Of job hunting and little French villages

So I walk into the office of this highly recommended "outplacement" agency. I meet a very tall guy wearing a suit.

Me - "As you can see, I have a good educational background and work experience for a Finance position in Geneva"

Guy - "Yes, eets very gud"

Me - "So how long do you think it will take for me to find a job"

Guy - solemnly.. "I must warn you that it cood take 9 to 10 months"

Me - flabbergasted. "But I will have a valid work visa within a couple of weeks..."

Guy - "Yes, but thees is Geneva. Here things work only if you have a network. "

Me - "OK. Will you be helping me out with this?"

Guy - "Sure. Yo pay me 4000 CHF. I will give you a desktop with internet access at my workplace. And (smiling conspiratorily) I have contacts with placement agencies. Also I have a profile on Linked In "

Me - Mentally " Are you !@#$ing kidding me?"


It looks like I'm in for a long haul as a bored, unemployed housewife. Maybe I should get into the outplacement business, sounds like a dashing good gig.

On the positive side, made my first trip to the South of France this week. We drove down to Annecy. It was charming. Its a little village on the banks of a lake, with a canal flowing through it.It had all the picture postcard fitouts - Chateau, historic church, street marching band,pubs and brasseries on the canalfront. Loved it.

Am looking out to a view of the Rive Gauche at the Rhone. There's a light breeze, and the light keeps changing as there are clouds in the sky. Despite the depressing outlook on the jobfront, I feel strangely calm and optimistic. All I want to do is go for a run.

Natural beauty counts for a lot. Who knew.