Mount Fuji, very pretty, not a cure for depression

First of all, I must credit my Uncle with the spotting of this, ta muchly old stick.

A Guardian article claims in its headline that "Looking at Mount Fuji 'can cure depression'". The article starts by saying that a famous Japanese photographer has noticed that people enjoy looking at his photographs of the mountain.

A further comment from Dr Toshiaki Goto (we don't know a doctor of what though) is quoted as saying

Looking at the sun rising over Mt Fuji could provide a rush of adrenalin in the morning

and

Seeing a photo of the afternoon sun near Mount Fuji is likely to produce a substance called acetylcholine ... which leaves the viewer feeling relaxed.

Fortunately, we have the inevitable 'but some people disagree' line that passes for journalistic integrity these days.

"As a doctor, I don't think it's possible to say that merely looking at a photo of Mt Fuji will clear up any health problems," Kazuo Sakai, a doctor at a mental health clinic in Tokyo, told the magazine.

I have no doubt that the photographs are excellent, and provide enjoyment. I have no doubt that the sight of the sun rising over Mount Fuji is wonderful and can trigger lots of jolly chemicals that give short term relaxation and pleasure. I have probably experienced many similar experiences myself.

What irritates me is the Guardian peddling the myth that depression is nothing more than a passing fit of the blues that can be whisked away with a little short term buzz. The implication being that anyone claiming to be depressed should buck themselves up, look at some pretty pictures and stop leeching from the benefits system. In some ways I wish it were true, of course, I know that they are talking rubbish.

Mount Fuji is a gorgeous mountain though.

No news is bad news

I have yet to hear anything regarding my job, which can only mean that I haven't been successful.

I feel pretty awful. Upset that I didn't get the job. Worried about having to continue with my current job and the stresses it causes. Irritated with myself for failing to get a job which I am more than capable of doing, which I would love to do, which I could do much better than I do my current one. Frustrated that whenever I try to do something to improve things I fail miserably.

Thankfully the Lovely Lady Duck has been giving me plenty of support. At least I am only morose about my uselessness, and disheartened about my future rather than anything more severe. I wish I could be even better than that for her though.

Ho hum, back to it all.

Job update - interview

The interview for the job that I applied for was on Friday. I prepared myself quite well, giving plenty of thought to the questions that I thought I would be asked, and my answers to them.

The panel was very friendly and weren't too vicious in their questioning (I love working in the Public sector, the interview would have been much more vigorous and intimidating in big business). Overall I felt I handled the questions fairly well, and didn't go to pieces as is my eternal fear. In retrospect, I think that some of my answers tended to over emphasise the wrong areas. I think I underplayed the specific skills that I could bring to the role.

There were only two other candidates being interviewed. This is where my biggest concern lies. Such a small list for a role with a relatively large responsibility leads to me to two possibilities. Either there were very few suitable candidates who applied, or there was one very strong candidate, or more likely an applicant from within the service who is the automatic winner.

The first option probably helps me. The second leaves me high and dry, as happened the last time I had an interview. Then, one of the other applicants had done the job as maternity cover a year or two in the past. Whilst my feedback was very positive, and I believe the manager when she told me that I made the decision much harder than anticipated, there was still no way I was going to get the job.

I have no problem with that, it would have been absurd for the job not to have gone to the person who had already done it. I was beaten by a better candidate, plain and simple. However, it frustrated me that I still had to be put through the grinder in the first place.

Now all I can do is wait. The panel were deciding Friday afternoon. I didn't hear anything on Friday, so that lowers my hopes of being offered the post, but they may have decided to leave it until Monday morning. Time to wait and see.

I really want this job, I can't help thinking that it would be much better for me and my health.