They think its all over.... The problem parents have been delaying announcing the winner of the 'brat girl to work' competition until the prize was completed. However, given that the prize could have more delays than the building of the Scottish Parliament they have decided to announce the winner today. This does mean that with further delays to brat girl's art project – we'll leave it as vaguely worded as that for the moment – we could be closer presenting the winner with a Christmas present. So,  after consulting 20 sixers and brat girl the problem parents are pround to annnounce that the winner is: Congratulations Kate... We'll be in touch about the prize.

22.8.05 19:40 Permalink / 6 Comments / comment

Much Too Much “So how did the interview go?” enquires crap dad. “OK” is brat girl's non-committal response. “What did they say about the job?” continues crap dad. “She said it was 8 'til 8, one day a week off to go to a hair and beauty course at college, finishing at 3 on a Saturday. The pay is between £70 and £80 depending on 'ow good I am. She told mi t' fill the college application form in and send if off straight away.” “When is she going to tell you if you've got the job?” presses crap dad. “I dunno. She din't say.” “Do you want it?” “Nah, I think I'll go to college and do mi A levels.” Given the job requirements, somehow cap dad had already guessed that.

18.8.05 18:09 Permalink / 6 Comments / comment

Don't Believe Everything You Read Evil stepmother helps brat girl complete a job application form. As they sit there discussing the questions evil stepmother makes notes for brat girl to transfer to the application form, including the question, "What words best decribe you?". Twenty minutes later brat girl cries out, “MOM!!! You made mi write 'Cheeky' on mi application from. That in't funny!” Gasping with laughter, evil stepmother confesses that she also doesn't have any Tipex either, whilst crap dad chortles away to himself.

17.8.05 18:18 Permalink / 2 Comments / comment

Que Sera, Sera The pressure is on. The GCSE results are published on 25th August and brat girl is starting to fret. The over confidence, the blasé responses to encouragements for increased levels of revision, the nonchalance displayed when warned that 'D' is not a pass, have faded away - reality is beginning to exert it's grip, but the problem parents are still concerned that it hasn't quite 'bitten' yet. They fear that the world of low paid, short term, service sector work is just around the corner, but brat girl does not seem to be motivated into a frenzy of job search activity by her current unemployment or impending exam results. She has said that she doesn't know what she's going to do - a sure indication that she knows she won't have the grades for the course/s she applied to. The standard response when the problem parents have questioned her about whether she's phoned this shop or that, has been, “I'll do it tomorra.” When asked if she is at all worried about her exam result she shrugs a “Nah” and carries on painting her toenails. Brat girl is on a cusp – will she be condemned to a world of low paid episodic work or to a career facilitated by further and higher education? The view of each future lies, frighteningly, before her, and she is managing to ignore it all with her amazing and complete stoicism. The problem parents try to keep their growing angst and concern in perspective.

12.8.05 18:09 Permalink / 9 Comments / comment

Jobs For The Girl The problem parents meet each other after work in town and travel home on the bus. As they make their way they discuss their concern about brat girl’s lack of application on the job search front. Soon after they arrive home brat girl tells them that during the day she has asked a number of friends about vacancies where they work and has scanned the local paper for jobs. Sometimes it’s good to be proved wrong

5.8.05 15:43 Permalink / 5 Comments / comment

Who takes the prize? They didn't renew mi contract cos ... Chaotic "... Cos..Cos *tear* the dun unnerstan me" KateEvans "... the economy is slowing due to continuing uncertainty over escalating violence in the Middle East, rising oil prices, a slowing housing market and growing public hostility towards the European project, all of which has an adverse effect on interest rates and the UK economy in general and hits the retail sector hardest, with overall job losses expected to be in the tens of thousands over the next quarter. Can I have a tenner to go see a film with mi mates?" Beachhutman "... they fort I'd be more suited to a job in a "nothersector". Wassa "nothersector"?" Brat girl “... they woz 'opping to move inta a bigger place, which were why I only ad a six week contract, but they ain't gunna move now so they aint got not more work fo' mi.” We think these are all the entries, but if we've missed one please let us know. The problem parents are deliberating and cogitating ... Wha'da'ya think is the best reason given for the non-renewal of the contract of employment?

3.8.05 18:55 Permalink / 8 Comments / comment

And now the end in near... “So, how did it go at work?” enquires crap dad “Oh, they have underpaid mi three shifts. The manager said she'd sort it out and it'd be in mi wage packet in a couple of weeks time.” responds brat girl. “So what about any more work?” “Erm, that aven't got any for mi. They woz 'opping to move inta a bigger place, which were why I only ad a six week contract, but they ain't gunna move now. The manager said that she'd 'ave kept mi on and extended mi contract if they'd a moved” “Ah well. You'll just have to look for another job now” soothes crap dad. Later the problem parents discuss whether the manager gave brat girl all the reasons for not renewing her contract.

27.7.05 21:31 Permalink / 2 Comments / comment

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