new job and impulse buy

In my current job search I have applied for a wide range of job types. One of the jobs I applied for is with a cleaning service, that had said that they need people for shifts in a variety of the small towns in the area, including mine. So when I applied,the week before last, I sent a CV that didn't mention things like the degrees I have, but did mention the various "service" jobs I have had over the years, and specified that I want something part time while I am studying Swedish and other classes in Swedish at the local Folkhögskola. I got an automatic reply straight away, asking me to take a test online to check my Swedish fluency, and other things. So I did. That Friday I got a call letting me know that in my village they have only two small jobs, that together add up to seven hours a week. If I am interested, can I come in to the city to discuss it on Monday? So I did, and accepted the job on the spot, went home with my uniform, and started working the next day. The job won't pay much--roughly half what we typically pay for electric/water/trash pickup, but it is only 1.2 hours five days a week at the local health care clinic, and another half hour or so two days a week at the pharmacy, so it doesn't much interfere with studies and hobbies, and is a nice gentle transition to working again after being only a student for a full year.

The first couple of days I worked with a colleague for training, and have been on my own since then. I like the job. Listen to an audio book as I clean. Last week I spent a little longer than the budgeted time, working, as I got used to it but today I was much closer to the correct time.

However, as a direct result of having a job, I just impulse bought an electric "sparkcyckle" (no idea what the English word is for these--the fancy modern skateboards with a stick and handel). Today, as I walked to work a couple of guys drove past me on theirs, up the hill faster than I can walk, no need to kick to keep going. I commented to Keldor, with whom I was talking on the phone, that I would like one. So he consulted with google, and sent me a link to a suggestion. When I got home I bought it. In three days my commute will be even faster than it already is. But now I wonder if these things work by kicking if the battery is flat, or if it only works with electricity? I guess I will find out.

textile festival

Last weekend was a large textile festival co sponsored by various crafts related organisations here in Skellefteå. There were workshops held Saturday and Sunday at one location, and, at another location, one of the local dance halls, was a markert and displays from as many different clubs, societies, and organisations as wanted to participate. 

Of course I was there with a few SCA friends to represent our organisation and, hopefully, recruit new members. The hall opened at 08:00 for set up, and Keldor and I arrived by 08:30. They had warned me that our table would be near the windows, and that the area could get warm if the sun was shining, so I brought with me my fancy appliqued viking cloak and some scrap wood, intending to build a quick frame to hang the cloak from, to put in front of the window. However, it turns out that there is a metal rod in front of the windows from which things can be hung from, and the organisers had steel thread we could use, so we hung that, and a couple of shields for Reengarda and Nordmark, and our display area looked really nice. There were fours of us in the booth, greeting people as they came by with "Välkommen till Medeltiden", and similar phrases, explaining that we do everything that was fun before 1600, including crafts, dancing, singing, cooking, fighting, archer, everything.  We gave Reengarda business cards to many people, and quite a few stopped to actually talk with us. There were two young people (highschool?) who were really enthusiastic, who had already been looking forward to attending Skellefteå Medieval days, and when I told them that if they join our organisation they can spend the whole weekend at the event, not just the day time hours open to the public, at which point they both squealed and said "a dream come true". I really hope that we see them again!

It was also nice to walk around and look at the other clubs and what crafts they were displaying. I pointed out to the one doing bobbinlace that if she wants an excuse to have that lace on her clothes, we are the perfect club for her.  I did my best to avoid the center of the dance floor, where the merchants are, though the rolls of yarn that so many were selling were tempted. I do not need more yarn. I do not need more yarn. I do not need more yarn...