Goddamn you, Hollywood.

Maybe in future I’ll take up gardening as a hobby or something. Oh wait, scratch that, I hate gardening.

I have a funny feeling the Lions are going to stick one on the South Africans. I’m aware of the fact that they’re the underdogs, and that South Africa are the World Champions (doesn’t this remind you of 1997?) but I just have a quiet confidence that the overwhelming arrogance of Southern Hemisphere Rugby is going to take another knock. The Lions have selected a strong squad, capable of competing with the Springboks across the field, and have not made the mistake of selecting any worthless lumps *coughJoeWorsleycough* up front in an effort to just bully their opponents. I thought O’Gara had done enough to get the nod as starting 10, but Stephen Jones will be more than able to do a job there. The rest of the backs are on form and carry a lot of menace. Lions to win a tight one.

This isthe first time I’ve actually watched a season of The Ultimate Fighter straight through, and I’m completely hooked. The antics inside in the house are relatively tame but the standard of the fights at the end of each show has been incredible. Hopefully this will carry through to tomorrow night. In the Lightweight final, there’s two Brits, André Winner and Ross Pearson. Although Pearson has been tough and aggressive in each one of his fights this far and truly looks like someone you would not want to run into in a dark alley (or elsewhere) I think André is going to have just too much class. I see a unanimous decision for André. In the welterweight final DaMarques Johnson, the USA’s sole representative, takes on James Wilks. Since his first fight, I’ve been a huge fan of Wilks. Although Johnson is the favourite here, I see Wilks knocking him out in the second round either with a knee or a high kick. Hopefully he’ll knock out some more teeth as well. Finally, in the main event, Diego ‘Nightmare’ Sanchez takes on Clay Guida. I predict Nightmare to take it, but I have no idea how as I know very little about either fighter.

As for Vikings training, well, I had my first training session with them in 18 months last Wednesday and god I’m sore after it. Not just sore, but tired as well. I had really forgotten 1) how hard Vikings training sessions are; 2) how sore American Football can be; and 3) how difficult it is to wrap your arms in a tackle when you’re wearing shoulder pads. It was really enjoyable nonetheless, even when I got blindsided and wiped out by a Linebacker while coming across the middle. Although all this fine Brussels/New York cuisine, plus my generally lazy lifestyle over the last month in Brussels, means that I’m nowhere near as fast or as fit as I should be. Got to start hitting the gym again.

Firstly, an explanation. This is my first ever attempt at a blog or anything. Apologies if it’s shite. Basically, the idea behind this blog is the following.  I have a bad habit of going into a rant. If I start talking about a subject, I end up getting on a soapbox and ranting on for minutes and hours on end. So rather than do that, I’m just gonna start shooting all this stuff into cyberspace.  This way it is easier for other people to ignore me. JUST DON’T READ!

Anyways, on to the blog. Something that has begun to really get on my nerves over the last few months is the perceptions a lot of people seem to have about the current state of the jobs market. Specifically, the thing that bugs me the most is the sort of people who ‘advise’ me on how to secure employment and beat the recession. It might just be me, but it seems that the majority of these people are still operating under the delusion that the economy is booming and there’s jobs for everyone. All you gotta do is cross your fingers and hold real bad! These same people generally have a similar profile: high-earners, have held down stable jobs since before the economic crisis. The thing that bugs me is these guys always seem to think they have all the answers, that they know everything about employment and the jobs market, and you’re a fool if you don’t listen to them. They then proceed to list helpful hints such as

1) Look at job sites

2) Send CVs to recruitment companies

3) Go back to college and get a Business studies degree

4) Network (this one is actually useful)

Of course, if you make a suggestion such as getting a different Masters, doing a PhD, or teaching English you’re the idiot! Your’s is the hare-brained scheme, destined to result in failure and the dole!

GET A FUCKING GRIP. A person who has had a stable job this entire time, in 99.9% of cases hasn’t a clue what the job market is like, and are talking completely through their holes. Do you not think that I’ve tried your advice already? Or is it that you think I’ve spent the last 5 months sitting on my arse waiting for a magical fairy to just fly in the window and grant me a job paying €36,000 a year?

If you really want to help, give me a contact or tell me about an opening in your company etc. Save your patronising and arrogant comments for yourself.

Or I could just be moaning.