Working It

I have never been a great one for networking.  It comes about as naturally to me as Olympic level gymnastics.  My instinct in a room full of people is either to take up residence cross-legged on the sofa with a bottle of rosé wine at my elbow, and wait for people to circulate, or stand in the kitchen by the drinks.  It's a kind of passive, random socialising.  It reminds me of Forrest Gump sitting on that bus stop bench, with a variety of people passing through his narrative.

A few months ago at work we had a visit from a representative of a university where I would really, really like to work.  For once I didn't stand in the kitchen. I was all helpful, and gave him a sort of cross-section of me being casually ace.  It wasn't totally calculated as I had not at that point definitely decided to leave.  OK, it was a bit calculated.

One of my colleagues used to work with him and she messaged him last night about my return to the UK.  He said he would be more than happy to try and help me, so I emailed him today.  It is by no means an offer of work, but it's a very good connection to have, in the place I would like to be working.  

And a friend has given me details of a temp agency in London that deals almost solely with universities.  Things are tentatively, gently, almost starting to be in a position where they might possibly fall into place.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have a fridge to move.