Intrigued by long-running advert in Guardian: Home help needed for female writer...

cr1mson

Ok this I admit is probably the product of an overactive imagination but noting the Guardian response says it is a genuine advert not a genuine vacancy maybe it is a way of communicating. If I am ok then the advert will run as I will have arranged for it to be run if it doesn't run send help/take action.

Off to lie down in darkened room now to stop my imagination running wild!

C

Saturnalia

A mate said similar Cr1mson, that it could be a message to a "sleeper" - the week the ad doesn't run, s/he is to carry out their mission!

He also theorised that it could be something to do with the swinging scene & those on the scene will know what is being advertised (and obviously e-mails applying for the home-help job are binned).

I have an over-active imagination too, I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying all this! The idea of possible mysterious communications hidden in plain sight really is intriguing. If it turns out to be a real job ad I'll be gutted!

Anyone got today's Graun? I normally read it online but might treat myself to the dead-tree version (I'm looking for a job anyway & their jobs section is good!)

Er, eureka! It's there to increase their sales, there are probably dozens of us saddos looking for the ad each week!

cashless_wonder

Not in there this week . . . if the sleeper theory is correct then keep an eye on the news ! LOL . . .

Hardly any jobs at all advertised this week Saturnalia . . . not sure it's worth forking out the £2.10 if you don't have to . . . .

Saturnalia

Flamin' 'ell £2.10! That's what it costs now?!? I was thinking somewhere about a quid, no wonder I don't buy papers these days!

jollyanna

I recall a very similar advert running in "The Lady" mag. about two decades ago, for seemingly, years.
In addition there was another one from someone who was over-weight and wanted a resident diet helper! That one ran for 2 or 3 years.
I wonder if it is a person who keeps a family member enslaved and enjoys the perpetual taunt of finding a replacement for them ?

emsywoo123

cashless_wonder wrote: »

Not in there this week . . . if the sleeper theory is correct then keep an eye on the news ! LOL . . .

I thought it had been in there every week for 10 years?! :eek: :eek:

Oh my days. Well, she didn't want my help anyway.........

Hiccups_2

Saturnalia wrote: »

Permanent

This is a part-time, live-out position.

Employer is a female writer.

Weekday shifts are ideally from earlyish to 2.30 pm with shorter times a possibility. They can be on one, two or three weekdays.

Employer walks normally but has very weak arms due to a neck injury. Her neck movement is limited and therefore carers should be between 5'3" and 5'9" in height.

There is no personal care. Duties include housework, shopping for groceries, and whatever comes up.

Due to employer's disability there is a certain amount of detail in the work and this is taught. The position could suit a student or professional person. Applicants should have fluent English, and be reliable, organised, have a good memory, genuinely enjoy helping and have bags of common sense and initiative; and good references. A sense of humour is useful. Cooking ability would be a bonus.

Apply by emailing an informative cover letter about yourself, giving your phone number, address, ( and which neighbourhood/ tube that means), email address your age - and your height.

A CV if you have one - pasted, not sent as an attachment- is useful, but you can put the major points of your education and past work as well as other current work in your covering letter.

Thank you.

I smell a rat with the height thing, because it seems to imply that the disabled lady would always be standing to give instructions / speak to the carer. Wouldn't it be more usual for her to be seated / remain seated at a desk / in the study or in the living room?

The height given is also very precise. It's as if she actually measured the span of her vision. However, people have a large visual span just through eye movement alone. Try looking straight ahead and, without moving your neck, take note of the highest point that you can comfortably observe without any eye strain. It's even easier / more comfortable to look down, just by moving your eyes, so why even specify a minimum of 5'3"? The height specification doesn't make any sense.

This is very intriguing.

gallygirl

emsywoo123 wrote: »

I thought it had been in there every week for 10 years?! :eek: :eek:

Oh my days. Well, she didn't want my help anyway.........

Maybe someone on here got the job

Saturnalia

It makes it even weirder that the ad didn't run this week as this thread is the most attention it has had in years. There have been a couple of other forum threads on it but they've only ever come to about 5-6 posts, and there have been none for a good few years.

They know we are on to them!

anewman

MI5 have restrictions on height for entry I believe. They don't want people who are tall and stand out.