Tag Archive for work

Part Time Holidays

08/01/2012 Joh Business, gratitude, holidays, learn, work

I’m continuing my part-time job during the school holidays. I love working there, some days it doesn’t even feel like work. My days off are more precious because they are rarer.

This week a customer came in who is converting a barn and we had a great conversation about all the challenges involved and found the perfect floor covering for her needs. I’m delivering it to them next week and will get to see the project. I meet lots of interesting people making their homes in their own ways and it’s fun to help them select the perfect floor covering.

I enjoy my drive to work. It’s about 45 minutes through really open country. Lots of people complain about the boringness of that drive, but I experience the spaciousness. The countryside changes colour with the clouds. I love it. There are a couple of spots on the way that I pay particular attention to.  Such big views! I enjoy listening to my music and making playlists for the trip.

I had big plans for the shop over Christmas. I was expecting less traffic and getting lots done. We did a bit but were busier than I expected, which is always a good thing, so there are still a few more jobs on my list. I have found a place for all our new tile samples. I enjoy maintaining the displays and getting to know each pattern, texture and size, imagining where it would best serve. Filing it away in my mind so when the right person comes I will know where to find it.

We are getting the computer program and systems into better shape. I need to learn more about MYOB. It is a different package to the one I used for ‘The Butchers Dog’ so there are things I am tweaking. The book-keeping is different. I did the book-keeping for ’Unique Furnishings’ and ‘Total Vision’ manually and I had systems in place to keep informed of the business stats. I am still working towards finding the way to get this businesses stats.

I love the freedom and responsibility my boss gives me to have a hand in all aspects of the business. It feels as though it is my own, yet I am working with a team. There is another sales person as well. We often all have different opinions and this makes for more interesting discussions.

I am immersed in home improvement. I am learning. That is what I love most about my part-time work.

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Full Moon in Gemini – Lunar Eclipse – Sunday 11th December 2011

09/12/2011 Joh astrology

The eclipse happens in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I thought it was going to happen tomorrow all week. I just checked and it’s Sunday here in Australia. This week has been a bit mad and busy and as Kelly Surtees post mentioned this morning the high and low tides reflects in our emotions.

Eclipses in December are pressure cookers. We are busy completing things and preparing for the festive season and whilst an eclipse is possibly right it adds some intensity. Here’s Jo Tracey’s day, which reminds me of some of the conversations I’ve had this week.

I’m tired tonight. It’s been pretty warm here today. I had a big weekend last weekend. My birthday celebrations and the 10 to 10 filled out most of my weekend and spilled over into the week (well the birthday part anyway). I felt very grateful. I enjoyed catching up with the old school buddies. It’s deserving of a post in itself.

I’ve finalised work arrangements for next year. I have started planning my part-time project for next year after having a 6 month contract confirmed late last week. I’m working with disengaged students at school for a couple of days as well as at the local Neighbourhood House one day a week. The list of students keeps growing. Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. I’m also finishing up with my current students. Many of them are not looking forward to Christmas. I listen to them and that’s about all I’m good for. I can’t make it all better. Excitement about the challenge of the project will come, but probably not until after I’ve had a rest:).

I’ve had to rearrange my days at Choices also and I felt concerned that it wouldn’t work for them. I find the contrast between my two jobs so refreshing. The school offered me to work full-time but although it would be more money, I think I would burn out quickly. Having two and a half days ‘playing’ with floor coverings and homemakers is like an antidote to the sadness of some of the young people I work with who live in a different world. I finally had the conversation and it was no problem. My boss there is flexible and appreciates me. It is a good feeling.

There is more but I’m having an early night:)

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Teaching Chocolate Tart

22/11/2011 Joh food, learn

I want to make Chocolate Tart with my Wednesday students (I have to come up with a better descriptive name for this group for next year). I want to use the recipe we used to make it in the shop, but the problem is I never used exact quantities. This is why I am not a food teacher:)… well there are other reasons such as the limited range of my cooking skills.

I have googled, but not one of the first couple of pages have a recipe that even has the same ingredients. I have found that learners are a bit particular about following recipes, I know I was. I will have to write-up the nearest approximation tonight.  I probably should have suggested something more practical like mini pizzas or hamburgers. There is nothing like chocolate tart to get disengaged people engaged though!

I’m guessing another learning experience for me tomorrow.

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Change of Routine

15/11/2011 Joh work

My new work life is lovely. I start and finish at different times on different days. I work six days a week instead of five but those days are mostly a lot shorter. The variety keeps me interested. My longest days are at the workplace I enjoy most. The time flies there. It’s good for me to be this busy. I enjoy my free time more.

It looks like I have a new project next year for the two days a week I’ve been relief teaching. I can’t say much more about it, because it’s not confirmed yet. What I can say is I know it will be challenging, yet enjoyable. I will have the flexibility and freedom to try out some of my ideas.

When I look back on this year, work wise, there has been a lot of change and uncertainty. Things have worked out very well though. I had brief moments of anxiety about it all. Not knowing was new for me after years of stability. The routine of staying in the one place too long had become not good for me. I was becoming lazy and disinterested.

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I have a new job

01/11/2011 Joh family, gratitude, work

I am working part-time in a new job. I love it. It was one of those serendipitous jobs. I have Judy to thank for it. I talked to my mum, that led me to call my Auntie. She asked me if I wanted a job. I said yes and drove to Sale and met my wonderful new employer. He said yes and I began last week.

I’m still working with my disengaged students on Wednesdays and at the local Secondary college Mondays and Tuesdays, so I have a full weeks work now and a very nice balance of activity.

I’ve worked Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. I love helping people to select their floor coverings. My boss has just bought the business so whilst it is an established business there are lots of changes and improvements being made. We have an amazing range and are switching the business systems from manual to computerised. He’s also redecorating the shop and expanding the range which I’m also enjoying. He asks my opinion about everything and that keeps me interested.  I loved the ad for our business even before I met them. I know I’m going to have a lot of fun here.

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New Moon in Scorpio – Thursday 27th October 2011

25/10/2011 Joh astrology

Scorpio is a magnetic and intense sign. The new moon in this sign is looking like a powerful one. It’s the dark moon now so to prepare for what’s ahead read Ruby Slipper:New Moon Cheat Sheet.

phoenix
Source:donielle, on Flickr

The phoenix is a symbol associated with Scorpio. This photo is from a float and the faces are of organ donors. It’s a great symbol for hope and renewal.

I like the rebirth theme for this new moon. I’m feeling it. I’ve been tying up lots of loose ends and sorting out my financial life. My finances were on autopilot for so many years while I was a teacher.  I’m working part time and casual, it takes a bit more thought and I’ve had a few messes to clean up too. It’s best not to ignore things and hope they go away… they don’t!

I’m starting a new job on Thursday, so it’s good timing. I’m working part-time in a floor and window covering business in a nearby town. I’m looking forward to assisting people to make their homes into beautiful and functional spaces. I went for the interview and it was a painless process. I liked the man who will be my boss. He seems very honest and fair. It will be an enjoyable shift of focus for a couple of days a week. I enjoyed working in soft furnishings in the 90s. I love the samples and working with colours and textures. There are some amazing tiles.

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New Moon in Cancer – Solar Eclipse – 1st July 2011

29/06/2011 Joh astrology, Business, gratitude, work

Yes, it’s eclipse number 3. Every two weeks for the last six weeks! Same old thing applies… change, letting go, new beginnings. You can check out all the eclipse info on Aquarius Papers, always a thorough treatment of the astrological climate. I enjoyed the post from Jessica on Moonkissd: The Twig and the Apple Tree. I like a lot about that post. I like that she chose to listen to the story one more time, because it’s true that each retelling reveals something new. I like that the visionary farmer missed meeting the man at the first fair. The post smacks of having patience and trusting. Strangely enough, I am being patient and trusting right now… so naturally that’s what I will see when I read this.

I love Cancerians. Some of my best friends are born in this time. They are home makers, creative, resourceful and stylish. I am very into those qualities.

People are asking me what I am going to do now. I don’t know. I’m fine with that. I guess being called in every day to CRT (Casual Relief Teach) helps. It’s keeping me busy. I am teaching in a new school as well and I am enjoying the newness. The school is walking distance from my home and has lovely new buildings. I’m enjoying it. I was at my old school today and I also very much enjoy the ease of knowing where everything is. One of my colleagues asked me today if I had made the right choice to leave school. My answer was quick and honest. Yes! I feel released.

I went to an accountant tonight after work to work on the financial things going on right now. I had asked around about accountants and no one had heartily recommended one. My dad had given me the number of his accountant he’d used when he was in business, who he was clearly impressed with but I couldn’t get an appointment with him. I’d been given a new person and when I checked out that persons facebook page I didn’t feel like I would connect. So I found one amongst my customers. I always asked them where they worked when I was chatting to them. A few had mentioned they were accountants. One of them I got that feeling I could trust. Turns out he’s born the day after me. I seem to have a natural affinity with Sagittarians:). The meeting went well and I am confident I will emerge from this experience with my head above water.

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One of Those Days

15/03/2011 Joh Business, learn, relationships

Today I felt overcome by how much I don’t know about what I’m doing right now. I want to be competent but I feel like I have such a long, long way to go and I’m frustrated by that. It probably doesn’t help that I’m working with someone with over 30 years of experience who shows me something and makes it look easy – until I try to do it! I watch and think, ok, that looks simple enough, but then when I go to do it, it’s not.

It’s dangerous work too ;-) … I have so many burns along my right hand and arm that my friend Cath tells me I look like a self-mutilator. Working with knives and ovens requires a level of being present that I have overlooked at times. Just brushing your hand on the bain marie, coffee machine steam handle or the oven will always result in a burn. Fortunately I have been relatively more cautious around the knives and have only nicked myself a couple of times usually washing dishes. Blue band-aids galore!

There are so many things I love about my career change but today I wondered if I’ve done the right thing. Darin needs to be somewhere else tomorrow for a little while. I want him to be there too. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to fill his shoes for a short while. I would love to think he could go off and be where he needs to be all day, but I know I wouldn’t manage it all without him. That’s uncomfortable for me to realise I am relying on him so much. He’s very reassuring and I know at the end of the day I can only do my best and I’ll probably be ok. It was just a very different feeling than I have felt for a long time… to rely on someone, and have to admit it… even to myself. I wonder how it feels to be him. I’m not sure I would like it.

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Repotting

08/02/2011 Joh Business, gratitude, relationships

Tonight I repotted (that’s probably not a word!) a lot of our root bound house plants. We had a quiet day at work and I decided that would be a good feng shui cure. I have some awesome Jade plants that have outgrown their pots. I also have some peace lillies that were caught up in much smaller places than they need to be.

I went to school today to return some things I’d found that belonged to school. A set of keys and some notes a fellow teacher had loaned me when I’d started there last year with 5 new subjects. I was warmly greeted and told that I look so much more relaxed. I feel relaxed. I feel grateful for this change of pace.

It’s scary at times. I don’t know if I’m going to meet all my commitments. I have sore feet. There are many uncertainties. It’s home and work now and everything is on the line. The thing is, I trust Darin. We have been through a serious lot together. I haven’t blogged about it, but trust me, it’s a lot. At the end of the day we get along. He accepts. You can go a long way to find a non-judgmental person that will be with all that you want to be with. He cares about people the way I do. He feeds me well and my loved ones. He never weighs up. We sing in the kitchen. It’s funny. We laugh a lot.

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Collecting Tom

21/01/2011 Joh Business, family, food, gratitude, travel, work

Today I’m going to pick Tom up from the airport. I’m very excited to see him. He’s coming home for the weekend for a friends 21st that we have both been invited to. On our trip home I expect we’ll be discussing his 21st which is coming up in May. He’s planning to have it on Hamilton Island so I imagine that not everyone will be able to make it. I was against that when he first suggested it, but after a few discussions and the bottom line that it is his 21st, I have come round. I’m excited now about going there myself because after all it is probably going to take an occasion like this to get me there. I’m worried I won’t want to come back because it sounds so beautiful.

We’ll have all our children around this weekend, so it is going to be a busy one. I love these family times though.

I’m really lucky that Asha is around to help Darin out in the shop, even though he probably would be fine as he insists on his own. We have had a pretty quiet week at work. A couple of steady days but two days where I wondered if we shouldn’t have stayed on holidays. I’m reassured that once people come and eat, they usually return again and again and the feedback is always good. The plates from the ‘eating in’ people are always very clean. The regulars stand in front of the bain marie running their eyes up and down the offerings not able to decide because they want it all.

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