I love snow. However I might not be saying that tomorrow when I have to get to work.

Tomorrow is my first proper day at my new job. I went over to the house Wednesday last week and met my new clients. They're 3 very nice elderly gentlemen. One has profound learning disabilities, and the other 2 are moderate to severe. Compared with other places I've worked, it should be very easy and relaxed. The staff seem nice, there are only 3 of them at the moment plus a Deputy Home Manager, they've been coping with agency staff for months. I think they were relieved to have got someone with experience. The manager seems very laid back, and the staff seem to be on my wavelength (we work for the clients, they come first, and we should be out of the house every day possible.) The house is in a lovely area, very posh! Not like Skem where we had kids breaking the windows.

The shifts are great! I only need to do 3 a week. 8am-7pm, 11am-9pm and the sleep-in shift is 8am-8am, that seems harsh, but it gets it over with and you're technically off duty between midnight and 7am. I would be home for 9am, and if I was tired (which is inevitable) I could grab a few hours sleep and still have a decent amount of the day left. The sleep-ins where I used to be were 4pm till 12 midday, which meant you were dreading the sleep-in all day and didn't have time to do much for yourself, and by the time you got home the following day and caught up on sleep the day was over. It's still going to take me 45 minutes to an hour to get there, but 3 times a week to a job I enjoy is fine by me.

For the first month I'm not doing any sleep-ins, but I'll still only be working 3 long days, and a half day. Bliss! No news on what I'm working over Christmas yet though, please let my have some time off and get to see my parents for a change!

I've made the most of my long weekend. Friday night we got invited out to sample the delights of StalyVegas. We've avoided these delights so far because the music played really isn't our thing, but a lad Porl has been doing some recording with invited us and it would have been rude to refuse. We started at Wetherspoons, where we met Carl, his girlfriend Rachel, and all her nurse mates, then over the next few hours we went to Lounge, Pad (where I had a dance to some remixed 80's songs, unfortunatly no-one joined me). Then we ended the night in Rififfi's, which may look like the Arriba in Ormskirk, but thankfully it doesn't smell like it, the music is better, and the clientele are generally at least 10 years older. The over 25 rule in StalyVegas isn't stuck to strictly, but it does help to keep out the worst of the riffraff.

Saturday was spent nursing a hangover. I can't handle booze anymore, Sunday we fought the crowds at Tes-cos and did our usual lunch which was as delicious as always. Both days successfully managed to avoid turning on the computer, and instead spent a lot of time on the sofa sewing this.

I started this over a year ago, but I haven't done any cross stitch for months. I picked it up again a couple of weeks ago and since then I've done most of the sea. I'm hoping to get it done for Christmas. The top half is done, thankfully the bottom half is less detailed so I might be in with a chance.
I doubt I'll be making my Christmas cards this year, and I'm not sure when I'll get any other presents made. Hopefully with these short weeks I'm working I'll fit everything in.

Well the job is still going great, I'm feeling a bit sore because for the past couple of days we've been doing Physical Intervention, and Restraint techniques. After a year of sitting at a desk all day my body is complaining about having to use muscles again, even for the most gently exercises. It's been interesting, I just hope I won't have to use it.
Tomorrow I'm going visiting the new home where I will be based. I'm a bit nervous as no-one I've spoken to so far has been able to tell me much about the clients, I'm hoping that means they're all nice and quiet as it's always the harder ones that you remember.

I've learnt, and confirmed a few things about myself too this past week. First that this is definitely the job for me. I knew that already, but it's nice to be reminded. On Tuesday evening I was sat at the PC with a big grin and feeling so relaxed, all the tension on the past year had vanished. Also I've been coming home at the end of the day (or early afternoon) and I have the energy and enthusiasm to do something other than fall asleep on the sofa.

It's also been interesting because I can see the changes in my attitude. When I was working for Chess I was always the quiet girl in the corner. Never spoke up, kept my head down and got on with the job. I couldn't do that as much at Atlantic because there were so few of us, but I doubt any of them would have considered me confident or outgoing. I was valued in the jobs, and I was asked my opinion, but I rarely spoke up.
However this past week I've been one of the more outspoken members of the group. I've even had to force myself to keep quiet to try to encourage others to speak. It's all because I'm confident in my skills and knowledge, and I care about getting it right, and helping others to get it right.
One of the managers at Atlantic said I wouldn't make a good manager because I was too quiet, but this last week I can see I could be a good manager in this job because I have the confidence. I can even imagine going on to do further study in topics then becoming a Trainer. Which would mean doing that most scary of things. "Standing up and talking to a group". Normally it terrifies me, but I've done it so often this week without even batting an eyelid.

So in conclusion. I'm happy. Hurrah!
I've got a cold though. Boo hiss!

Stupid Migraine.
First day at the new job went really well, would have been better had I not had a nagging head and felt mildly rubbish.

The first 2 weeks are training. Today we've done boring things like General Inroductions, Policies and Procedures, and Confidentiality. Also scary things like Fire Safety (I'm thinking about putting doors on the rooms downstairs, and I'm NEVER having a real Christmas tree again.)

Later in the week we get to do the fun things like First Aid, Breakaway Techniques and Challenging Behaviour. I've been working with people with Learning Disabilities for 10 years and I've never had training on Breakaway Techniques or Challenging Behaviour... although I have managed to train other people on them. So I'm quite looking forward to that.

I've also found out where I'll be based. Gatley. Which isn't great, but I don't care. It's not an office job and I'll not be doing it in rush hour. Annoyingly all the homes they had in Tameside are being sold off in December to a different company, so there's not much chance of being moved closer to home. Apparently it's a really nice easy home though, and the manager is very flexible so it should be good.

In the interview I said I'd like to work Part-time, but they obviously didn't make a note of that, so I'm Full-time. I'm pleased though, Full-time means that when the maternal instinct gets too strong I can have time off and get a decent wage, we'd struggle if I was Part-time. It also means more money if I want to try for a secondment and do a nursing course. But they're both thoughts for the future.

The main reason I wanted Part-time was so that I'd have flexibility with holidays, but thanks to Agenda for Change I've ended up with 27 days + 8 bank holidays. That's 7 weeks! That'll do me fine.

Now time for bed to sleep off the headache. I don't start till 9 tomorrow. Which means I get 2 whole hours extra before the alram goes off than I did this time last week. Luxury!

The last day at work went surprisingly calmly. On a Friday you can usually guarantee BT will cease one of our customers lines, but thankfully it didn't happen. Instead one of the problems which had been lurking for weeks got resolved, which was a nice ending to it all.
I got a lovely card off everyone, and assurances the if I change my mind about the NHS they'd be quite happy for me to come back... please... preferably next week.
But that's not likely.
Also got a big box of chocolates and a bottle of Rum... they seem to think I like it.
Which I do, but not as much as Porl does. I rarely drink much nowadays, but as Porl likes rum when I do drink that's what I end up with. Porl was most upset when I took this lovely bottle home and told him I was under strict instructions not to let him have any.

Yesterday I went shopping in Stockport, I finally got around to buying some jeans as all the ones I have now are either too big, or too small, it's lovely wearing trousers that actually fit.
I was also very good. I went to Hobbycraft and bought.... nothing! I've decided I'm going to save up for a £300 model Dolls House to make for my little girl.... when I have one... if not I'll adopt one.
I couldn't resist spending money in Borders though. I bought my Dad a birthday present, it's today so Happy Birthday Dad! A bead magazine, and another book which is going to be my main inspiration for Christmas Presents. Obviously I can't say what it is until I've decided who I'm making them for.

Last night I got all dressed up in my new jeans and we went into Manchester for Adam's 30th birthday. Adam was our lodger back in Ormskirk. He moved in for a couple of weeks while he looked for somewhere else, and he left about 18 months later to move to Manchester. It is partly thanks to him that out cats are as fat, and as friendly as they are.
Unfortunatly after about 5 minutes of driving in the dark my head started hurting. By 10 o'clock it was pounding and I was feeling sick so we had to leave. We got home I took 2 ibuprofen and was in bed for 10:30. I woke a couple of times in the night but fell straight back to sleep again until 12:30 this afternoon. I still feel woozy, achey and tired, but at least the headache has gone for now. I hate Migraines.

The only other thing I've done today is dig in my compost bin. In the dark. Moonlight gardening. My grandad would be proud of me.

1 day to go.
I'm starting to wish I'd given myself a few days break before starting the new job, but I need the money. Working part time means I'll have plenty of free days once the training is over and the new job starts.
The panic has set in at work. Everyone is trying to get everything up to date before I leave. I worked through every lunch break this week, and most of last week. But I've refused to stay late. I doubt I'd get paid for it.
Tomorrow I am Definately not. 4:30 I'll be out of there.

I have a leaving interview at 4pm tomorrow. It could be interesting. I'm curious what I'll be asked. I haven't decided yet how honest I'll be in my answers.
It depends who does the interview.

I've been avoiding the PC all week, I've been so tired and I'm fighting the beginnings of a cold, so I've been curled up on the sofa doing cross-stitch and trying to get early nights. The cross-stitch is coming on well, but I've not perfected the early nights yet.

10:55am


11:15am


It took all of 15 minutes for the 2 delivery people to put this up. I think the fact that it was chucking it down with rain may have made them more eager to complete the job swiftly. (The pictures are taken several hours apart really, hense the fact that the first picture is dry.)
Finally I have a space to put junk like pots of paint and tools, and my poor - probably rusty - bike.
My poor bike has spent the last year chain to a bench and covered with a slightly pathetic cover. I might have spent the rest of eternity in that state, but thankfully I've found the key to the lock so it can be released.
This also means the taunts about my Bike/Bench, or Bike with Sidecar, can be ended now... Jimmy.

I've had a lovely day off work today, meaning I have just 5 more days left. I've done very litle except play Caesar... I'm still stuck on the same level though.

I just got ID'd at the shop!
For buying cigarettes!!

Now I know I don't look 28, people usually peg me as early 20's, the look of shock when they find out I'm 28 pleases me every time.
Normally I blame my youthful look on the pigtails, but I didn't even have them in tonight.
I haven't been ID'd for a couple of years, so I thought those days were past, but getting ID'd for cigarettes is just silly. There's no way I look under 16... is there?
Maybe I have some wierd gene which is going to make me look younger as I get older. If I have I want to bottle it then I'll never have to work again.

Work today was interesting.
The guy who does the same job as me has been asked to leave. I haven't a clue why, he's a great guy and brilliant at his job. He's been there about a year, but I think they've just decided his face doesn't fit. My managers knew I was leaving before the decision was made, but it made no difference.
After that was announced, the team were then told that I was leaving. We were the only people who knew how to do our job, and it's a pretty key role. So that fact we're leaving within a week of each other has caused chaos. Rumours are flying around the other teams, Managers are in a blind panic, and if I wasn't stuck in the middle of it it might be quite fun to watch. I feel bad for the people I'm leaving behind, but the company knew the score so only have themselves to blame.
Thankfully no-one is being off with me. They've all heard me talk about how much I loved working for the NHS, I'm not going to the competition, I'm leaving for a more worthwhile cause.
I'm so pleased my notice period is only a week not a month.