Finally I'm back.

Since the move I've had no internet apart from on my Blackberry which has been a sad old time. I've been able to briefly check my emails at work for urgent things but nothing as lovely as blogging and so I am one happy lady to return!

So what have I missed? And what have I got to tell you in the last...oh my goodness...MONTH!

I'll start with the fact that somehow, I'm still employed. My impending doom at the hands of the returning long term sicky has remarkably spared me and given me a few weeks grace to really get my finger out now the bulk of the move is over and find another job before I really am out on my a**e.

Secondly, I've become some sort of domestic godess, batch baking lasagne to keep the costs down and cleaning up after two boys. I may have forgotten to mention that Mr Chatter's brother is now lodging with us. The only reason it works is because we all get along so well but I won't lie, the rent he's paying us is a great crutch when my job is hanging in the balance. The arrangement has worked out well for all of us as BOMC (Brother Of Mr Chatter) is now 20 mins closer to work than he would have been living at his Mam's house and isn't paying over the odds for a house share!

I'm going to take pics of my house so you can see the difference. I'm sure you can't wait. :op xxx

Kitting out the house for about 5p

Ok, so maybe thats an exaggeration but I found some right bargains today. I'm currently trying to kit out the kitchen with glasses and cutlery and things like that. My two best bargains are Ikea cutlery (16 pieces for £2.62) and Tesco drinking glasses (98p for 4!) Crrrrazy prices but it's helping me get lots for my money and I intend to try and find more bargains shortly. Let me know if you find anything similarly bargainess and tell others about it!

Jobs and trying to find one quickly!

If you had asked me what I wanted to be when before I left school I would simply have said "well paid". Years on I have realised that people should just be grateful to be employed at all.

There are a lot of people in my position. I've stuck in at school and university and was told that a good degree will open the door to most jobs. What I've found is quite the opposite and that's not necessarily because of lack of work experience. I've worked since I had just turned sixteen so it's not lack of effort there.

Where the blame does perhaps lie is the way I've approached my career. A bit of a scatterbrain approach is how I'd describe it and that's maybe because I would like to split myself a few different ways and experience lots of different jobs and sectors. This does not make for a good, or particularly focused C.V.

The thing I find the most frustrating is that people can't or won't give you a chance these days. I've fallen lucky this year as when I was made redundant in March, I put a cheeky application in for a sick leave cover job in a field I'd never experienced or really entertained before. I was offered the job - my current employers really took a chance on me - and thankfully it paid off for both of us. I've loved working there and met some great people and learnt some new skills and just generally interesting stuff. Unfortunately, the lady who was on the sick, is now returning to work and although she's well within her rights to claim back her job, it leaves me in an awkward position. Sad times.

So the job hunt begins again, and for the past few weeks it's been at its time consuming and soul destroying best. Apparently I'm qualified for nothing. Some people have inferred I'm over qualified and some people said I'm under qualified. Fair dooos about the under qualified bit but I can never quite get my head around being over qualified. Ok maybe you don't want to invest in someone who might want to move on quickly but then surely thats true of any level of qualification. Surely the fact that you're applying is enough to let someone know you want AND need this job?

Wish me luck. This is an emergency!

A wish of mine.

I've always thought this but especially as a result of last weeks events...

In my ideal world, you would be able to treat people the same as they treat you - good and bad. This might mean that a lot of people might give a thought to the consequences instead of acting like complete idiots. Especially people like the lunartics who crashed their car into those poor lads. In Randomchatter world, they'd get back exactly what they'd dished out. After all, fair's fair.

And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who entered our lovely giveaway! I guess you want to know who the winner is? *drum roll* The winner is... Straysuzi! If you can get send your name and full postal address to my email and I'll send your prize out! Congrats from the great Planet Events Direct and myself. We bet you look stunning wearing your lovely prize!

A tired but happy young lady and a fake-o Christmas feeling

I have gloss (well satin wood) on my hands that is refusing to part ways with my skin but I've come to realise it doesn't actually matter anymore. We're only a few days from getting the carpets down and the furniture arriving (at the end of the week) and I'm really excited. It's almost like that feeling you get a few days before Christmas where you can't quite believe it's almost the day that you've been waiting for and counting down to for months!

More piccies on the way soon :)

GIVEAWAY 1!

Here's the giveaway I promised you and there's plenty more to come so get following my blog. If you follow by email you'll get all these nice posts straight to your inbox!)

The very lovely Christine at Planet Events Direct has offered up some great prizes for y'all and so I decided to do an interview with her so you can find out a bit more about her and her business. Here's the interview.

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WHAT IS PLANET EVENTS DIRECT ?

Planet Events Direct is an Online Craft & Lifestyle shop based in London, UK selling through the Folksy.com website. We sell a range of premuim quality of crafting materials such as mother of pearl buttons, Glass & Crystal prepacked mixed beads, sewing supplies, furnishing trimmings, jewellery making supplies, strings of freshwater pearls & gemstones alongside other eclectic and ornate bits & bobs.....as well as beautifully crafted jewellery and accessories items at extremely competitive prices.

THE PERSON BEHIND PLANET EVENTS DIRECT

My creative career roots are in Upholstery & Soft Furnishings and as a child, and whilst growing up i embraced and dabbled in many crafty disciplines such as cross stitch patchwork & quilting, papier mache right through to dressmaking, baking and pottery.

In my late 20's, due to numerous factors, i decided to leave behind my job as a Medical Secretary and concentrate on forging a new career as a Soft Furnisher & Upholsterer.

WHERE DID IT ALL START ?

Whilst working as a Soft furnisher & Upholsterer i noticed a lack of good quality instantly accessible, price concious crafting materials which i myself needed for my own creative projects, as well as receiving numerous requests from customers who had previously commisioned work from me, who wanted advice about creating their own bespoke accessory/homewares pieces from scratch.

After doing the necessary research i took the decision to start selling the mentioned items by Mail Order. After some time i heard about Folksy.com and decided to set up a shop on the site. The shop celebrated its 2nd Anniversary of trading on Folksy this year.

WHO IS PLANET EVENTS FOR ?

Its for anyone who wants to source a selection of premuim quality craft & lifestyle items for their bespoke needs.

Wheter beginner or seasoned crafter we are sure that you will find something to suit you in our Online shop.

 

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF PLANET EVENTS DIRECT

There isnt one. Each day usually consists of processing orders, dealing with suppliers, making up jewellery and accessories, catching the last post :-) amongst everything else. Priority is given to making sure that our customers receive an excellent shopping experience with after sales assistance where necessary.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU PARTICULARLY DISLIKE/LOVE ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS ?

Dealing with Royal Mail/Courier Companies over lost/delayed parcels can be quite stressful.......grrrrrrr !!!!

Recieving orders of shiny sparkly materials to make up jewellery/accessories usually does the trick of cheering me up. yay!!

HOW DO YOU RELAX & UNWIND AWAY FROM RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS?

Spending quality time with my family, going for long solitary walks, swimming and watching films which make me laugh is a great way to de-stress and unwind for me, i also like reading in a quiet room for a few hours.....time permitting !

ANY ADVICE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RUN AN ONLINE SHOP ?

Maintain self belief, confidence, determination, drive and ambition within yourself in healthy, equal amounts whilst not forgetting that you are only human and at times there will be situations/events which you do not have any control over. In times like this just let it go.......tomorrow will be another day :-)

WHATS THE FUTURE PLANS FOR PLANET EVENTS DIRECT

To continue to grow the shop, keep listening to the needs of our customers and to make sure that every purchase from PLANET EVENTS DIRECT is a satisfying shopping experience for the customer.

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The prize is this lovely pair of earrings

What we would like you to do is:

• Follow my blog
• Check out Christine's online shop and then come back and let us know underneath this post which is your fav item in her shop. If you're feeling generous you could put a link so other people can see what your fav item is.

We'll finish the giveaway on Sunday 31st July and pick a winner at random. So what are you waiting for?