108 spiders are a girl's best friends

Whitefeather8

I have just lost half my income and the house has become home to some truly enormous spiders. One particularly gruesome specimen lives beneath the laundry basket and another one torments me from under the cooker.

I was starting to feel really sorry for myself, but I have decided to see them as a good sign!! 8 is now my key number. It is the 8th of Oct(8)ober and Spiderman is a hero!!

I never really liked the half of the job that I have lost anyway, and after years of childcare and elderly relative responsibilities, along with ill health, times have moved on and there is suddenly a window opening where I could make some real changes to my life. So, instead of moping, it is time to "grasp it like a man of mettle and it soft as silk remains."

So …… this is Project Spiderwoman. I have 108 days to retrain, bust debt, lose 24lb and get to the bottom of the laundry basket (a spider step a day). I may even clean under the cooker, by that time the spiders and I will be best friends.

Off to work on my plan.

Piquant_2

Happy new diary White Feather!

Sounds like a plan, I will watch and see how you get on (not prepared to share the spiders thought:eek:)

Piq

sassychick2014

Hey hon

Sorry to hear about the work loss, or rather the income loss. I love the way you've turned it around though and made it a positive rather than a negative. I'm sure you'll be fabulous and will make everything work.

108 spiders!? lol that's a heck of a lot! I can't wait to hear your 108 days countdown though. I'm guessing that takes us to around beginning January? Good luck hon.

Look forward to reading how you're doing so have now subscribed. Now get that house sorted missus!!

Have a good evening xx

Whitefeather8

Morning everyone, thanks so much for your encouragement.

I have decided that for this to work, each spider step has to be almost impossible for me to fail at, and fun. With all those legs, if a spider isn’t careful she will end up trying to go in eight directions at the same time which inevitably will lead her to the conclusion that parking her bottom in the middle of the web and letting the pies/flies come to her, is the most attractive option so……

Step 1 (The Daddy Long Legs spider - Pholcus Phalangioides!) -

DAYDREAM

According to the self help gurus, my subconscious mind thinks in terms of pictures. Supposedly, I need to create the ideal picture in my mind, of what life looks like in 108 days time to manifest it.

I am up for that, but I will start small, today I am going to lie in the bath, with a candle on, and start dreaming about the job that I really, really want to appear from the matrix.

I don't want to make do any longer!

sassychick2014

Morning hon

I love your way of thinking! I'm sitting here in my cold "office" (the dining table) with a heat pack, dressing gown and full on cold trying to work out what to do next when in reality I should be lying in a bath dreaming! I'm going to do that instead I think

Have a fun day xx

Whitefeather8

That is the spirit Sassy!!

Well, I multi-tasked as I lay in my bath yesterday. I deep conditioned my hair, and soaked in body silk lotion, as I let my mind wander gazing at the candle. All sorts of options came into my mind, but the themes that kept recurring were:-

1. I want to go back into a professional position.
2. I want to earn around £25,000 per annum
3. I want a stimulating job that satisfies me creatively and intellectually.
4. I want to work full time week days, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm hours, that fit in with the family, with no more than an hours travelling time each way, and the opportunity to work 4 days a week in a year or two’s time.
5. I want a fairly informal workplace, which is not overly rule based and prescriptive, where the atmosphere is positive and constructive.
6. The idea of working in an academic environment appeals, though my background is mainly financial services.
7. I am prepared to brush up on all my skills, through targeted training, but I don’t really want to embark on any additional, further education, at this point.
8. I want to be in full time work by the end of January.

In return, I commit to giving the company my very best, and promise to be worth every penny.

Spider Step 2 - Fence Post Jumper (Mar!!!!a Muscosa)

Find one job, that is currently vacant, that potentially could hit those boxes.
Focused, timed search for 30 minutes only.

Reward myself with a new (bargain MSE) GOLD candle. The colour of the candle is apparently important, as they each burn at a different frequency, and gold stimulates the mind to thoughts of success and wealth both materially and spiritually! Test theory in mandatory, regular luxury soaks throughout 108 days!

Whitefeather8

Well yesterday was an eye-opener. There were a number of posts at the three local universities that I could comfortably apply for, all of which appealed.

One, in particular, jumped out at me as it hit all my boxes and was working for the same department where I had been an undergraduate many moons ago. If I got the highest level on the banding scale it would hit my salary aspirations too.

Step 3 - The Green Jumping Spider (Mopsus Mormon)

I don't have a current CV, and producing one feels like a huge step, so I will break it down into baby steps.

I am going to spend 30 minutes today, trawling CV's online, to see if I can find a layout that would appeal to my prospective employer.

Nintud

Yuk to the spiders, but :T to your goal setting.

Good luck

Subscribed (and adding a gold candle to my birthday list!)

Whitefeather8

Morning Nintud, thanks for stopping by.

I have made my first couple of investments; a beaded gold candle from John Lewis and an unusual notebook, which has a felt cover on it with an embroidered landscape from Paperchase (half price!), I will use it to jot down plans and anything that inspires me.

Yesterday went well, I have located a website, Livecareer, in which there are lots of CV and cover letter templates. Unlimited use of the website is £1.49 for a 14 day trial, so I have bookmarked it and will pay that princely sum when I am ready to go for gold.

Step 4 Walckenaer (Agelenidae) - Hobo Spider

To get the wage I am looking for, or more, my skills need to be first class and right up to date, so I will need to invest in some training. I have been looking at options all week, but today’s task is to determine the route that gets me to where I need to be in the shortest period of time for the least amount of money.

Whitefeather8

Training costs started off at an eye watering £4,500.00. Focussing on 4 key modules, at the advanced level, and refreshing other topics online or from text books, reduces this to £1,200.00.

DS has kindly stepped forward to lend me the money, for six months, at the usury rate of interest of 1 Krispy Kreme, Chocolate Fudge Cake Doughnut, every Friday. He reasons he is investing in his future! With increased earning capacity, we have a chance of funding him to a driving license and through University …….

Step 5 - Writing Spider: Argiope

Time for a holiday! We are off to Centre Parcs for the week, paid for in August, before the change in circumstances.

Austerity looms from the start of November, when the first skinny wage hits my bank account, so for now I am going to put that thought aside, and focus on conquering the rapids.

Spider step for this week away is one hour of exercise a day, in some enjoyable format, and doodling ideas in my notebook, for my weight loss plan, based around some excellent suggestions on Nintud's diary. Thanks.

Spider step 6 is postponed until the 20th October. TTFN.

sassychick2014

Hey hon

Sounds like you're being very goal orientated and dedicated to seeing it all through - love it!!

It was very kind of your DS to lend you the money and I think the interest rate is brilliant, wish the CC would have that deal too!

Have the best holiday xx