dole, interrupted
I was unemployed on two separate occasions, when I lived in London in the 90s. The first was about six months after I had returned from South Africa with my stepbrother and my life's savings, which did not go all that far after being converted from Rand and spent in London on living expenses for two blokes. We also applied for, and got, housing benefit, which kept us afloat, though I learned a lot about frugality that serves me well as a (mature) student today. (One hint: forget Pot Noodles, find the Asian Market and get real Ramen and weird curry stuff.)

The best part about this dole period, which lasted about six months, was the day I could call up the office and say "I'm signing off". The Job Centre had done its work, and I had a contract job as a security administrator at a South Kensington museum. When I wasn't needed at my desk, I would wander the halls, talking to the guards, who had to be nice to me since I processed their sick days and leave requests. 8)

That ended after 18 months, I went back on the dole, and got offered an NVQ course in PC support in the City. I got the first part done and moved to the second, while applying for jobs. Dominant memory of that course: installing Microsoft Office on a PC using 36 floppy disks. Well, it killed time. (It was around the time that John Smith died - we could hear the sirens from the classroom.)

To my eternal surprise, I got an interview where the manager was as weird as I was, and a job offer. I got to make the call to the dole office, plus the pleasure of sauntering in to the course to tell them "I have to leave the course... because I have a job". And lo, there was rejoicing, and I never had to install Microsoft Office from floppy disc ever again, since the new employer was quite advanced: they had the CD-ROM drive!
( bnt what, me worry?, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 23:19, 2 replies)

Good God
I remember that install. It took fucking AGES!

I've got an old, old copy of Windows on 5 1/4" floppies. It's in the loft for posterity.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Apr 2009, 23:26, closed)

36 floppies?!
Back when I were a lad it were only 20 or so. Word 6 and that lot.

Setting my 386 up for full DOS 6.22/Win3.11/Office version whatever it was with Word for Windows 6.0 on it was one of the few times I've ever fallen asleep on my computer...
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Sun 5 Apr 2009, 1:35, closed)