Monday was a bit stressful. Monday was desperate in some way. I knew I needed to get a break. I knew I had a potential interview lined up for Wednesday morning, but that was it….1 interview…my thoughts were….well, my thoughts were unprintable. But a phone call in the afternoon and then the telephone interview I had on tuesday…..

Wednesday was the “Pearl Jam” interview. And feed back from that was amazing. I have a 2nd interview for that lined up for Tuesday the 30th March, fingers crossed for that one too….yes, I will update, don’t worry!!

Thursday! I had a day off….ha ha ha…

Friday (today) was the 2nd interview from the telephone interview from Tuesday. So it was up early (5:30am) and then off to a 7:00am interview. The journey was a breeze, and I arrived there at 6:40am, A coffee waiting for me, and a quick tour of the offices (wow, very nicely laid out, and modernly decorated, with some quirky touches – my friend Andrew Dunning  would have been very impressed, the perfectionist that he is!!? The guy I met was cool. he was a couple of years older than me…and he was cool. The kind of guy that everyone would want to work for..no, work with. He was the MD. But he was very much involved with everyone…and I felt at home straight away. We chatted about golf, the interiors industry, kids, clients, golf, home life….and then some more golf and a bit more worky stuff…that was it. Two and a half hours later (yep it was now 9:10am) I left to drive home…came out of the rear parking, and turned right, back the way I had come….lots of oncoming traffic, on my side of the road. Some git in a rubbish lorry almost head on…he started swearing at me…and that “2″ was his favourite number judging by his finger gesture! Well, it turned out I was now going the wrong way up a one way street….simply wasn’t paying attention!! Note to new drivers and learners…pay attention to all signs..no matter how trivial!!

So that’s the end to a great week!

Right, as I have mentioned previously Philip Ross is doing the Great North Swim, and has agreed to raise money for the Tree House Appeal. Here is Philip Ross’s link to his charity swim for Tree House Appeal on this; Philip’s Swim Link. Here is his radio link on BBC Suffolk (please forward 1hr and 43 minutes) BBC Suffolk http://ow.ly/1r5Si where he raised awareness for the Tree House Appeal. I am sure that you will click on Philip’s Swim Link and make a donation, please also remember to add the gift aid! Thank you.

I have also spoken to Rachel Wright from EACH, regarding the Tree House Appeal, and have offered my services to anything else I can do to help the cause. Also, Wifey and I are arranging a visit to the site in the next couple of weeks, and to meet the team behind the scenes. I will let  you know how we get on.

Oh and I have definitely been confirmed for doing a talk at the Be2CampEast, so, please come and join us, some exceptional speakers and a very exciting event!!

Thanks to everyone today who sent me a good luck message, asked how i got on, or gave me a #FF….apologies if i didn’t respond to you all, but there were binking well loads of you….and I kinda lost track of you all….my word, the following is snow balling…I may even start a cult! ha ha ha. In all seriousness, it is very touching to know that there are so many people out there following my progress and encouraging me along, and waiting and wanting to know what the next part of the story is!! What is going to happen when I actually get a job?? Is it all going to go just a little crazy?

Oh, and a big hello to all my new followers on Twitter…I will follow you back…!

Next week is going to be even more exciting…..hopefully 2 job offers on the table. The decision of which one to go for….and other stuff bubbling under the surface….gently simmering away….!!

Since the last blog on Monday http://weston007.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/the-final-countdown/ I have had an interesting week thus far!

All positive, in fact very bloody amazing!

Firstly: Work!

Telephone interview on Tuesday went very well, the chap sounded very likeable, and he obviously liked me and thought I would suit the role very well, and I have a second interview this coming Friday! Apparently the only person in the running for it, as all other candidates “are not in my league!” That’s a quote by the way!! This company is quite local to me, and a small to medium size. I like this company so far, because I would be able to develope there I think. And I am not stuck behind a desk. That sucks! Right?

I also had an interview today (Wednesday) as I mentioned in previous blog with a company I have known of for some years, this company is approximately £15 million turnover per year bigger than the previous, the role brings a lot more interest, and is also a good opportunity for career development!

In the interview were myself, the MD, the Commercial Manager, and the Chairman of the Parent Group who happened to be in the office that day and was using the boardroom (where the interview was being held) as his office.  The MD says to me “I know you!” I think to myself…”cock, this could go bad!” I retort with, “yeah, well I recognise your face too…” and just laugh. Anyway, things are going sweet, we’re laughing and I am being sensible, positive, focused and opinionated where it matters, name dropped a few times with folk that we may all know, and then my bloody mobile rings….I was sitting there responding to a certain question, and I could hear music, and I thought “that’s my phone”. The ring tone is “Alive” by Pearl Jam (love that song, words are a little messed up but love the song!!), I apologise and state that I thought it was on silent…and the Commercial Manager says “Don’t worry, I love Pearl Jam!”, well f*ck me…if the phone didn’t go again (bloody voice mail)…I just laughed, to be fair I nearly started singing the damn song! Anyway, it went well. Really well. The MD walked me to the door after and said “so, where do I know you from?”…. I thought for a moment, and then mentioned a certain yearly event that I attend, and he said “that’s it…the one where everyone get’s totally pissed?!” I smiled, shook his hand and said “yep….” and walked out the door!

Feedback from the recruitment company was that I was very very good, fitted the role perfectly, would bring enthusiasm, energy and personality with me. I have great potential to move up witin the company too!     NOW THAT’S POSITIVE FEEDBACK!! See, stay positive. Stay focused. And stay determined!

Guest Blogs;

I was asked by Roberta Ward of My Property Mentor to write a guest blog for her on Dangers in Property, called Rebuilding Nature. Link here http://mypropertymentor.co.uk/blog/2010/03/dangers-in-property-week-rebuilding-nature/#more-2120. Now then, as I mentioned in Monday’s blog, Sarah Beeny had guest blogged for Roberta last week. Her blog was Retweeted 16 times. Roberta said to me during the day that I was on 14 Retweets. I thought for a bit. Then I sent a tweet to Sarah Beeny asking that if I received more Retweets than her that day, would she be kind enough to donate a small sum to the Tree House Appeal? Obviously I won!! lol I think I had 21 by the end of the day, but I never heard back from Sarah….until today, when she asked me to re-send her the link over and she would make a donation!! Wow. That again show’s the power of Social Media. I am glad that Sarah was such a good sport, and obviously the Tree House Appeal is over the moon that a celebrity has donated!! Miss Beeny, if you do happen to read my blog, then a big THANK YOU from EACH and all those involved with the appeal!

Second guest blog was for Rob Cameron. Rob had asked me to tell my story on his blog, of how I was using SoMe to find a job. I was honoured to do so for him and you can read it here http://robcameron.co.uk/ . I was honoured as Rob has been one of the people that has backed me from day one with my search for a job, always at the end of a phone/email if I need him, and has shown nothing but encouragement throughout! And I would like to think I have made a friend for life…..apart from the fact he is an avid MUFC fan!!

I have also been asked by Barbara Saul to do a guest blog for her on how I am using WordPress for my blog, and how I get on with it etc… that will be coming soon, so watch out for it!!

I do believe that Lee Smallwood , he who thinks Radian6 is better than sliced bread, is also doing something in his blog on my story with Social Media which should be out real soon!

Oh right, 1 more thing…. I have been asked by Roberta Ward who is organizing the Be2CampEast alongside Su Butcher, to do a 5 minute talk on my experiences with Social Media at this event. This is on the 29th April 2010, at Essex County Cricket Club. There will be lots of interesting folk attending, book it now, get there, heck there’s a chance you could do a talk too!!  Iwill see you there!! (I will of course be signing autographs and the like….) Hoping to raise a bit for the Tree House Appeal.

Right, I think that is it for now….stay tuned for the next installment!!

“How do I remain positive and focused?” is a question quite a few folk have asked me over the past few weeks, and in all honesty I say “I have to remain positive and focused”, I have to keep trying to get a job. I do go to my friends office and “work” from there, it keep me in that working mentality. Get up, go to work, come home, repeat 5 days per week (hours are negotiable). And to be brutally honest with you, at times I just want to shut myself away and cry. Human nature and emotion does take over at times. But, with a wonderful wife and 2 cracking little boys to look after, my ever increasing broad shoulders are left to burden the weight! Therefore it is a MUST that I achieve my goal. My family are my motivational drive, and I shall not fail them.

There is no art to being positive and focused and driven. There is no rule book for it either. It’s all about YOU and how you portray yourself. How you reach out and grab hold of what you have, and maximise it and drain it till it can help you no more.

I am still receiving messages saying how they find my story motivational and they are following intently. I am still getting “good luck” messages from all over the globe! That still amazes me!! If other’s find what I am doing inspiring, then even better.

Ok, so now for some positive news. (Hoorah!!)

Since my last blog http://weston007.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/all-kids-love-a-tree-house/ there have been 2 amazing people step forward and pledge to the Tree house Appeal, they are Philip Ross and Hannah Coleman, Philip is doing a swim and Hannah is running a marathon. Let’s hope that they raise lots of money for this wonderful appeal. Please click on their links and follow them for news of their respective events and funds raised.

I have an interview this week; it’s with a highly respectable company, whom I have known of for a good many years. I used to supply joinery to them circa 16 years ago, and before they were the massive company they are now. I do know a couple of names there from old, whether that will help or not remains to be seen!! The interview is Wednesday and I shall of course update!

An email from Dubai this morning, apologising for not coming back sooner, still interested but have had an office move over last few days, and a little behind…so that’s still bubbling away and keeping warm!! (Or hot, depending what the weather is like out there)

A gentleman called Baiju Solanki has asked me to attend a forthcoming networking event, to tell my story. Details of which will be coming out this week I believe. There are also a few other events in the pipeline. Watch this space.

A very wonderful lady called Barbara Saul, who is a WordPress genius, also deserves a mention, as she has been helping me to set up my blog site properly. Hopefully soon there will be a link to the Tree House Appeal on there for any donations.

And finally I have been asked to “Guest blog” on Roberta Ward’s and Rob Cameron’s blogs this week. Click on their names to see what I have written. I think Roberta’s is out on the 23rd March and Rob’s is th 24th March. I hope that you will take 5 minutes to have a quick look! I follow in the footsteps of the wonderful Sarah Beeny who did a guest blog via Tepilo for Roberta last week. So I am possibly a little nervous on that one ha ha ha.

So, a mixed blog this time around, but optimism and focus still high!!

Thanks for all the messages from everyone on the SoMe network, it’s all appreciated.

So, I am going to try and get this story a little more “out there”, and  I am going to try to get a little more media (I know, one 10 minute slot on the radio and I am a celebrity all of a sudden) attention from it. Should this happen, then I have agreed that I am going to give a percentage of any media fees to the TreehouseAppeal, which if you look at the link, you will agree is a very worth while cause. There is a lady I know ( SuButcher ) who is campaigning for the cause, and I believe it is a wonderful Project to be raising money for. An awful lot of children will benefit from this.

So if you would like to make a donation to the TreeHouseAppeal please feel free to do so, all donations would be welcome, OR if you know of anyway I can get the media to pay a bit of attention to my story, and pay me for my story so I can give a bit back to the charity appeal, then please leave a comment, or contact me on PaulWeston33. I would love to hear from you! Let’s show the power of Social Media to raise a lot of money for this fabulous appeal.

I would just like to reiterate how powerful social media is, I am still getting “good luck” messages from people from all over the world, that have read my blog, heard the interview on the radio http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006tf79/Mid_morning_on_BBC_Essex_Dave_Monk_Show_16_03_2010/ (forward it about and hour and 6 minutes), I have even had a lady email me from Chicago saying “Can I use your blog as an example in the next workshop I am doing at he end of March on how to use Social Media to find your next job or project?” How cool is that? Of course I said “yes”, and asked that she keep in touch and let me know how the workshop went and how my blog was received. My point here is that social media enabled me to look for a job, and tell my story to not only my network of friends but to the world! That’s a statement in itself, right? It’s almost as good as using Google Search Engine!! Well nearly ha ha ha.

So here is the list of folk that have helped me (in no particular order), if you don’t already know them, I suggest you take time to click on the link respective links and see what they are about, you never know if they can help you, or you can help them, or you may know some one who know’s some one that can help them!! They are not all local folk, it’s not a UK network here…..it expands massively…think about it!!

@JaniceFLp

@SuButcher

@RobertaWard

@leesmallwood

@robjcameron

@johnkatcrittall

@JimSlater69

@Fulcrum_CR

@ShanaBP

@DaveMonkShow

@pagroupuk

@FrancoiseM

@bradleyvast

@wendybaileypr

@EEPaul

@WendyJacob

@andrewdunning

@DREAMWALLS

@philippabowen

@fotofacade

@philippross

@feehorne

I really hope I haven’t forgotten anyone, if I have then I am sorry!!!

I was welcomed to BBC Essex building by the smiling receptionist, and waited for @ShanaBP to the studio. The energetic @DaveMonkShow welcomed me to the studio and made me feel at ease right away! A quick chat off air, and then the introduction (this was the bit where I came over all squiffy, pulled myself together, lost all moisture in my mouth and really needed the loo, all at the same time!!)… This is the interview here, you will need to forward it approximately 1hour and 5 minutes to get to it…http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006tf79/Mid_morning_on_BBC_Essex_16_03_2010/

I won’t go into the context of the interview, as you will have listened to it, and I know I am very lucky to have had the opportunityto do it. Remember, this has all stemed from using Social Media to try to find employment. It’s about staying positive and focused and utilising your abilities and network of friends to acheive your goals! If you are down for too long…then you’re out!!

I got a twitter message from ShanaBP a couple of hours after the show, when I was trying to source the link on iplayer, she said that it wasn’t ready beacuse (and I quote) “we’ve never had so many people watching the site so intently…” That in itself is truly amazing. The Twitterverse was watching ha ha ha…but that literally is the power of social media.

As for my job search, well I have had an interview with someone, through a contact on Twitter, am awaiting feedback from that…there has been interest from Dubai via my Linkedin profile http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/paul-weston/17/653/582 which could be fantastic. And there is also a sniff of an opportunity in Alice Springs in Oz.

Although the upheaval of going to another country, with my wife (janiceflp) and 2 boys, could be an initial strain, but worth it in the end…who knows what will happen?? It’s been an emotional roller coaster so far, but what ever the outcome I will be blogging about it!

AND I STILL NEED A BLIMMIN’ JOB!!

I have a twitter account http://twitter.com/PaulWeston33 for those that are interested in following me), and I am following a couple of hundred or so people, mainly within my industry, or with a link to my industry, and similarly nearly a couple of hundred that follow my tweets and random offerings… I am not talking 1000′s of people here with a direct link to me.

I posted my blog regarding being unemployed “Chin up old boy” http://weston007.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/chin-up-old-boy/  earlier this week, and put it out on twitter, where it was re-tweeted by friends, and then again by their friends and so on, it seemed that throughout the whole day all that I saw was “Please help @PaulWeston33 find a job”, or tweets of a similar message. Lots of people looked at my blog, and I was receiving messages of “good luck” from random people I had never spoken to before! The power of Twitter eh? It was very heart warming to be receiving all of these messages, people going out of there way to help in some small way. Also, the amount of people that looked at my blog that day went through the roof! Exposure!!

The following day I was advised ( @SuButcher) to update my blog with what I can offer to an employer, so I did, and posted my most recent blog “Dusted myself down..let’s crack on!!” http://weston007.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/dusted-myself-down-lets-crack-on/ , within this link was a rough CV, and I tweeted it with a link to my blog! The twitter world went crazy again, my blog being re-tweeted to all and sundry, it was madness to be honest, and I think people must of been sick of the sight of me on their screen all day!! And again good luck messages from lots of people kept coming through….it was amazing. Even people in America were re-tweeting me …… WOW!!

To date, I have a meeting arranged with a potential job offering for next week, and I have spoken to some kind, helpful truly wonderful folk all with getting me employed in mind! I have never met some of these people remember, I only converse and interact with them on Twitter mainly….well get this, this is where the power of social media goes crazy….read on…

Yesterday a lovely lady called Shana Pearlman http://twitter.com/ShanaBP sent me a direct message on Twitter, saying, and I quote “I know you are using Twitter for your job hunt, but can we help you on the radio at all with an interview?” Yes, you did read that correctly….a radio station had picked up on the twitterworld madness evolving around my search for a job, and was now offering me a chance to go live on the radio to speak about using Twitter and social media to find employment! Holy F word!!!

I spoke to a couple of Twitter pals, and they advised me to grab the opportunity by the curlies…and so I replied to Shana that I would be pleased to do an interview, sent her my mobile. After a very friendly chat on the phone, a date is arranged for the interview. Tuesday 16th March BBC Essex around 10am..ish! So that’s me then!!

So you see, from this social media activity on Twitter, mixed with a good network of friends, and maintaining a positive attitude and being pro-active, I have now got a possible employment opportunity and am being interviewed on live radio…..all in a week!

It’s a crazy world we live in innit!!

I would like to thank a few people that have helped me this week (there are probably quite literally thousands to be honest)

My wonderful wife http://twitter.com/JaniceFLP), Su Butcher http://twitter.com/SuButcher), Roberta Ward @RobertaWard), Lee Smallwood http://twitter.com/leesmallwood), Rob Cameron http://twitter.com/robjcameron), Bradley Knight http://twitter.com/bradleyvast), Jim Slater http://twitter.com/JimSlater69), Philippa Bowen http://twitter.com/philippabowen), Philip Ross http://twitter.com/philippross), Keith Kelly http://twitter.com/pagroupuk)…and many more…these people are all on Twitter, I suggest you get to know them as they are lovely people to know.

I will be updating the next part of this story after Tuesday’s interview…..unless it gets a little more crazy before!!

So, lets flip this a little shall we? What do I have to offer a potential employer? Well how’s this for starters?

1. I am a very good estimator.

2. I enjoy being an estimator.

3. I don’t mind the long hours.

4. I enjoy the buzz of winning work.

5. I love working with numbers.

6. I enjoy building relationships with sub-contractors/ architects/ clients etc.

7. I am a funny guy.

8. I get on with most poeple.

9. I am available to start working tomorrow.

There is probably a lot more to me, but perhaps it’s qualities in me that I don’t necessarily see, but others do. That’s why it helps to have friends in the industry that can give you a referral that is honest and non judgemental.

So, by remaining positive and focused on my goal here, I am also going to attach my CV to this blog, and see what happens. Please, nobody laugh at my school grades….my report is full of “could of done better” ha ha ha..

http://weston007.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/cv-feb-20101.pdf

I hope that this and my previous blog “Chin up old boy” has inspired you, if you are in the same poistion as me, perhaps you have ben in a similar situation and can relate to certain elements, either way, thanks for reading this!

Please feel free to pimp my cause and ask about for an opportunity on my behalf…I really don’t mind!!

Another statistic for the government to count and log.

I have been made redundant before, and I have spent a week or so without income, but each of those times I have had a little bit of dosh the bank, and quite relaxed as, at the time, the industry was bouyant, and jobs were plentiful. I could pick and choose (within reason) which company I went for an interview with and which one I wanted to work  for. How the times have changed.  A complete contrast in terms of available opportunities, and vacancies for a Senior Estimator! And those that are available are not the same sort of package, possibly 60-70% of what they were 2-3 years ago!!

Now I understand the economic changes and the state of the country, as well as all the other crap that is going on affecting things…but fuck me, the state of things at the moment is very harsh!! Scarily harsh.

I can now see how people are losing their houses, cars, increase in divorces etc. But on the flip side to that, those that have a job are working harder and longer hours to ensure their position with their respective employer! This in turn causes pressures at home too.

I try to be optimistic, and although I currently do not have a pot to piss in, nor do I have two pennies to rub together I remain positive that I shall find employment one way or the other. I shall be shrewd with what I have and tighten the purse strings and Wifey, as scared and concerned as she is, is also proactive to the cause. We should (he says) survive this month, we may not though….but positive attitude and all that!!

BUT, what about those in a different work environments? Or those that are a little older? These people that have been out of work for a while, what hope is there for those? What support is there out there for them? I am sure they are positive in their approach, and are actively seeking employment, but at present it’s bloody grim! Is there support for them? Who is the governing body that is there for those people? Surely not Job Search Plus????

When will this economic down turn truly end? Who knows? Apparently we were climbing out of the recession a month or so ago….and we continue to do so…but I fear it may be a good 12-18 months before are treading water again…a shockingly harsh reality befalls many of us prior to that.

The emotional whack in the face in painful, and life at home is tricky, I feel that I am in the way of daily routines, the boys going to toddler group, swimming lessons, what I give them for breakfast is wrong, how I dress them is wrong….I am just trying to help, to be doing something other than sitting on my arse!! But I am in the way. No two ways about it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s lovely to spend time with the family, but hey, I would rather be working!!

Fortunately I have a good friend who has an office with a spare desk, he is quite local to me, and I go and sit at that desk, and do what-ever I have to do to feel positive and pro-active. Call around, speak to people, use the interweb…I even made coffee for the guys in the office once!! Not often I did that in my working life!! ha ha ha!! This is a great help, and I am very lucky to be able to do this, it is an enormous help. Especially in keeping focused on my goal. My goal of gaining employment again…very soon.

So, if you, like me, are unemployed, you are going nuts at home, feeling as though you are in the way, with the kids around your ankles, I have this to say to you. It won’t be forever. If you cannot obtain work in your industry, then don’t be afraid to ask in pubs, stores etc for a bit of work. Some money is better than none.

Keep your chin up, and your mind focused! It will get better. You will get work again. Think positive. It’s the only way to stay frickin’ sane!!

In my (our, depending on what you do for a living) industry, the game I like to play, is called “The tendering process”. This is normally a game for 3-5 players (depending on prequal process, and who has made up the rules or “tweaked” them).

Each player receives a set of documentation pertaining to a particular project. The first rule for me is generally the tender itself. Is it either;

a) Negotiated

b) Design and Build

c) Single Stage Tender

d) 2 Stage Tender

Each option has it’s benefits, some more so than others;

a) An easy one, probably with the most amount of work, lots of “value engineering” to get within the client’s budget, but it’s normally worth the leg work.

b) Majority of risk moved away from client’s team and on to the contractor. Not normally an issue if managed correctly. Be sure to read all small print and caveats….

c) The most common option, everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, has (in theory) the same information as everyone esle.

d) An interesting one, and an often simple one!! My favourite!

Let’s assume we are working with option c) here. A single stage tender process.

The next rules are roughly this:

Once the documents have been checked, send the contract amendments to legal chappie, break bill (if available), drgs, spec etc into relevant packages and send out to sub-contractors (at least 3 per package). Visit site preferrably with sub-contractors. Do take off. Analysis of costs from sub-contractors, ensure they have all priced the same. Colate costs from sub-contractors, add on Prelims, and then the final roll of the dice at this stage is to add a dash of OH&P to top it off with!! Then submit it before that ever important deadline (this normally 12pm midday on a Friday)

Then what? Sit on your arse and wait is what!

Throughout the tender process, you may have spoken on numerous occasions to the architect, CA, services engineer all rather amicably, but try getting hold of them the deadline, just for a bit of feed back. A conversation of any use from either is about as rare as rocking horse shit. And it’s very bloody annoying! ha ha ha…that’s the game they play..

So, you get a call, (another roll of the dice) and it’s good news (hoorah), you have been selected for post tender interview and so has one other…no problem there, quite normal. So you and the team prepare for the interview, everyone has their best suit, shirt and tie on, even if they don’t match, and off to the interview….

It’s normally a half hour to fourty five minute process, and can some times be quite amusing, or on other occasions, the client’s team, have experessed no emotion what-so-ever (seriously, it was a very difficult interview and very slow…another tale to tell…another time), but when you come out, the first question someone says ( and this is perhaps another rule) “how do you think that went?”, some will think good, some will disagree…but you need to go with your gut feeling, and if that ain’t good, then forget about that project and move on the the next. But that’s it, that’s all you can do. You have had a better chance than others. Lucky dice…? Nah…probably a cock up with the figures got you to this position….ha ha ha..(estimator’s joke)

And then perhaps a couple of days later there is a call….and someone says “thanks for attending the interview, it was very close, but……” It can obviosuly go one of two ways here….(but the anticipation is crucial)….we’ll be back after this short break…..

WTF?? Hold on there Mr. bloody Dermot O’Leary…we are not on some cack talent show here…tell me who won! Did I win the tender?? (You may recall I am quite competitive) Then he says…”It has been voted that the project is going to the other tenderer…thank you for all your hard work” call cut short, he puts the phone down to avoid questions…That’s not in the rules is it? Where does it say about not winning the tender? Bugger!!

Bloody voting…voted into 2nd place! The feeling of dejection and being so pissed off cos you have worked very late to meet the tender, rowed with the wife, not seen the kids, been in the office at quarter past silly o’clock to maximise your daily hour allowance, only to lose it. I hate these rules.

So, when you see poor little “Kenny” on the X factor coming second, feel sorry for him, he has worked hard to get there, and had it all taken from him by voters who like the other person better than him.

And finally, spare a thought for the respectable Mr Brown and Mr Cameron as they are at present slugging it out to become PM of this country…you know on vote night, they are going to televise it and get Dermot to do his nail biting, edge of your seat blurge, and the winner will be (in no particular order…..)…

Last rule is you have to do it all over again with the next tender!!!

BUGGER!!