Jobbing

Jobbing sounds less daunting than looking for a job - which is officially what I am doing, the first application letter has been written, but not sent. Even people who like to keep me optimistic agree that it is not a great time to be trying to look for an academic job, so, even though I have another 9 months left before I officially become jobless, I am not as hopeful as I was a year ago. But who knows, they may suddenly realize that rather than wanting someone highly qualified with 10 JPSP publications and masses of teaching experience they want me! Who knows (hmm, well it would have helped if the person offering me the job had not told me they did not want someone in my area..).
Otherwise life chugs on, next week I give my first talk in Dutch. Got slighty jittery when I tried to make it today (partly because I started imaginging all the regression questions people might ask and that I could not answer).
Luckily I have plenty of motivation to distract myself from these thoughts, I am spending a lot of time running circles in the Vondelpark in the dark (in case you are reading M, it is not dangerous, I run in a 'jogger jam'). It can actually be quite exciting, like when I can't see whether the thing approaching me is a jogger, bike or dog, which has implications for how to avoid crashing. So far all gone well, but I try to run during the day as much as possible (not that it seems much lighter then, what a grey time of year!).
Time for a healthy orange, it's almost weekend. This time next week will be the evening before my talk, urghh.