Today was an odd day with a smattering of driving pain, driving in rain, new dawns and sunrises. It was my first post interview visit to my new employers in North Wales, a pre visit before I start properly in Wales. I was at Unity in the morning sorting some brochure odds and ends before driving over. I realise now that I’ve learnt the following things.
- It’s faster to get the bus into Liverpool city centre than drive and parking.
- £4.50 for parking is an obscene amount…
- …especially when you don’t have the correct coins and the machine doesn’t give change.
- Stalling at traffic lights in rush hour doesn’t endear you to your fellow drivers.
- Nor does stalling again 30 seconds later in front of the same driver as before.
- The third time is when they think you’re taking the piss
So I drove over to Wales and the icy rain started to fall, literally rain with ice, as if rain alone wasn’t quite hardcore enough. It was with a little trepidation. When you start a new job you’re entering the unknown – what if they hate you, what if it’s awful, will it ever stop raining?!?
I can happily report that I had a lovely time. The building is immense, I’ve never walked round a place for 35 mins and then discover a cinema, or a cafe or a subterranean tunnel. I can also report that the bakewell tart is excellent and served at a size which promises diabetes, there is a great pub next door (from where I’m writing this), incredibly friendly staff, offices with space (a foreign concept to me as I’m used to working in a cupboard) and some incredibly exciting plans.
The wind howled, rain poured and then as I finished the sun came out and revealed the view that’d been disguised by heavy set rainclouds.
Beautiful.