Terrible weather and unemployed

Hey everyone, I hope you're doing better than I am at the moment!

First, living over here for more than a year and a half -- this weather is god awful! The Californian in me is dying a little inside by how terrible it is. This non-stop bucketing down rain is really getting to me. What is the point of summer if you never get to see the sun? I'm sure it's even worse in other areas, which is a sickening thought too. I keep dreaming of a month ago or so where it was actually sunny and warm! A lot of people around here were hating the heat but I was loving every moment of it. Anyone else with me? I just find it really soul destroying, especially since...

I finished my PGCE/teacher training in June and had been looking for a teaching job since January and there is absolutely nothing out there. I registered with a supply agency, only ended up getting half a day's worth of work. They also sent me to Chester (3 hour bus/walking each way from chez moi) and when I arrived turns out I wasn't needed! I had one interview at a school that at the time I didn't realize was quite so far away (thought it was north of Stafford but it was north of Birmingham!) and really didn't suit me either. It's not like I was setting my sights too close, either. I searched for jobs from a multitude of bookmarked websites from the following counties: Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Flintshire, Greater Manchester and Chester. Nada.

Many others on my course are in the same boat. I've had to borrow money from my mom for the first time, well, ever. There are no temp jobs locally and I have registered with agencies and told them that I'd be willing to do anything. Even my lovely agency that kept me in work when things were rough last year can't find me any work. My schedule with my holidays at the beginning of August and not having a full license yet (test on Tuesday, eeeeek) aren't making things much easier.

I keep telling myself that this is all happening for a reason, that some amazing job will come up in a few months and it'll all be meant to be, but sometimes it's hard to have the positive outlook, you know?

Plus, if the weather weren't so horrible, I could at least spend my time unemployed working on my tan or getting exercise

the weather is hard for me to deal with too- it's probably the most difficult aspect of living here for me, actually. I just cherish the good weather days when they do come and I've been trying to find the good in some of the rainy weather- sometimes rain is just soggy and miserable, but other times when it's not too heavy and you don't have to go out it can be almost nice.  You just have to try to make the best of it, really, since it is what it is.

Unemployment sucks I know how frustrating job hunting is and I'm sure it's especially crap nowadays. My sympathies.

Me, I was actually looking forward to the climate as I expected it to be. I'm a lazy sack of crap, and I like nothing better than a rainy day and a book. Well, shoot, I'll even do housework if I have to, but I like it overcast. Surprise! Our corner of England has had a sunny, dry Summer this year. Too dry, actually -- we spend about an hour a day watering things.

I am, however, really very unemployed. I've only just got the FLR(M), so the gears are only now beginning to grind into action, but my prospects are pretty dim. So I'll commiserate with you there.

It is so difficult when the job hunt doesn't co-operate. What type of teaching job are you looking for? It might be worthwhile signing up for multiple agencies, I know different schools tend to use different agencies. Where in Cheshire are you? (I'm in Crewe). I work in a special school in the Northwich area.

Good Luck-- make sure you get out and soak up any little bit of sun that shows up

I live near Crewe and my specialism is secondary French/German. I thought that Cheshire Education/Reed Education was the only agency in this area.

I live near Crewe and my specialism is secondary French/German. I thought that Cheshire Education/Reed Education was the only agency in this area.

Select Education is used by many-- my school used to use it, but we have moved away from supply teachers due to the nature of our students. Just sent you a pm

I love English weather (the constant sun in SoCal used to get on my nerves, TBH) but unemployment is wretched.  I'm currently living away from my husband during the week because the only place I could get a job is 2 hours away.  Sux.  You have all my sympathy and I hope you find something soon!

I think we've had a really nice summer so far... plenty hot weather (for those who like that sort of thing) and lots of just pleasant days.   Maybe it's different in your area... i'm in Glasgow.

I think we've had a really nice summer so far... plenty hot weather (for those who like that sort of thing) and lots of just pleasant days.   Maybe it's different in your area... i'm in Glasgow.

Not so much down here. We had a couple nice days in the early summer and it's been pretty dreary since. 

Not so much down here. We had a couple nice days in the early summer and it's been pretty dreary since. 

Down here it seems to be settling into the same pattern we've had for the past few years - a fab June, crap July and August, then a fab September.

chary: sounds pretty close to what we've had too! Oh well, at least I'll be on vacation in the US for half of August

For here, we've definitely had a good summer!  The rain doesn't stay around all day when it comes.

I'm also lazy and when I lived in Denver I got sick of all that sun.

As for being unemployed, I love it!  I'd love it even if I didn't have 3 little kids.

The rain doesn't stay around all day when it comes.

That's what we've been having the last 2-3 weeks, with the exception of a couple days.  When it's raining out - it looks and feels more like winter, TBH, but at least that's interspersed with gorgeously sunny periods - just have to catch 'em while you can.

As for unemployment, it sucks when it continues on & you're looking for a job.  Still, I love not being in full time employment so I can catch some of those windows of sunshine outdoors.

Glass half-full or half-empty?  All I know is it's NOT my round! 

Mrs. Robinson--I feel the same way you do. (AND I wrote my thesis on Christina Rossetti! I love her!)  Actually, I'm loving not overheating during the summer and complained bitterly with my DH when it hit about 85 here.  And I'm a native SoCal "oh it's not hot till it's 100" kind of girl.

The unemployment part sucks eggs.  I'm also filling out what feels like a dozen applications for the chance at maybe one interview, but I'm loving being able to jump outside when the sun comes out or wander around Manchester.  Plus, without a job, I can schedule all my driving lessons and practices when everyone else is at work, and it's much quieter!

Lilac--is there something you can do to keep you busy while you look for work? I've been eyeing my local Oxfam and animal charities but decided to wait until I finished with the dreaded driving license ordeal.