one heck of a summer finalist: chapter II of life

July 28th, 2009

Craig Connor is the author of our final blog post from the final shortlist of 10 applicants who got through to the first round of interviews to become the first Globe Trotter for lastminute.com.

He starts his story on the opening page of a new chapter in the book of his life, but so far, the pages are empty…

For years I’ve had it drummed into me, “Follow your Dreams”.

Today is to be Chapter II of that famous best-seller ‘Life’.

A lifetime of loving the planes, sandcastles and the true British holiday-maker, provokes an eagerness to go further, to share the secrets I‘ve collected along the way.

I want to write, to make people smile, to provoke that sense of adventure in others, those eager to escape and come along for the ride.

Wading through the busy city, I’m led to question today’s choice of attire. What started out as a lemon V neck is more transparent with every step.

Glimpsing the London Eye in the distance, I’m not going to be there anytime soon.

Listening to the outline for the morning, I weigh up the other hopefuls.

- A professional journalist?
- Experienced bloggers?
- Am I really in the right place?

Come on Craig… of course you are!

There is one quality that I don’t see elsewhere in the room, something mother always told me made me different from the rest… ‘Craigy!’

‘Craigy’ is about going out there and getting what you want, overcoming all obstacles in your way. It’s about keeping that ‘can-do’ attitude which is so often thrown away and never recycled. It’s about offering the attraction that brings people back time and time again.

‘Craigy’ intact, v-neck now dry as a whistle, fuschia pink at all angles demanding a little more action.
And I’m not to be disappointed! Not just action but “Lights, Camera, Action!”
My time has arrived, an interview panel of 3, 5, 7… 9!

Who do I talk to?
Which way do I look?

Time to show them what I’m made of.

Q Why did you apply?
A Easy enough question… it should become clear.

Q Why should you get the job? “

A Be honest Craig” I thought, “from the heart”.
Travel is a passion, when I talk about it, you can see that. Other loves have been and gone but this has remained constant. Like the ‘lust stage’ in a relationship, the more you see, the more you want. Yet this doesn’t fade away, it gets stronger.

Q What sets you apart from the other candidates?
A Can I really answer this without sounding bigheaded? I guess we all have to give honest answers, after all, everyone is here for the same reason, the chance to pack our suitcases for next Friday. Sharing memories of living in the poorest corner of the poorest continent, developing an understanding of how to accept a place on all levels, I hope the answer comes up trumps.

The questions are quick-fire, not like questions I’ve been presented with before, except over the dining table at Christmas. Superhero qualities, rides and even questioning the authenticity of my skin tone!

Gazing out the window, thinking about Boy George, completely engrossed in the moment, I could answer these questions all day. I think they sense that too and it comes to an end.

Now is the waiting game, is it time to turn the page?