Silent Saturday #3

Source

Sunday stroll

Last Sunday, Dena and I decided to go for a wintery walk to blow away the cobwebs.  I hadn't really ventured out much since my operation and it was considerably warmer than the previous few days, so I donned my wellies, grabbed my camera and off we went.  

It was very muddy and all the trees are very much still bare but as the woods are just behind my house, it's nice to be able to see it change throughout the seasons.  

I'm trying to get to grips with my camera and my course suggested thinking outside the box for creativity so I'm trying to take pictures of things that my eye is immediately drawn to.  Not sure how it's working out, but I'll give it a go!

I'll definitely be going out for a winter walk again soon as I felt so much better and invigorated afterwards. A great way to banish the winter blues!

Disneyland Paris 2015 part deux

One of my favourite things to do in Disney is to try and take "different" photos (although I think Disney parks are designed for this... photo opportunities everywhere!) and as the theming is so good, there is always something to take a photo of! 

I was quite surprised at the lack of Frozen merchandise at Paris this year; I was expecting an Anna and Elsa take over but there were only a handful of things!

Everyone needs a castle and Mickey/Minnie ears shot!  I like these two photos as they offer a different perspective of the parks.  I'm usually so in awe at the parks that I forget to look up and miss out on so much.  

I don't often get photos with characters because I'm too impatient to wait in the queue and I don't want to get in the way of the children's magical experiences.  As we went this time with my nephew, who LOVED meeting all the characters, we decided to jump in the queue behind and meet Buzz! 

There's always an opportunity to make a wish at Disney, whether it be in a fountain or during the Wishes! fireworks.

I loved the sparkly Sleeping Beauty's castle... I'm really looking forward to seeing how Disneyland, Anaheim celebrate their 60th anniversary with a beautiful diamond castle. 

CRP | CV and cover letter

I'm aware that a round of applications has just closed for the CRP program at the time of writing this post, but hopefully it'll help the next round.

Of course, this post, by no means you're guaranteed to get through to pre-screen. Just thought I'd put that in there.  I only mean to offer advice and suggestions! 

It seems that the CV and cover letter are a fairly new part of the Yummy Jobs application and you spend so long focusing on the longer, essay-style questions that when you come to writing your CV and cover letter, you feel like all you have to say is what you've already said.  That's okay!

Tips for your CV:

• Your CV doesn't need to be three pages long; in fact, it's better if you are able to keep it shorter.  Many employers don't look past the first page of a CV so you need to make an impact on your CV: keep it short and snappy!
• Include a brief introduction about yourself at the top of your CV.  It's a great opportunity to hook the reader in so make sure you sell yourself. 
• Try to avoid "buzz words" - google popular or overused phrases used in job applications and avoid!  Everyone is a "hard working team player!"
• Adapt your CV to the job role.  Highlight your transferable skills from your previous jobs/experience.  Even if you don't think it will fit, make it!  If you've worked in an office, for example, talk about your communication skills, your reliability etc. 
• Remember to match up your CV with your online application; you don't want massive gaps or differences between them.

Tips for your cover letter:

• First of all:  check your spelling and grammar!  This is something that can potentially make or break your application.  Simple spelling errors when applying for a job screams of laziness! 
• Swot up on the Disney brands and values.  Disney is much more than a theme park and you need to show them that you understand this.
• Don't forget you're applying to be a cultural representative - you need to explain why you think culture is important and how you can authentically share your culture. 
• The cover letter is a great opportunity to add in the extra information you couldn't fit into the application, so if you have anything you desperately want to share, and it's relevant, put it in your cover letter. 
• Use the cover letter to give a brief overview of what you have to offer them.  Talk about your work experience, any skills you've learnt during education, and a bit about your personality. 
• Be genuine!  Sounds like it an obvious one, but be yourself.  It will be clear if you're trying to be someone else.   
• Have a clear structure for your cover letter.  Use paragraphs appropriately, group the information together (work experience, education, personal qualities, reason why you want to do the program etc) and link them well. 
• Be memorable.  Make Disney want you as much as you want the job.  You have fantastic qualities and skills to offer, so make sure it shows.  
• Keep it relevant to the Walt Disney Company.  Maybe include a quote or link the core company values into your own.  This doesn't mean stick a Walt Disney quote in every other sentence, be subtle but effective. 

At the end of the day, you're going to work for a multi-million dollar company who work hard to maintain their reputation and business.  You need to be an asset to the company: professional, reliable and passionate about the brand and the job. 

Spend time doing your application; the application is open for around a month on Yummy Jobs so you can save your progress and go back to it.  I think we completed our application over three or four lengthy sessions, checking, editing and double checking!  

There are people out there who have applied seven or eight times but don't get disheartened.  It really is an incredibly competitive process and if first you don't succeed, well, you know the rest.

Good luck! 

February Fun | Life lately #6

L-R Miles, the Thomson bear! - Hospital perks - Sleeping Beauty's Castle - From one Disney park to another. 

I feel like I say this all time but: where has time gone?  I cannot believe we are in February... in 2015!  But anyway, enough of my realisation that I'm getting old, here's what I have been up to: 

Eating : After my operation a couple of weeks ago, I ate all the foods that I wasn't able to enjoy pre-op!  I had pizza for the first time in nearly 18 months and it was so good! I need to start focusing again on what I eat but I do feel so much better eating well.    

Drinking : I've been enjoying a lot of Beanie's coffee recently; I love the flavours.  We have Amaretto Almond and Cinder Toffee at the moment, the hint of flavour means that I don't put any extra sugar or sweetener in.  

Reading : I'm reading a lot of books about American culture (which I have blogged about).  I think I'm enjoying it so much as it's reminiscent of my university days; I'm reading to discover and learn something.  As much as I love reading to relax and switch off, it's great to be able to absorb and relax at the same time.  A lot of the books are debate-worthy too.  I am a such a loser.  

Watching : On TV, I am glued to Broadchurch.  I'm  not sure if it's as good as the first series but it's still really gripping and Miller just cracks me up.  Olivia Colman is an amazing actress, David Tennant can do no wrong in my eyes, and the rest of the cast is just stellar, I mean: Charlotte Rampling!  Looking forward to seeing how the storyline unravels.  On the big screen, I feel like I've been disappointed.  I've seen a lot of musicals and they're not my favourite genre.  I did, however, love The Theory of Everything.  Two of my favourite actors (Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones) in a British film, full of Britishness, laugh and cry moments,  A beautiful film. 

Planning : The WDW planning has quietened down a little bit so I'm not really planning that much at the moment.  I'm having to save, save, save which means I'm working my day job, doing private tuition, and working during the school holidays.  I'm feeling quite busy but it'll all be worth it. 

Anticipating : February half term,.  I just said I'm saving but I have a few exciting days planned during the half term, days that have been planned since August last year and Christmas!  In fact, I'm bursting with excitement.   

Buying : Again, trying to save so no beauty products.  I did buy an online photography course, I've mentioned that I want to get to grips with my camera.  I've had it for so many years but never really had the time to dedicate to learning all the settings, tricks etc.  Hopefully this course will help me understand my camera, I'm never going to be a professional photographer but I want to be able to take photos that I will value and treasure forever. 

How's your February looking?

Disney Style Inspiration | Valentine's Day

I've been window shopping again!  This time putting together Disney inspired looks for Valentine's Day.  First up, we have a look based on Elsa.  We've tried to stick to her icy cool palette but given her a bit of edge with a faux leather biker jacket.  Of course, it's accessorised wth very expensive but beautiful diamonds, reminiscent of snow flakes, from Tiffany's!

Leather high heeled strappy shoes from Missguided - £24.99 // Faux leatherless biker jacket Top Shop - £52.00 //
Faye Bardot Bodycon dress from Missguided -£10.99 // Lynn earrings from Tiffany's - £2,600 // Lynn pendant from Tiffany's - £2,125

Next up, we have Princess Aurora or Sleeping Beauty!  She's a little more conservative than Elsa so we have chosen a pretty crochet skirt with a cream jumper and a few statement jewellery pieces.  I think the ring is definitely Aurora-esque!

Black cross strap wedge shoe from New Look - £19.99 // Crochet mini skirt from Top Shop - £25.00 // Monki knitted top from ASOS - £20.00 // Capri stone ring from Accessorize - £10.00 // Moving triangles statement necklace from Accessorize - £10.00

Exploring American culture through literature : Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Source

I've just finished reading the second book on my pre-USA reading reading list:  Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  This one is a little different in that it's a relatively recently written book, published in 2009, and McCann is an Irishman currently living in New York.

The first thing that really struck me about this book is it's portrayal of New York being a living, breathing entity.  The city is described with such precision and life, it really reminded me of A New York Winter's Tale.  New York, it seems, can either be a beautiful creature, presenting its inhabitant's with countless opportunities and pleasures, or a beast that can eat you up, suck out your soul and then spit you back out, and even though it treats you like this, you still  belong to the city and the city belongs to you.   

The novel is set in post-Vietnam, mid 1970s, just after the construction of the Twin Towers.  The World Trade Center acts as a kind of focal point which joins together all the stories and lives of the characters.  The Twin Towers unite people from all creeds, colours and backgrounds, and it seems extra poignant to me that we found ourselves in similar situation only forty years later.  

Let The Great World spin is a multi-layered portrait of life in this area and as I said, overlays and weaves together the lives of very different people, from the a judge and his wife living in the Upper East Side, to prostitutes in the Bronx, ex-pats and more.  It really drives home the message that although these people are incredibly different, they all live through the same fundamentals in life: they love, they grieve, they make bad decisions.    

I really enjoyed this book: it was challenging without being hardwork; it was beautiful, yet gritty and real; it gave a honest insight into a city that struggles to be contained onto pages.  The protagonists came to life in their own chapters, some more likable than others, but all genuine and believable.  There are no less than eleven main characters in this story and it seems like a feat to drive the story forward when you are creating so many in-depth and three dimensional characters.  This book has made quite an impression on me and I'm sure that if I ever get the opportunity to visit New York, I will think more about its complexity and facets as it continues to grow and evolve.

Next on my list is John Steinbeck's East of Eden.