What’s to come
Just going back to that Twitter debate I was having with reader Andrew. He replied (you might have seen it in the Comments) It turned out I had kind of misrepresented his point of view. Shame really as I put quite a lot of effort into those arguments. Still, it was quite a stimulating exchange I think. There is still some discussion to be done, but I’ll save it for another email.
Another recent topic of debate is rugby (good, or stupid? Worth watching this here World Cup, or not?) and I was going to get cracking on that today, but events have conspired against me a little bit. Following the initial canvassing of opinion there were definite encouraging signs that I might be able to convert that one person I made my target, so tomorrow I’ll do a genuine blog on the oval-ball game: in time for the weekend’s raft of crucial fixtures. It will be a proper opinion piece, like the ones this week which have shot this blog back up the charts and seen it peak at 4.6 million readers (not a genuine figure).
I did so much writing today, it would make your hair curl. The new novel is getting quite close to being finished now. Still almost a year to wait for it to appear, but those years go by quicker than you think, I can tell you. And there’s the graphic novel to think about as well. So although this is another day of rather limited bloggery, you can have a good old think about what’s to come. And the first thing is that blog about rugby. Boy, you’d better be ready for that. It’s going to knock a few heads together. I can tell you that now. It’s not going to be pretty. But that’s Watson.
Posted by Rachael on September 21, 2011
Do we get any clues as to what the book might be about? Or the graphic novel?
Posted by Andrew on September 19, 2011
I enjoyed it as well – I put quite a lot of effort into my arguments too! Now let’s do Palestine. (Only joking – I know almost nothing about Palestine.)
Posted by Andrew on September 19, 2011
Lydia, a couple of comments on job interviews:
1) A huge amount of the time, decisions on job interviews come down to arbitrary factors which have nothing to do with your ability to do the job. You might discover something in common with the interviewer, they might like your shoes, for a hundred different reasons (most of which they’re not even aware of) they take a liking to you as opposed to someone else. My point being, do not take failure at job interviews personally, it could be down to literally anything.
2) This one is going to sound a bit stupid, but bear with me. I used to be painfully shy and hopeless in social situations, until I went on my year out from university to Spain. I didn’t know anybody and had a choice between sitting in my room doing and learning nothing, or going out and pretending that I could really speak Spanish well and could understand everything everyone was saying. I opted for the latter, and it required a lot of bluffing – I was pretending to be self-confident when actually I was petrified. But, I discovered, if you pretend to be self-confident and people don’t know you, guess what – they fall for it. They don’t know any different. And, slowly, you actually become self-confident. I realise it sounds idiotic – “If you’re shy, just pretend you aren’t” – but the very act of pretending changes you. Remember, the people interviewing you don’t know anything about you, they don’t know that you’re ‘supposed’ to be awkward, for them you can be anything you like.
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 17, 2011
Thank you, Lydia
There’s no substitute for positive vibes and thinking which seem to be coming my way at present!!!
Sorry to hear you were out of luck at your interview yesterday
Re interview techniques … firstly I don’t have enough experience to claim I know all about it, BUT it helps if you look friendly and relaxed, although not too easy under the circs!!! I can give you a technique to help if you like … just ask …
However, firstly try to think of something to put on your application that’s going to be completely different to anyone else.
I know someone who plays the flute so it was a great relief for the interviewer as they had something different to talk about and also made the applicant stand out from the rest when it came to remembering who was who at decision time!!!
Rummage in your memory bank to find something you’ve done or achieved or you’re interested in that’s unusual …
Hey, I’ve just got an idea and I’m ABSOLUTELY serious, how about mentioning your TYSIC???
Obviously the interviewer won’t have a clue what it is, let alone have set one up … They’ll HAVE to ask about it AND, you can then mention where you got the idea ie the blog of a famous comedian!!! Another couple of topics to discuss???
Hope my ramblings have helped and at least give you a new train of thought … full steam ahead!!!
Best of luck – plus loads of confidence – in all future interviews!!!
Posted by Lydia on September 17, 2011
Yay, I’m glad you set up your TYSIC, Suzanne.
I will not comment on sport. I will, however, ask if anyone has any advice for getting through job interviews? Particularly for the very, very socially awkward. I keep being interviewed but I never get the job (2 rejections yesterday). So yes, any advice on how not to seem like an idiot despite blatantly being one would be helpful. Thank you.
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 16, 2011
PS Great news about the nail biting saga of the nail in your bed, Alexander!!! Believe it or not, I have wondered about it from time to time …
I’m always amazed how a blindingly obvious solution to a problem stares you in the face and shouts at you for an absolute age before it suddenly registers!!!
Eureka lives … hooray!!!
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 16, 2011
Discussion re the oval ball put on hold for a few sentences … and an alert!!!
Some say that sport is just a load of balls … which for many is absolutely true …
Take today for instance, cricket balls and the emergence of a potential star in Jonny Bairstow at Cardiff against India: tennis balls in the gut wrenching (literally!) performance of James Ward plus Andy Murray in the Davis Cup v Hungary; also, over the weekend the oval shaped ball producing up and unders downunder, if you see what I mean!!! Not forgetting, the round ball game … cue, finger crossing alert …
*** FINGER CROSSING ALERT ***
SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2011
LEEDS UNITED v BRISTOL CITY
KO 3.00 pm BST
*** FINGER CROSSING ALERT ***
I trust everyone kept their fingers in peak condition by training hard during the international break. Elland Road away is always a tricky fixture! All help appreciated!!! Even Mark himself has acknowledged that this extra help can and indeed, probably and/or possibly has made a difference!!!
Change of sport. Today I saw the riders in the Tour of Britain cycle race shoot through Shepton Mallet … not once, but twice due to ingenious routing!!! Blink and you missed them … both times!!! The support teams constituted the majority of the procession … I’ve never seen so many cars with two bikes on their roof racks!!! I don’t know how many riders are competing but first time round there were three out in front on their own, second time round they were all bunched together, within fractions of inches of one another … incredible!!!
Great news about the next novel although the long wait is very hard … just as well we have the DVD to keep us amused in the meantime!
Mark, I wonder if you saw my email amongst the billions you obviously receive on an hourly basis???
Jen, I’ve set up my TYSIC … it’s quite good really because I’ve suddenly got up off my backside and achieved a number of things I was going to put in it … Am I allowed to backdate my challenges??? Quite impressive if I tick off a number of them within 5 minutes of posting! However, I suppose that’s akin to cheating! But I don’t mind really because it’s the aims I’m achieving that count … THE END
Posted by lisan66 on September 16, 2011
Bloggery…that’s a great word!
The O2 in Dublin is playing the Ireland match tomorrow morning for free on giant screens to try and get people involved. I think that’s a brilliant idea, but I’m not going. Might watch it at home if I’m awake though!
Posted by Alexander on September 16, 2011
Hey Mark,
Really quite a long time ago, I asked you for advice on what to do about a nail sticking out of my bed that’s always slicing me open in the mornings. You said that it would be worth it to remove the nail, and save myself a lot of annoyance and blood. Today I came up with a solution, turning my bed round one-hundred and eighty degrees, so the nail now faces the wall to which it is adjacent.
I’m never gonna get cut again.
Anyway, you asked that I report back to you so that you and your readers might stop worrying about my vulnerable legs. I hope you’ve not been terribly concerned for all of this past year (I found the post, September 13th, 2010) but just in case I thought I ought to let you know.
And Eleven was truly excellent.
Posted by Misha on September 16, 2011
Good work sir. I do enjoy some Rugby.
Posted by Jen on September 16, 2011
Them be strong words – I’d better watch some rugby this weekend!
Can’t wait for the new book -eeek!Jx
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on September 16, 2011
Looking forward to the rugby blog, Watson. Well done on the writing too.