Reach for the stars...

MatyMoo

Hmmmm, is it a work mobile? If the message was left on there rather than the home phone I can *maybe* understand it but I still think it is unforgivable knowing what you have been through this week. And yes, I would let the Counsellor listen to it and help you to make the decision about letting the Boss hear it back. It does make it sound even more so that the back to work interview was a box ticking exercise and they actually don't really want to support you :eek:

I really hope that you can forget about it until you return to work on Monday and it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of Bon Jovi or Take That. Have a fab couple of days off.

Maty
-x-

niccatw

I decided not to go to Take That. I'm very sorry to those of you dropping your jaws at the screen right now , but the city centre is over-run with women and Take That have been playing everywhere - confirmed to me I really am not a fan!

Before I left to go to Bon Jovi yesterday, I emailed the Glasgow branch of VSO to ask when they were next meeting up. Cheri, thank you. No, I'm not a counsellor. I love the client group I work with but I think after the message I received I'm very clear that I don't want to stay there and the issues I have are with the supervisor and the manager and a very bizarre line of management - which is set to get more bizarre with the changes coming up. When I came back to work after being sick I said I'd give myself 2 years to make sure I wasn't rushing in to any decisions. I'm now clear that I am no longer ill and I can confidently make a decision without worrying it is a reaction rather than a true choice.

I don't like the decisions that are being taken within work in general. But they are not the fault of my boss or my supervisor. They're government agenda and the NHS will always be at the mercy of government agenda. I'm very cleat that I want to reamain working with the client group I work with. That doesn't have to be NHS. And it doesn't have to be my current profession.

I have been wandering around in a melancholy mood today and musing on this. It's time to look for new horizons.

What then becomes an issue is my impatience! It might take a while to set up and in the meantime, can I really carry on this way. I definitely don't want to. However, I have started the ball rolling, so let's just see where it goes.

PS Boss had every right to call me as I was still at work on Wednesday. My work and my own mobile were switched off because I was with a client. Message was left on my personal mobile; but she usually uses that one as I constantly forget to check my other.

It wasn't so much that she left the message. It was the content and the tone. And that she also felt the need to email too, so I'll have that to go back to.

You'll be glad to know I haven't contacted her. She might well have received a two word resignation if I had!

Right, off for a walk to clam the soul. (Bon Jovi did help immensely in that respect. I never tire of seeing them. And they sang lots of oldies. Poor folks nearby that had to put up with me "singing" along. :rotfl:)

Butti

I always wanted to give a two word resignation, but it doesn't help pay the mortgage!

B

MrsMoo2U

Glad to see that you are working things through in your mind. I know exactly what you mean about loving working with your clients but being at the whim of the latest Government agenda. If it helps to know I worked for DWP for over 20 years and loved my job very much. I loved working with vulnerable people and, whilst I was a long way from being a social worker, I did feel as if I made a difference to people's lives and helped to ease at least some of their worries. When call centres and computerised systems were introduced and people were no longer seen as people but cases I lost heart. It took me several years to realise that this was eating away at me. When I finally realised I made the decision it was time to move on. I did but it took me a while to work out how to do that and to get to where I wanted to be. It is all about knowing what you shouldn't be doing and then taking control of the situation. Once you are in control then you can deal with all the pettiness and policies more easily because there is light at the end of the tunnel.
You will do just fine and things will come together more quickly than you imagine. Any issue can be overcome with a bit of creative thinking (and by having a brain dump on here from time to time - amazing how others will see things clearly and point you in the right direction).

As for Take That - I dont blame you although I have seen Robbie Williams several time I have never been that mad on TT.

niccatw

Thank you Cheri. That all makes perfect sense to me. That seems to be where I am at the moment!

I have been on the VSO website to do a dummy run of their initial application form. Stop rolling your eyes! Yes, my name in Nicca and I am a control freak . I had to know what questions they were asking so I could have a good think on the answers.

It is the general: what are your duties and responsibilities and what other skills do you have. Probably best I leave procrastination off the skills list on this one :rotfl:

So I need to work on ensuring I am in a calm and positive frame of mind when filling out, otherwise I will go blank and forget I have any skills at all!

I have also emailed an old friend and colleague to ask if she will pass my contact info. on to another previous colleague of mine who had recently come back from VSO when I first met her.

There hasn't been a lot of money saving going on these last few days. Though on the plus side, I didn't spend anything at the concert yesterday. And I did walk away from the 50% North Face gear in the outdoor shop today. I apologised to all the pretty clothes for turning my back on them as I walked away. However, I did get my legs waxed and tomorrow I am getting my hair done.

I won't be able to do that in deepest, darkest Peru... or wherever else I might be sent! :eek:

MatyMoo

Guess who has heard that you have a consumer rights problem????

Spotted a facebook posting from :money: that says:

Right, now lots of confusion the other way. If it is FAULTY then store returns policies are IRRELEVANT. You have legal rights under the Sale of Goods Act 1979. It must obey SAD FART rules, ie be Satisfactory quality, As Described, Fit for purpose And last a Reasonable length of Time. If not and you take it back QUICKLY & have proof of purchase (bank statement'd do not just receipt), you've a right to full refund.

So get those trews back ASAP if you haven't already

MrsMoo2U

Sounds like a plan Nic. I am a control freak too so no need to explain the dummy runs. That seems like a good idea to me. Are you on Linkedin? It might be a good place to start if you want to try networking with others that have done VSO or similar. Are there other organisations like VSO that you might be interested in? Red Cross or Oxfam for example. There are organisations that work in the fields that you are interested in who may well pay a wage that is doable for you.

Here are a couple of links for you to have a look at
http://www.peopleinaid.org/about/default.aspx
http://www.mercycorps.org/
http://www.wse.org.uk/core/links.htm#Development_Sites

Now what I would be doing is a ten point plan. Decide what is the very longest you are willing to stay where you are, working to a deadline can focus the mind. Work backwards from there as to what you need to do...... language classes, qualifications, networking, research, organise finances. A mind map is always a good thing to get started.
Oh dear, sorry. Can you tell I get excited by a plan?

Anyway what I really wanted to say is well done you. (in a non patronising way of course;)

niccatw

Ooh! Thank you Cheri. I will peruse those later; I'm about to help friends move house.

Yu're right, I do need a plan. I'd got as far as thinking I'll need to step up the debt repayments because I currently have no savings or emergency money, which would be needed before I go away. However, I will continue to focus on the ones I am focusing on. The student loans won't be an issue... it's definitely doable!

Though I'd much prefer to get the mortgage of SVR and onto a longer term fixed rate... that might take a bit of doing!

Anyway pleanty to organise!

Got my hair completley chopped off at the haridressers. It's still a bob, just a much shorter one! What did I say to the hairdresser... "I'm fed up and I need a change."

Oh how true!

I've also spoken to a couple of friends who both said do it now. Don't worry about the finances, they'll come together.

And I listened back to my bosses message (really only because I had to to get to the pther message I received) but I'm less angry at it now. I probably don't care. I have a plan.

MatyMoo

Glad you have a plan It always helps.

And a new haircut, will be looking out for piccies :T

psychopathbabble

I've only just seen what VSO is... I wanted to apply last year but was gutted as I need experience first. It would be an amazing experience Nic... fill in the form!!

Well done on formulating a plan x