Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Mid year resolution


to go with my mid year crisis and mid life crisis too. Tomorrow is the 1st July, we're past midsummer and I'm thinking "where has the year/my life gone?' barely getting into my stride after the winter. MA studies taking up considerable time but now flowing much better since I have allocated study days (technical term for spending the day in your pyjamas, having snack breaks every hour and reading without feeling guilty) and actually manage to write some content. It's also made me focus on future plans and starting from tomorrow I am pledging to blog at least twice a week. For the purposes of the MA I've been keeping a written journal so it may as well be on line. I'm hoping that with a little discipline I can gradually move content to the blog anyway and try out ideas. Haven't had a website for over a year but not rushing to replace it until I know what I need. The blog seems like the perfect way to do this.

Felt very pleased with myself for ordering a card reader to be able to transfer images off the camera more quickly. However, when it arrived its not compatible with my xd card even though the description said it would be. Darn. Anyway it is ok with my mobile which doesn't take great pictures but here is one of the chickens just to prove I can actually do it.

Note: They're easily bored and not very good at group pictures, but as they lay the best eggs ever I forgive them.

Thursday, 14 May 2009

How many jobs is it ok to have?

Found myself facing redundancy at the end of April. Not surprising as the farm shop had been so quiet for months but still came as a bit of a blow. Finished work on Thursday 30th, registered for Job Seekers on Friday 1st then picked up a part time job on Saturday 2nd. 

When I went for my interview at the Job Centre the following Wednesday they seemed somewhat surprised that I had taken a job. Not only that I still had to check the 11 pages of my JSA application to confirm they were correct then hand write a note at the end to say why I wasn't going to claim after all. I could have claimed for 2 days but it really wasn't worth the hassle. Very glad to get out of there. 

In the meantime I had also contacted a few friends, colleagues and people who may vaguely remember me to ask if there was any work about. Really want to get the MA finished for the end of August and prepared to do whatever it takes to bring in enough to hold body and soul together. Has been successful; have bookings for craft workshops, part time job at local Spar, work with an outside caterer, registered with another and working on a freelance basis for my previous employer. Then there's the voluntary work with learning disabled adults which I still do a bit because its very satisfying and the staff are lovely.

Guess spending my days wearing pyjamas and watching Jeremy Kyle will have to wait.
Adult Learning week 
14.05.09 - Bromyard library. Papermaking
15.05.09 - Kington library. Book making.