Quick update,

So here's the craic...

Yell Adworks has decided that it was time to set myself, and a few others from the office, free to explore other opportunities. Not having loved the job in the first place this wasn't the end of the world, but loving the people that I worked with, having no savings left and needing some sort of steady income does make it a bit of an issue.

Thanks to sick days and having had my pay staggered by a week means that I now have 2 weeks of paid time which I can use to find a new job. I've been looking into the areas of hospitality and tourism because, at the end of the day, those are the industries that I think I'd like to work within. In that vain I struck out this morning, on my bike, to have a look around at what options I had in Reading city centre. My search was depressing. Reading is a renowned 'clone town' which I find disheartening in many ways.

T'was at this point that I decided to head to my little beacon of non-clone comfort, the Workhouse Coffee Company for a cup of Joe, a seat atop the sacks of coffee in the bay window and a read of my book. T'was also here where I got chatting to the proprietor who asked where I was working. When I informed him of my situation and my interest in eventual entrepreneurship, he said he was keen to make me a part of this team. I expressed an interest and will drop of my résumé later this week. The catch is that the money stinks. The upside is that they're willing to teach me everything involved in running the shop. The better news is that they're willing to have me work another job to earn a good wage and then work around my schedule in order to take me on board!

I don't know yet how this will all play out, but it certainly seems promising!

Is it just me?

... or is this the same guy?

My diabolical tea scheme

Each morning I purchase, from the coffee bar downstairs, a large cup of tea for 40p. But unbeknownst to the establishment I have, over the weeks, amassed a selection of teas in my desk drawer. For herbal or green teas I reuse the café’s paper cup and all I have to do is add hot water from the coffee machine before I can enjoy a steaming cup of bliss.

For a cup of PG Tips I have a far more sinister tactic. I reuse the café’s paper cup, pop in a tea bag and hot water and head for the elevator. Once in the lobby I make my way over to the café but instead of going to the counter I aim slightly to the right and walk up to the carafe’s. It’s at this point that I adopt a nonchalant aire and casually milk up my brew ‘till it’s colouration indicates the perfect timing for delicate application to my pallet.

Minor infringement or massive disgrace? Have a look at the math and you be the judge …

Black tea

40p x 2 cups a day x 5 days a week x 16 weeks = £64 total savings

Herbal/Green tea

50p x 2 cups a day x 5 days a week x 16 weeks = £80 total savings

Please note that the only real cost to the café is a splash of milk which probably only measures a cup every 2 days. The rest is just good economics!