NIN has arrived...

My NIN arrived yesterday and apparently the card should come in the mail within the next 8 weeks - so I guess the 9 month timeline I was given was a bit off. I've now informed my agency and so hopefully 50% of my paycheque will stop being taking off as taxes.

It's 9:45am and today already sucks!

So I woke up today at 6am feeling really nauseous - so when my alarm went off at 7:10am I didn't bound out of bed. When I look at the clock again it's 8am - I usually leave the flat at 8am having had breakfast, made my lunch, gotten dressed and done my hair and make-up - obviously that wasn't going to happen today. So, I for went breakfast and lunch and was able to leave the flat at 8:05am - not bad eh? It's pouring with rain outside - no problem I figure since I have been carrying an umbrella in my bag since I was caught in a storm without one a month ago. Unfortunately, this umbrella of mine is broken. I didn't realise this until it closed over my head when I was half way down the street. No time to run back for another so I just had to make do with holding it up. I get to the stop down the street get denied entry to one bus but get on to the second. Then get off at Camberwell and wait for my other bus. It arrives I get on, go up stairs and start to read my book. All is well until I hear shouting down stairs. From what I gather the bus driver had been instructing the passengers to move down and I heard some man shouting back "There's NO ROOM! Stop letting so many people on you IDIOT!" Then some more words were exchanged which I didn't quite hear. I was worried the bus driver might get fed up and kick everyone off the bus - they are so touchy. But he didn't and I arrived at my destination 15 minutes later than usual. Now what I usually do is get off the bus at the top of the street that the Hospital is on and then walk the rest of the way - about a 15-25 minute walk - stopping on the way at a coffee shop and picking up a 'Skinny Latte'. Today I did that but also picked up a chocolate croissant and a banana. I knew I couldn't wait till 1pm (my lunch time) to eat. I will never do that again, especially after being naseous. I did, however, end up arriving 5 minutes late for work but whatcha gonna do?
My boss just called to say that she won't be in today which is actually a good thing for me. It means my stress level today at work will be 0 and as I look outside it has stopped raining. Maybe today isn't such a write off after all.

The water...

Ok - I have kept quiet about this issue for long enough. I absolutely refuse to drink tap water here in England. Once you see what it does to kettles, dishwashers and washing machines you will see why. There is something wrong with it - I swear. No they try and tell you that it's perfectly fine to drink this stuff - it's not like it's diseased or anything but they amount of limescale and build-up that amounts - geez - I can't imagine that it is good for your body!
So like all (most(some)) English people I have responded by buying cases of water. Now I have no transportation other than my own two legs so I am looking forward to a very trim body because of all the walking up the hill and stairs with cases of water - my own little work out routine - haha!
Now with that said I am going out to buy another case.

So I applied for my NIN...finally

Yesterday I went a VERY sketchy part of London and had an interview to get a National Insurance Number. Even though I'm working right now haven't had a real NIN and therefore been taxed under the "Emergency" tax bracket which means that just under half of my wages have been deducted. Once I get my NIN I should get a refund and taxed properly. When I first got here I wanted to get a NIN right away but there are several things you need first.

1. Employment
2. A letter from your employer detailing your employment.
3. Official mail with you current address ie. Bank Statement or Utility Bill
4. Paystubs from your employer
5. Passport

When I arrived in June I had only one of the above requirements. Then I got a job and a letter but then my Grandfather took a turn for the worse and I quit my job. Then my grandfather passed away and I got my job back.
I've been working for a total of 8 days since coming back so I called the Job Centre Thursday and set up an appointment. The earliest they could get me in was October 22/07 that was a long time to wait but I was prepared to. I happened to call back later that day and they had had a cancellation and said I could come in Friday (Yesterday) at 3pm. So I took a whole bunch of time off work and went in and had the interview and I should be getting my NIN in the mail in 4-6 weeks.
It took me forever to find the place and so I am so glad I was my usual over anxious self and gave myself plenty of time to find it. I did end up arriving half an hour and they didn't end up seeing me until half an hour after my appointment was supposed to be. But that's their perogative if I had been late they wouldn't have seen me at all.
The part of town I was in totally freaked me out. It was SO run down and people were just standing on the sidewalks looking at me walk by. I ended up walking down all these alleys and I swear I must have had "Stupid Tourist" stamped on my forhead because I kept getting turned around and having to look at the map I printed off. (Thank God for maps!). The streets weren't properly marked and I kind of lucked out finding the place. But I found it and I didn't get stabbed score one for me.
I hope everything goes through ok because I definitely do not want to have to go back there I was luck once but...anyways it should go through fine but you never know with these things it's all red tape.

So now I have job...again

So I got rehired at the place I was working before as an accounts assistant before I quit because my grandfather got really ill. I did not want this job back because when I had it the first time I hated it - it was way too stressfull and my boss treated me like an idiot. The second time around is going much better. Since I don't really care about this job and the worse they can do is find someone else to come in and temp I am much more relaxed and cheerful - it's money and it has a time limit. I told the temp agency that I would go back to the ACU under the condition that it would be for a maximum of 2 months and that I was totally NOT interested in a permanent position.

I only want temp work for several reasons:
1. If you are temping then you get paid every Friday - When you are permanent you get paid once a month!!!!
2. I don't want to do accounting work while I am here but it's money so I can't really say no but atleast I can be happy that it won't be for too long.
3. Working as a temp means that I can have as much time off as I want - all I need to do is give a weeks notice and I am free! Hint hint - anyone want to come for a visit?
4. I get to meet lots of people and hopefully make lots of friends and work in lots of different environments.
5. I'm hoping that eventually I will end up at a gallery or a newspaper or a TV Station or something cool like that.
6. My hours are regular and I have weekends off so I can do fun things with my new friends.

So for whatever reason I am not totally despising this job anymore and I feel happy - the only real bummer is my laptop killed itself and I think I'll have to get a new one - but hey I'm working now so I can afford it - yeah for good money!