Well, I heard about my interview and it was 'no'.  I estimate that I have put in three full days of effort for 3 interviews (one in Manchester!), research and preparation of a presentation.  And the feedback - I don't fit.  What does that mean?

The ‘no’ hung in the air –weight far greater than the mass of its letters.  The train jerked, the line crackled, saving the necessity of reply.

After the excitement of yesterday, an anticlimax.  No news, no nothing.  I am feeling like the Jane Austen heroine who, jilted by the dashing captain, discovers the true-hearted (if dull) curate is really the one.  My goodness, I do go OTT with my metaphors.

She tried to stay positive.  Unfortunately, that’s hard when the person you believed in fails when tested.  Words hung in the still air, buoyant and empty.

Today could be D day.  I'm off up north to seek my destiny.  It is the bit of the map which says 'here be dragons'...

A sunny Monday after a wet weekend.  Rational mind in neutral, she sought omens in the flghts of birds and cloud patterns.  The picture was confused.

I can't settle to anything today.  A few chores done, but mainly waiting for an outcome.  One more day...

A day that matched her mood, swinging in sudden jerks from open skies, to dark lashings of stormy rain.  Tomorrow would determine where the horizon was.

A welcome day of working from home.  I thought that going back to work would be fun and it certainly is.  What I had forgotten was the commutting.  That period of utter lack of control when you give yourself to a train company for nearly three hours.  Yesterday, I was told my ticket wasn't valid because I got off in London on the stop between two terminals - this doesn't count as a valid stop.  Sometimes you want to scream.

After welcome days of sun, the weather broke, no view, just shapes peering through the mist.  She was working from home, world contracted to a screen.

I am so close to something, it is all the more tantalising because I cannot quite grasp it.  Something that I have been striving after for a long time is there in front of me and, this time, it has come easily.  Why am I suddenly superstitious, not wanting to change anything, for fear of scaring it away?  Only four more days.

The last-lap bell.  She’s hanging back, saving herself, but she’s in danger of getting blocked, the pack’s tight.  One hundred yards to go.  She lengthens stride…

I don't generally believe in astology.  However, since the two new moons, or whatever it was, things have been happening left, right and centre.  Nearly there.

She got a message that caused her to grin, child-like.  Her fellow commuters made small, embarrassed smiles in return.  One even spoke.  Conventions shivered and shattered.

Generally, I like deadlines.  They help me to focus and keep me honest.  Sometimes though, they come in herds and at that point, tend to start being a bit less friendly.  Sadly, it is all my own fault.  I will sign myself up for these things.

“And here, we see a strange creature…a deadline.  Often, these small things have a fearsome reputation for looming or sneaking up, but really they’re very friendly…aaaaaauuuuuggggh.”

Everything is happening at the moment.  Personally, I am back at work and trying to cram a lot of other things in at the same time.  The rest of the world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket and the weather is awful.  And is this weren't enough, all we have on the TV is sport!  Give us a break.

In a game of two halves, it was injury time, extended play.  Now for the last lap, the final fence.  She just wanted an early bath.

It's been an odd day.  A bit of everything.  Someone spontaneously offered me some frogspawn (best offer I've had in ages) and then gave me half a bucket of mortar.  But I didn't get somewhere else, but I received unexpected generosity.  In all though, a good day.  This is what happens when you start with a bacon sandwich...

This is a story about not making my writing group tonight.  Or by writing this am I making it virtually?  My head is starting to hurt.

Another day back at work.  This is a complete change for me - a small company after a big one and a situation where I am the expert (interesting feeling - see story yesterday).  But, just because you've been hired as the big shot, doesn't mean you'll get anywhere...

She asked someone to do something.  Although phrased nicely, she understood the request was resented and would not get done.  Inwardly hurling fire, outwardly, she smiled.

Back to work today... yes I need to update my profile.  Reintroduced to all the joys of commuting, train delays etc, with the added joy of damp seats.  On the plus side, great team and more exposure to those quirky amusing people that later become stories...

‘I am an expert’ he told his phone and half platform one.  Next sentence stunted as he sprinted the slippery platform, his train departing from Three.

Yes, I admit, it's been a week.  I fall back on the reliable excuse of blaming the technology,  being on hols for a week using a netbook, rather than a desk top.  Still, I'm back now and looking out of my window at blue sky, when the rain whilst we were away was relentless.  Sigh.  What scares me is how we may think we are big-shots, but the weather can have such a powerful effect upon personality and willingness to do things.  I found myself slumping at the greyness of it all.  Still, you find nuggets - the second's worth of view when the clouds clear, the joy of finding a pub with a fire going.  You take pleasure where you find it.

The rain was persistent and penetrating.  It hadn’t got through her clothes, remaining on the outside in beads, each a miniature world.  Her soul was soaked.