Fog on the Tyne....

....will be all mine all mine, or maybe that should be sub-arctic temperatures and drunken Geordies will be all mine all mine.
I got the job. Despite the fact I didn't think the interview went that great. The fools! or am I the fool? I was very weepy yesterday, still a bit today. I'm happy of course, but its a wrench to leave so many wonderful people behind here- some I've not even met!
It will be a quick change- maybe thats good, scary too- I have to move in the middle of January... and start working straight away. Maybe this will help make the transition better.

How to survive a SKYPE interview: part 2, Revenge of the Powerpoint

Round 2 with the guys from Newcastle took place on Friday last week, hence the reason the trip to Taipei hasn't been properly written up.
Having agreed to go for the next round of interviews, I was hit with a barrage of emails asking for presentations, hoop-jumping forms about disability disclosures, proof that I don't need a visa to work in the UK etc. etc.
The up to 20 min presentation on why my background was suitable for the position had me most worried. Fortunately I cheated a bit, having already prepared a talk for this weeks conference down in Wakayama so with a few extra slides from other projects and previous papers and a sprinkling of photos of me in Japan with the lab, I emailed it off, in time for my interview at 9pm on Friday.
Friday morning brought news of the snow in Newcastle, with planes sliding off runways and I had visions of them not being able to make it into department to host the interview, afterall the Brits (well English) never seem to cope with a light smattering of the white stuff, let alone the inches that have already fallen, but no, they all managed so there was no escape.
Once again I opted for the home for setting up the interview, so they got a charming veiw of my curtains and I got to sit on my zabuton and try to look and sound professional. I went for smart shirt and cardigan and tried to conceal the dark shadows under my eyes. I think I kept the swaying under control this time. There was a panel of 3 people, though I could only see one at a time and thankfully (so very thankful) I couldn't see the giant projection screen of me that they were looking at.
The presentation went pretty ok, except for the slight stress that my laptop decided it didn't like all the images and froze up. Non-existing scouts training had kicked in and I was prepared with a back-up paper copy of my slides...always be prepared!
I had a couple of brain-freeze questions, that threw me, but they were genuing quite tricky. After an hour we wrapped it up and I signed off, swore loudly (after checking the call had finished ;)) and got into PJs and stuck the heating on and tried to forget about checking my email every 10mins to see if they'd made a decision yet.

Terrific Taipei, Taiwan trip

A perfect antidote for all the stress of the past few weeks, was to completely forget about jobs and interviews by swanning off to Taipei for a long weekend. My friend K and I had booked this trip a couple of months back as a short break before the winter set in.
It was really nice to flight direct from Sapporo to Taipei, no transfers at Narita or Kansai to add to the journey- well that was the theory anyway.
The new international terminal in Sapporo, is all clean and shiny with a silver birch/outdoor and nature motif throughout, its also a bloody long walk from the main terminal building and only has a couple of restaurants and cafes, fortunately it wasn't a long wait until we were boarding our flight. Our seats were in the middle of a noisy Chinese tour group and the women who was assigned to our row was clearly unhappy to be sharing with two whities and kept trying to swap seats while the plane was loading. Eventually she found an empty space leaving us with an extra seat free on our row.
Shortly after takeoff our "fun" started. An announcement came over asking for any medically trained people on board for a sick passenger in business class. I felt for the little J-woman who got up, I bet it must be a situation you never want as a doctor. All the tour group around us are standing and trying to see whats going on by this point. As K is vegetarian her meal was served up first, somewhere over Tohuku 30 mins into our flight. Just as she started eating, the plane made a huge bank around and we headed back to Sapporo- goodbye to her meal.
Back on the ground in Sapporo, it seemed to take ages to take the passenger off, meanwhile half the plane were up being nosy and K and I contemplated our plans for the evening. Now 2 hours late, we would miss our dinner plans with my Taiwanese friend and the karaoke that was planned after, with no way of contacting him or the hotel to let them know we'd be late. Eventually 2 hours late now, we set off again for Taipei, into the night. Our 4 hour flight seemed to take forever, endlessly dark outside, with no lights to give a reference that we were actually getting anywhere, endless turbulence. I had visions of that Steven King novel about that plane with only a few people left on it (the Langoliers?). I really noticed the difference between the J-passengers and C-passengers, who were always standing and moving around, even though the air hostesses were trying to get them to sit down as the plane bounced and shook through the sky.
Just as we thought the plane should be landing we remembered that Taiwan is actually an hour behind Japan, so another hour of torture ensued. It was a relief to finally see the lights of Taiwan and get off the plane. Thankfully, the car we had booked to take us to the hotel was still waiting for us and I could ring my friend and let him know where we were. A luxury blacked out window sedan with a silent driver and water helped ease some of the tension from journey. My Taiwanese friend was waiting for us at the hotel, we dinner and karaoke still on, so a quick change and freshen up we headed out into the muggy night for some hot pot.My friend persuaded me to try the congealed duck blood that comes as standard in the spicy side- actually not that bad! I guess all the years of eating pickled seaslug guts and the like are paying off, that and the black pudding I like at home too...
Finally around midnight we headed off to Karaoke- taiwanese style, which is pretty similar to Japan, except there seemed to be a buffet for the food and you got the original pop videos for the songs. The choice of english songs was more limited,but as we only had an hour of energy left in us, there were enough. My taiwanese friend and I also sang some enka together, a memory of our times together in Sapporo.
The bed at the end of this day was very welcome, I think I was out like a light less than 10 seconds after turning out the light.

How to survive a skype interview..part one?

Last night I had my second skype interview in my life (my first one, was for the position here), the first time using a webcam. Its a weird experience, seeing yourself, seeing them. I notice I screw my face up a lot and move side to side when I'm thinking, slightly like a lunatic. Still all in all it didn't go too badly.
Despite all of my stressing in the last couple of weeks, it was nice. We had a good talk- he explained the project in more detail, that I would get my own technician (my own minion! as all evil scientists should have). He asked a lot about my PhD, which was weird and tricky, as that is very much a distant dream of the past and I pulled my weird face whilst thinking back to what I actually did and what got published from that work.
Thankfully no decision needs to be made straight away- there will be a second interview if I choose to continue, this time with other people there too, but for now a breathing period; a chance to digest the information and weigh up the options.
I had the interview after running around like a demented person at my tennis lesson- which was probably a great way of not getting too nervous. There was no time to think about that, no time to breathe either. Despite the fact this should be same level as my usual Saturday class, this alternative lesson Thursday feels like a level higher. It was a non-stop work out of high powered shots, smashes and serves yesterday- my right arm is aching from the extra work today.
I went from there, straight back home to change to a smarter top, put on some make-up to try and disguise the dark circles under my eyes, clear the area around the camera field and arrange the lighting so I didn't look too much like one of the un-dead. Now if I can just get my screwy face and swaying under control I might just be able to try this whole skype interview thing again.

Bits and pieces....

Sorry, been absent recently- lots of stuff going on, I think mostly in my brain.
I was going to write about the really nice walk I did the other weekend, but I think that will wait- if you look at the photo's on the right you can see what I did, pretty much.
Its been an see- saw past few weeks. I saw a position back in Newcastle that's still in this field (which is good, it's getting too late to keep changing fields, plus next years European conference is in Barcelona and who wouldn't want to go there!). Anyway I applied, I emailed the guy too to ask for more information- he wants someone to start straight away....hmmmm....my brain started wibbling at his point, did I want to move so soon? could I even do it? I really don't want to leave yet- I feel like I've found a second home here, I'm comfortable, happy. I've been feeling really torn- am I staying because its comfortable, easy here or should I go and work harder on a career? I even though of giving up on research life, and then do what?
Anyway, I submitted- it was an online application so I had to write the answer that you would usually speak in an interview- why do you want this position, what makes you good...its weird to write this. I bad enough talking about myself, let alone writing, it seems so fake to have to write such positive things about myself.
While I submitted, I chatted with our new de-facto head of the lab (Scotland lover), who had been talking to his highness (still out of commission, until January now!) he mentioned that if I wanted there would be possibly some money to work another year- it would mean a paycut. This he mentioned briefly and then went off to the clinics and other hospitals and trip to Singapore; leaving this little spot of luck dangling, but without any confirmation or more information.
Last week, I got an email that my application was being considered for the short list in Newcastle, which was a nice feeling, though at the same time a feeling of dread. I've been tearing up everytime I thought or had to speak about the possibility of leaving. Then came the email of "lets have a skype chat" last Friday and spent the weekend flip-flopping from happiness at getting this far and all whole host of other negative feelings. I missed the skype message until late on Friday night and there was no way I could hold a normal conversation, let alone an interview at midnight that night, so I ignored it.
Thankfully sitting out under the beautiful autumn leaves with Oyomesan, was a great tonic for the soul (thanks!) and I'm feeling a bit more positive- ish. I think its got me in a tizz because its all so soon and I have a load to do before now and christmas without the whole nightmare of moving country.
Monday- and I have a chat with the returned Scotland lover and there is a firmer idea of what would be the option if I stayed- a big pay cut, but I could stay for another year. So Japan is back on the table- it would mean some budgetting and careful saving for trips or flights and the end of tennis on Saturday.
I still have to have the chat with the guys in Newcastle- tomorrow or Friday night and find out more.
Thankfully this coming weekend I'm escaping this for 4 days in Taipei, maybe this will give my brain a much needed rest to get some perspective.

Sorry for the ramble- needed to get this down and out of my brain.