Viking invaders and award-winning porridge

First off, I didn't get the job. It was for a part-time office administrator at the Oban Volunteer Centre. My interview went really well and I could tell they were impressed with my experience working with volunteers and volunteering myself. Everything was perfect... except for my temporary work visa.

Here's what the letter said--

We thought you interviewed very well and demonstrated a range of relevant skills, knowledge and experience that you could bring with you to the post to boost the job and the functioning of the organization. However, we were concerned about your temporary status in the United Kingdom and the difficulty in obtaining a work visa for a part time, non specialist job and this was a key factor in our ultimate selection.

Encouraging, though disappointing. I don't blame them--in their position I would do the same thing. The truth is, I shouldn't be applying for jobs like this, jobs that I would actually want. No, the only jobs I'm allowed to apply for are temporary, therefore non-serious, and not what I want.

To obtain a work visa through an employer, I have to find a full-time specialist kind of job, a job that only I could do. How many jobs are there in Oban like that?

The big news around here is a local woman who won the World Porridge Making Championships, becoming an 'international celebrity overnight'. The Oban Times article describes the 'media frenzy' that ensued when Ms. Soep won first place with her organic pinhead oatmeal porridge.


In other news, herring are scarce in the Western Isles and changeable autumn weather has set in everywhere. Just today we've had rainstorm after sunbreak after rainstorm.

Viking raiders are also invading, after a thousand years of peaceful coexistence. One gladly posed for a photograph before executing the photographer and carrying the reporter off over his shoulder.