London Socialite Sees The Light

LondonGirl252

Brightspark87 wrote: »

Oh LG of course its going to be sad- its an irretrievable loss and its fine for it to hit you harder than expected - I hope the couple of glasses of wine helped?

With regards to your work, its a difficult one isnt it? I do think give it at least another month before you decide what it might be that you do. Simply also as whatever happens at this time of year its a little depressing and things can seem worse than they are! Trust me I love love love my new firm but by the 6th January I was honestly thinking of walking out. You will get there!

Well done on looking after yourself even though things are tough x

Thank you yes they helped a lot! sometimes you just need to take the edge off don't you!


Yes it's so hard, I enjoy the work and I enjoy the people but some days it isn't easy and the commute is so so stressful that I can't help but think how much easier life could be if i worked closer to home. I won't make any decision any time soon but it's good to evaluate options. so that if i make that decision I have a good idea of where to head


x

Brightspark87

Commute I completely understand - its a huge chunk out of your day. In the short term - what do you tend to do whilst travelling? Can you turn it into a positive with you learning or doing something you wouldn't normally do? x

LondonGirl252

Brightspark87 wrote: »

Commute I completely understand - its a huge chunk out of your day. In the short term - what do you tend to do whilst travelling? Can you turn it into a positive with you learning or doing something you wouldn't normally do? x

Totally that was my intention when we moved but i've slacked recently, I do read or play games on my phone usually. But since the new year kicked in SW Trains have added wifi to their service which is awesome I got our IT dude to set me up to work on my ipad so the last few days I have been doing email admin on the train.


I would like to use the time though to benefit myself a bit more, i've always wanted to write a book but just don't know where to start so maybe I'll push myself to do that....


x

mark55man

I find Spotify very useful for the train - currently 99p for a month for premium which means you can download playlists

Email admin is about what I can do on the train, but don't feel obliged to do stuff whether work or self improvement - sometimes its ok just to indulge yourself with games or reading - or sleep!!

Brightspark87

Oh just a thought on mark's comment above - do you still have to do exams? With the CII as an IFA I get a student card. That means spotify premium is half price? £4.99 a month?

With regards to doing admin on the train - great up to a point but perhaps do that one way (perhaps into the office) and write on the way out? When the commute was getting to DH I got him to listen to audio books, so he could feel that he was taking in his favourites without 'wasting' the time? x

LondonGirl252

Thanks for the ideas guys, I am usually doing a few emails then reading or listening to music, I like the audio book idea too, I guess there's endless entertainment ideas we can come up with.


I dunno, part of the most frustrating thing is the actual commute.... while I always get a seat on the train (hallelujah) there are some people who come and sit next to you but may as well sit on you, elbow you and cram you in against the window. It really gets on my goat and I get off the train in a foul mood. Then in the morning I have to battle my way through Waterloo station, my ticket never works in the machine so I have to source a member of staff to open the gate for me then make way through the station trying to avoid being trampled.


The walk itself is the best bit until you get to the city when its crowded - don't get me started on when it's wet and everyone has umbrellas! haha


If I don't walk, off I go to line up for the tube. About 15 mins later I'll make it on the carriage crammed in like a sardine and OF COURSE I always manage to stand next to someone who either stinks, is noisy or doesn't hold onto the rail so I end up with a few broken toes or maybe being groped somehow.


In the evening its the same in reverse and frequently the train home is delayed meaning my time with M is cut ever short, I get home grumpy and tired then we cook and fall into bed.


Sorry that was a massive negative brain dump.


I guess over the last month and particularly the last couple of weeks I'm getting worried that my commute is affecting mine and M's relationship. Mon-Fri we just seem to get through the week as best we can and it doesn't feel like we have much quality time together.


Or is this just how it is when you live with a partner, am I expecting too much?


I dunno, I guess I just can't help but think that life could be a bit nicer/easier if I didn't work in London. But then I might have to compromise on the work itself which would also suck.


Definitley going to give it a bit more time and wait until we have moved into the new offices at work which might make work a bit more pleasant.


One thing I have thought of and I mentioned last week i think here, its a bit of a risk but I don't think my current company necessarily need me full time. Currently there is me as Financial Controller, T as management accountant and W as Assistant accountant. T has resigned and im not allowed to replace her which means most of her work is coming my way.
I feel that it would be better to replace her full time and drop myself to 2/3 days a week. The reason I say this is that if we got a really good MA then he/she would be able to take some work off me meaning my role really is only half a week being the more advisory role to the management team which i think suits them better.


Obviously that would leave me with a gap in income for 2/3 days a week so maybe I try and start to set myself up as a freelance accountant based at home - no idea how to go about doing this so this would need some work. Or to find another part time FC role nearer to home.
Maybe if that was a success I could gradually move to working for myself full time, I dunno. I need to try and find someone who does this really and ask for advise.


I am totally brain dumping now so going to leave this here and mull it over.


LG x

LondonGirl252

Right, now onto other stuff...


Weekend was great, barely spent anything! I had a great ride on Saturday morning, "my" horse (Lexi - she's not mine but I get allocated her each week) was really full of herself but I love that energy and we got lots of praise which was really nice. So i stuffed her full of apples as a reward afterwards!


We had a nice long dog walk with friends that afternoon followed by a game of Risk which I hadn't played before but enjoyed. Yesterday we just had a walk to the local shops for some food and then chilled out at home and did some housework.


Overall... ate well, spent little and relaxed so pretty happy.


LG x

Brightspark87

Hi LG

Firstly - I completely understand about your commute now! I walked to work most days but its the attitude of other people that made me want to move out of London both from our home (which you've done of course) and work wise.

Secondly - the job doesn't sound like you are enjoying it and it is very high pressure.

Would you be able to get a job locally which the NET cut in salary would even out after your travel costs? Or at least affordable?

Either way the most important thing is your happiness and it doesn't seem like the commute and role is making you happy so perhaps a move is necessary x

LondonGirl252

Thanks Bright Spark, I bet you don't miss it all at all?! I have done some sums and if i didnt travel to London I could take a reasonable cut in salary actually so I think I would be able to find something even if i work on temporary contracts for a while until I decide my next permanent move.

You're right, it is really getting me down at the moment I am working from home today and feeling a lot less stressed and anxious.

Work is high pressure and I am struggling a bit at the moment to be honest, I miss not having a financial manager to turn to for guidance when something crops up I haven't dealt with yet.

Today is a good example...... There is a discussion around the revenue number for this month so the other 2 directors want to bring forward some recognition from next year into this one which would mean we have the potential to break even this month and allow us to hit profit targets for the year which would mean bonuses.

It's completely wrong and against the standard of ethics which i work by as an accountant and i wont let it happen so i have to stand up to them to cover my back, so they think I am being difficult and insted they will continue the discussion behind my back and instead email me the reason and instruction to make the change.

So, i still know what they're doing but I really need someone to turn to to have my back, I'm young and less experienced and if they push hard enough they'll get their way somehow.

Think I've answered my own predicament here, time to get my CV updated. I didn't shed blood sweat and tears for 7 years to work like this,

LG x

joeyjimbles

I think you have answered your own question, and perhaps put your finger on what isn't quite right about your situation. If you feel they are going to put you in a position where you have to go against your own principles, then you are always going to resent it, and be suspicious against the next time too.
Time for CV dusting and a good search. No need to rush as you now have a plan, so make it work your way. Good luck - I am sending good vibes so that you'll find something that suits you better, and is more rewarding on the home-work balance too.