There’s been two posts about icons recently and if I’m not careful this site may become overrun with them (they breed really quickly). With this in mind I’m going to devote each Monday(ish) to slapping the five most recent designs up on the blog and getting your feedback, then I’m going to add them to the challenges pages, so head over there to see the complete set and suggest new tasks for me to complete.

1. Write More

Out of the four options I posted a few weeks back this was the favourite, unfortunately Gingell thought it looked more like wadded tissue.  I have added an obvious corner and, on Antonio’s suggestion, made it lined paper.  I think I discussed this challenge in enough detail last time.

2. Get out of Debt

This was originally black, to represent credit, but I have toned it down to a  charcoal shade (once again based on Antonio’s opinion).  I used a pound sign because my silhouette of the Queen was so bad it was probably treasonous.  Other possibilities such as crowns and lions didn’t seem to be intrinsically linked to money.

I grow closer to completing this challenge each week and it wasn’t long ago that my bank account was in the black for half a morning (although my overdraft isn’t my only debt).  Back in April I said “Over the next few weeks I will update this post as I join more agencies, sign up to new websites, hand out CVs and fill out application forms.”  This was a stupid idea that would force my readers to shuffle through the archive on a regular basis to find the most recent news, instead I’m going to write a little update here.

Back in March I applied to write for US-UK Review.  I sent them five examples of my writing (the majority culled from this very blog) and waited.  US-UK Review had set a deadline for getting in contact with applicants which they then extended by almost a month due the large response.  Ten days after their second deadline they called me up.  They asked me my age and the dates that I was at uni and then said that my writing looked good and they’d be in touch.  I’m still unsure as to whether it was the politest brush off ever or if there might be a job at the end of this.  According to the latest news on their website I should know within the next week.

In the mean time I have been applying for local temp work.  I have applied to be an administrator in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a secretary in Stoke and last Tuesday I earnt £80 recording the vital stats of Stokie buses (this work was acquired through the university JobShop, so might be worth people signing up).  I have filled out an application form to work at Schuh which I will be handing in tomorrow and at the same time dropping CVs into any places with vacancies (I know WHSmiths is hiring at the moment).

I have joined the Birmingham branches of Addeco (recommended) and Blue Arrow (once gave me three days work in a factory processing crab meat) and am on the mailing lists for the Arts Council and the newly launched JobPlot.

3. Give Blood

This icon speaks for itself and this is one of the few challenges I have completed so far, successfully donating one pint of the red stuff on Friday 27th March.  I have also sorted it out so that I now only appear once on their database, hooray for accurate record keeping.

4. Wake up at a Reasonable Hour

In the beginning this was a simple clock face with the hands just about to graze half nine.  To make it more obvious which challenge it relates to I’ve turned it into an alarm clock.  While this challenge is not being accomplished on a daily basis, it’s happening more frequently.  This is predominately down to Gingell.

5. Quit Swearing for Lent 

I decided to use an asterisk to represent swearing because I had so much fun playing about with them in this image.  Unfortunately no one seems to link this solitary charcoal-coloured star with swearing, so if you have any ideas please comment.

Over forty days and forty nights (and six Sundays that represent mini-Easters) Mr Piggles (aka the swear tin) raised £23 which I used to sponsor Gingell in her bid to raise money for Lupus UK by completing the Asics British 10K London run.  The run isn’t until next month, so you’ve still got time to time to show your support.  Might also be worth keeping an eye on her blog in an attempt to snag one of the goody bags she’s giving away in the next few weeks.