Having returned to work very briefly last Friday for the matter of a day I appraoched the weekend with a huge grin on my face. That one day, hectic as it was, did not disturb the relaxed feeling that has developed over the Christmas period. I have lazed for long hours in bed, happily snuggling with hubby without the guilt of knowing I should be doing something and without the constant nagging of work worries that usually follow me home even during the holidays especially with exams looming in mid January. If it wasn't for the puppy I think I may have lost several days under my two duvets (energy saving measures), but his gentle squeaks from downstairs soon develop into urgent barks once it approaches lunchtime and he feels too much is being asked of him to cross his legs any longer.
Even though 7.15am has become a stranger to me over the last three weeks it didn't greet me with the same sick feeling that it did when I was the classic fulltime worker. Even Monday morning cannot dampen my spirits and I can genuinely say I have enjoyed the back to back revisions lessons that are necessary to ensure good grades for the little darlings, even though it seems to be me doing the work and them sitting listening as if they have never heard of differentiation, the monetary policy committee or sampling before!
It has been a little bit of a wrench leaving hubby behind for a day at a time, we have become very attached to each other in our non-working bubble. Hubby I should explain left fulltime employment shortly before myself and has been waiting for his next job to start later this month with only a couple of temporary assignments inbetween.
My work colleagues seem more pleased to see me than is usual and enjoy questioning how I am coping and if everything is okay, while marvelling at how lovely it must be not to have to come in everyday and talking about all the things I must be able to do now. To be honest I haven't managed to fit that much in so far other than continuing with the running, New Years Day race achieved, after an entirely sober New Year's Eve with hubby and friends.
January it would appear is training month for me, with a three day stay in Oxfordshire for a potential new position and several days put aside throughout the rest of the month for exam board training, the good life may have to wait.
In the meantime I am attempting to have 'no spend' weeks (so far I've managed a couple of 'no spend' days) my spangly new phone has an iwallet which lets me track anything I spend on a daily basis, not that the idea of the good life is not to spend anything, but rather to spend less on the unimportant things and have more left over for holidays and adventures. I'm feeling quite good about it so far, but with Christmas still jingling in my ears it is no surprise that I haven't felt the need to restock the cupboards or treat myself to a new wardrobe item.
My plans to study for a masters degree as part of my 'good life' are being scuppered by the inability of universities to offer the courses they are advertising. They do seem very happy to let me go through the laborious application process and to subsequently offer me an alternative course, one that would involve me driving to Edinburgh twice a week (I live in Grimsby!) and the other would have meant attending fulltime in Derby which was offered while I was still working fulltime in Grimsby. I wouldn't mind so much if I hadn't filled in all of my personal details and written a statement explaining my current situation in details, does anyone read these things or is it just to weed out the illiterate applicants?
Employment: Parttime 0.33 of a fulltime contract to be precise,one and a half days a week although its been more like two and a half so far (note to self 'only do the hours you are paid for!')
Lodgers: 2 (Lodger No.1 moves out next week, replacement not yet found.)
Eating out: Once a week more or less for free :-)
Hubby: 1 (6months of married bliss minus one argument)
Dog: 1 (quote from the vets to clean his teeth £200!!!!)
Stepson: 1 (cleans his own teeth)
No Spend Days: 5/14
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