or I'll be reported and thrown off the premises. A quiet word would have sufficed. No matter. I've done what I came for. So I logged off and went about my lawful business out there in the real world. Did someone want me to help them? Sorry about that.

Say It Loud

BFL was prowling the library foyer this morning as we waited for the doors to open. She does this, seeking out people to converse with. You might ask what was wrong with being sociable, but it's just that she doesn't come across as being sincere. With a voice loud enough for everyone else to listen in on the conversation and enjoy her opinions, she settled on one poor lad who was sat quietly reading a book.

Some might accuse me of being a bit of a hypocrite here. Okay, she was ttrying to be the cnetre of attention like she always does, but let's be honest, I'm not above similar tactics in daily life. After all, I'm writing this blog entry. read all about me, everyone, and discover Caldrail for yourselves!

I suppose it's part of my nature. When you consider my connections with performing arts and my inability to stay out of the limelight, it's obvious I'm afflicted with that insidious need for attention. yet despite that, there's something insincere about BFL. She attracts attention by deliberate design rather than any inherent character flaw. She makes loud pronouncements about what she thinks. No debate, no exchange of ideas, and in actual fact, no real conversation. She just wants to tell everyone what she thinks.

Oh at last. The security guard is opening the doors and we can all all go inside and set about our business. In peace and quiet. I don't know who invented libraries, but what a great idea.