I'm taking a little break from blogging, not for long, just until I get myself out of this unemployment malaise. Life at the Bainbridge Homestead is a little topsy turvy at the moment. I will still visit your wonderful blogs but having spent so much time in front of the PC, I'm only interested in grabbing my emails and the odd post on Facebook. What was fun, has temporarily become a chore.

I'm spending at least six hours a day on recruitment sites, looking for work, registering interest joining 'mature age' employment agencies and online resumes, making appointments with the 'overly optimistic but nothing to offer tweens' who probably still live at home and have more disposable income than the CEO of most major banks. Then, if I find a job, I spend another two hours meeting their specific criteria, filling in forms, customising the CV and schmoosing with whoever is necessary and I'm exhausted.

Frankly, I'm stunned at the lack of temporary positions even though I've told them that I'll work for whatever rate is going. I am demoralised, dehumanised and thinking about what the hell to do next short of a full page advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald, now that might get me some much needed media exposure. I need some income and I need it fast. Frankly, I don't think there's a lot out there and more and more are being laid off each day. This, two days after Kevin Rudd announces we have avoided a recession because the numbers stack up and we're .04% higher than the stats that would officially declare us as such. Listen here chickens, I've lived and worked through two recessions and I've NEVER had a problem getting a job. So what's different this time? Oh hai . .I'm 52 . . .It's very hard not to hate my previous employer for not negotiating a wage freeze or even decrease right now.

Amid my current search, which I have discovered doesn't even qualify me as a mushroom picker and to be honest, I'd be quite happy picking mushrooms, my children's businesses are beginning to take off so here's a shameless plug. And I'm serious . . .if either one does hit the floor running I will be eternally happy.

Spesh Design is going ballistic. So much so, that she hasn't had time to upload her latest web designs. She's focussing on small 3-5 page websites for start-up businesses and the kid is working 11 hour days and delivering well priced websites so if you need one, or know of someone who does . . she'll create a custom site for a reasonable price. You want SEO or shopping carts, that can also be arranged. At last, four years of agonising design study at NSW's most prestigious University is reaping rewards. All payments in Aussie dollars but hey, we know our maths and can convert. It doesn't matter whether your in Manhattan or Mumbai . . Seriously, if she takes off, she may employ me.

For the locals (although I'm sure if you sprang for the fare he'd be willing) AB's Garden Assault is the new website for the horticulturally challenged. Hire a handsome hard working son of an unemployed woman and he'll assault your weeds, ballistically build your retaining walls, pwn your pavers and give you an outdoor room that will never see you crawl back indoors . . .he's the guerrilla gardener of your dreams and he'll give you a good price. Hey, he'll even be your pool boy!

And moi? Well I'm still getting over the fact that I am not 'experienced' enough to pick mushrooms or too overqualified for a 'Girl Friday' . . . and not pretty enough to pole dance!

So don't delete me from your reader . . .I'll see you on the flip side! Hopefully sooner rather than later.

And special thanks to those of you who have emailed encouragement, it means more than you will ever know.