Moving forward and upwards

savingholmes

Do you want increased hours then or just a permanent job?

doingitanyway

I'm glad @savingholmes asked that as I've lost track of what the job situation is. But you sound so happy and relaxed working your current hours 

MovingForwards

Thanks SH and DIA

I'm currently contracted to 6h less per week than my FT colleagues.

I'd like the extra money as I could clear the mortgage quicker and take early retirement. Having a perm job would be nice as it helps with planning and I've settled right in since that person went. Now it feels like I've been here for years. I also enjoyed having the extra month's pay where it was mine to do with as I wanted, almost like a 'guaranteed bonus'.

I'm trialling long days for a bit so if I'm offered the role, assuming it gets advertised / they want to fill it, I know whether I can cope, how my body reacts and if I still have a work/life balance etc. Then I know to ask for my current contracted hours, the full hours but over a shorter week, normal M-F or compressed hours.

All I wanted was a role that made me happy, with occasional training to update knowledge and good people to work with. I'd not had that with any since relocating hence deciding to go back to my former career. Now SIL is trying to get my name into that dept and I'm contemplating just doing a Scottish qualification, if I can find the right one, and keeping my English membership too but stopping the studies. 
- there's always loads going on that I don't mention until I've figured things out first!

savingholmes

Sounds like a different boss and the new meds have made a world of difference.

I must admit - I was doing the numbers today to work out if there was any way I could go part time. The answer is yes - but like you there are financial goals I'd prefer to hit first to safeguard my longer term future.

MovingForwards

Thanks SH, I still get tired easily but hopefully that will change in time too.

I think we will both know when it's the right point in our lives to go PT. I've only a few more big goals and a couple of little ones.

TomBo did the shopping yesterday while I had a nap, he pottered in the garden during today's nap. 

We're currently eating mexican inspired meals following TomBo ordering goodies. Handmade (shop) corn tortilla are delicious! 

I've watched a few make up and hairstyle videos on YT and hope to start practicing soon, just need to dye my hair first. I have had a pamper today 😊

MovingForwards

I've ordered a couple of general wear summer dresses, stretchy headbands for when my roots need doing and a couple of bits of jewellery.
- I went gone through a lot of my existing jewellery and most of it is going to the CS; it's from when I purchased a job lot at the last flat as all the stuff I moved with / purchased since is in a different box. I do need a decent jewellery box and will try to get that later in the year.

Well, today I've dyed my hair and it's looking vibrant with high and low lights. Did the san spa salt scrub on my legs, oh my it felt so good and they still do. I've looked into someone doing a full body scrub, unless I can con(vince) TomBo to do it 🤭
- under £50 for sauna, swim, full scrub and back massage, with full use of the gym, didn't seem to bad.

It's been a restful weekend of me lounging about, however the temperature dropped which probably contributed to being tired. I'm still taking my vits and eating 5+ bits of fruit each day.

Have to finish sorting/ packing clothes for CS so I can get my 'new' clothes put away. Might be a task for in the week 😉

Skint_yet_Again

It’s really good to hear you looking after yourself. I’m glad things have turned around for you, especially at work. I understand the tiredness but there doesn’t sound the exhaustion from before in your posts. Hope things continue to improve 

MovingForwards

Thanks Skinty

Definitely not exhausted any more, just the normal tired feeling. It was odd to begin with as I'd forgotten what that felt like after all these years 😯 

It's also awkward after having a disrupted sleeping pattern for nearly 20 years. I'm having broken sleep until 4 or 5am, when I'll be wide awake and get up. There's the random 2am get ups, like today, or no sleep nights. However, I hope it will settle in time and I'll begin to sleep through the night.

My pain levels are a lot more stable too. We've had some dreadful temperatures up here, hard frosts, snow and rain. Yet I wasn't knocked off my feet wanting to curl up until they passed, I simply grabbed a blanket and carried on!

I'm trying hard not to push myself as I don't want to undo whatever is working and caused the change. My to do list isn't getting shorter, I feel 'lazy' as I've still not finished sorting my clothes for the CS or putting my new ones away, however I'll try this week, along with hair and makeup experiments, even if it's just 10 minutes.

MovingForwards

Realised I get my exam result back this month. I did a good job not thinking about it!

Already done my hours for the week, but can't claim TOIL. Getting more complex work and enjoying unravelling it all. I've asked if they'll fund a couple of qualifications I'm interested in and not sure when I'll find out the answer; was told I'm not going anywhere when I mentioned the stay or refund costs part 😉
- if I can get funding for these qualifications, I will probably stop my original ones but just take the exam for the module I'm on as it would be useful. Then pick up a couple nearish equivalents up here but still keep my current membership going.

Had a B00ts delivery arrive as I've pushed the boat out and got some goodies for my face. Got some free hand sanitiser. My eyes started burning as I opened the box as one of the lids on a shower gel I got TomBo opened while in transit. Took me a few hours to work out why my eyes were still burning all afternoon, I'd put the box right by my desk 🤭 it was the mint 0r1g1nal s0urce in case you hadn't guessed!
- photo and email to them, I'm waiting on a part refund to come back to me. 

Postie also delivered a load of my purchases and I'm definitely sorted for three seasons, just want a couple of long sleeve tops but I'll mooch round the CS's and see what catches my eye.

Asked TomBo why he's still not letting me do bits at home and he wants me to conserve energy. So, I've sat on my chair with feet up.

I'm 3oz away from 12st and if I do put all my 'new' clothes away, bag up any remaining CS donations and a little potter, I'm hoping they s0d off 🤗

We're having soup for tea, I'll be having my usual fruit for snacks all evening.

savingholmes

I'm highly allergic to that OS too although it was a good head lice deterrent when the kids where little so used it for a while when they were younger!

Glad you are feeling better. Weight loss is phenomenal.