Busy Bee

So much for having plenty of time to blog!  I had not anticipated how busy I would actually be! 

I have been having career counselling sessions, with lots of homework. Setting up coffee dates and keeping in touch with friends and colleagues, revamping my CV, swimming – lots of that, joining craft clubs, and being a full time mum.  Don’t ever underestimate that one!   

The expectation of home-made baking for afternoon tea and being met from school with the dog at 3pm most days!  Plus, as any diligent person realised being at home you start to see the things you ignored while working – oh I will just dust, hoover, put another wash on, tidy the kid’s bedrooms, wash up, clean the fridge and bam its 2.50 and you need to get to school.  Darn where did the day go?  

Let’s not forget that I leaped just before Christmas, and as a busy mum I had most defiantly not got prepared for Christmas, so I had to fit in writing Christmas cards – yes I made it a short list this year and was late!  Getting presents in the post to family the other side of the world and hoping they get there in time, despite missing the last postage deadline!   Then there was the kids and hubby to buy for, plus eldest daughters birthday 6 days prior to Christmas (plus my own on the same day).  Then prepare for the family holiday away camping over Christmas – what was I thinking????   Good job I had all this time to prepare now!!!  

So yes blogging may have slipped down the list of priorities somewhat!

But I was organised enough to get the dog to the kennels, having booked that 10 months ago and organised a friend to pop in and manage the cats, rabbit and guinea pig.  They all survived!

I also got some books from the library for my days camping, by the pool and I got through these and more, plus plenty of knitting!  A very successful holiday and it was one of the most de-stressing holidays yet for the whole family.

I will take this time to recommend a couple of the books – lets practice my citation referencing while I am at it!!!

Sandberg, Sheryl (2013) Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.

Vigeland, Tess (2015) Leap: Leaving a job with No Plan B to find the Career and Life you really want.

Plus a few chick Lit’s.

Sheryl’s book has been on my reading list a while – I found it inspirational and she says it how it is. Having worked in too many companies’/government departments where the same mistakes are made time and time again, it’s refreshing to hear that she works for one of the great companies that are doing it the right way in this progressive world.   I have briefly worked for such an inspirational company prior to leaving the UK, you do naturally then hold all other employers and managers to that standard, and more often than not they do not meet it and fail spectacularly in some cases.  It’s this realisation that I want to work for a good manager in a good company that helped me decide to Leap.  The lack of people management and support in the work place can never be underestimated, if you ask for it and they fail to step up, then it’s time to find someone/where else that is deserving of you. 

My heart also went out for her reading the chapter around her relationship with her husband and their teamwork, it makes me thankful that I too have a very supportive husband that does the housework, is hands on with the kids and does cooking.  The book was written prior to her husband’s sudden death in early 2015 and this change to her life must have been shattering and yet she has amazing inner strength and her resilience is inspirational.

The second book by Tess Vineland was found on the local library shelf and just jumped off the shelf at me.  I was hooked from the first page – it’s great to read about someone else’s journey, while walking a different path, her cognitive thinking resonated with me perfectly.  It allowed me the chance to stop and say, it’s not just ok to leap, but should be the new normal in this very different work we work in.  I also came away realising that it’s the brave, but right thing to do for me at this time.  I would highly recommend this to anyone thinking of or who has taking a Leap of faith.

To finish this post as I get the girls and dog ready for another gorgeous summer beach walk – a picture of the sunset at Ngawi New Year’s Eve 2015.