December update :: 07.12.06

Hello

Well it's 2 working weeks til Christmas! Bloody hell, that's come around far too quickly. This year has been a blur. I swear, it only seems like a few weeks ago I saw Christmas lights dotted around.... oh that's because it was :)

Yes its that time of year again, when houses become feestooned with bulbs. Its amazing how much some people can fit on one house. Some look like Blackpool illuminations and others more like an enchanted sparkly place. Personally I like them, not on my own house so much but its nice seeing all the effort that goes in and it certainly brightens up my dull journey back from 'Slaaaah'.

Ahhh lovely Slough. Am still working for the same contracting company that I started with in September. There were a few pay issues (in that there were severe delays in giving us our cash earnt) but a few of us staged a protest in working from home instead and we got paid a week later. I still don't think they've grasped though that it would be nice to be PAID IN FULL, not drips and drabs. It's annoying as I get an admin charge each time money is released through the agency into my account.

It's been a weird few months actually. Very up and down. I'm either on an even keel in which I can deal with stuff and roll with the punches or I just feel totally down about the whole situation. Actually full on unhappy... there, I said it. I am sometimes really unhappy. Not so much about the insolvency and redundancy now, but more "where do I go from here?" kind of panic. I haven't had many interviews due to working in Slough and the ones I've had haven't been great, which makes me think "do I really want to stay in e-Learning?". When I first started this contracting job, it was new and fresh and I actually really enjoyed the first month there. We were cracking on with production of work, learning new methods of working and we knew where we stood. Then the company made some radical working practice changes and as a result I really don't enjoy it there anymore.

There is no logical structure to their working methods and everything seems to be done on a 'panic basis'. I mean every company always states in their job description "must work well under pressure" but there's a difference in working to deadlines and working for a client who seems to have no clear idea of what you do, what your budget and what your timescales are. Add to that a really complicated timesheet system (the best use of creative timekeeping I've ever seen) and the fact that most of the production work usually done by us is now going to a company in India as its more 'cost effective'. My job now is to get assets ready for India which would be good but when the client hasn't decided what they want, its very hard to prepare anything with thin air of ideas and then of course at the last minute they want everything with knobs on!! Goes to show the grass sometimes isn't always greener....

BUT.... the one saving grace in this is that I am a contractor. I am still in the mindset of absorbing politics and getting riled by them. But I don't have to!! I Do, but I need to learn not to. I can walk away when I want to with a short notice period. The other small glimmer of hope is that there is a possibility of a permanent job in the new year with an ex colleague who has set up a company with clients from my old job. He's already been very successful in 4 short months than my old company was all year. Anyway, won't get my hope up too much but there's a seed of possibility there.

MOAN OVER... its nearly Christmas!!

I did put up my pathetic 3ft fake tree. Would love a real one but A) don't have the room and B) my central heating would cook it! Still my 3ft fibreoptic one is very sparkly and sits nicely on my TV cabinet. I have put some icicle lights in the front window too. I have also decided to take the first week in Jan off as I need a rest so perhaps that will cure my mood a little. I think its a combination of everything and tiredness at only having 2 weeks off since January! I think I deserve some R&R even if I do have to forfeit a week's pay. Am soooo looking forward to it.

So thats me up to date I think. So in case you don't hear from me, I wanted to wish you all a festive season and happy New Year. Lets hope it brings us all good health, happiness and prosperity!

LoL
Sharon xxx

PS, to all those I promised I'd meet up with, my apologies again. I WILL try to catch up with you soon. Sorry for being a bit useless & hopefully will see you soon
*<:O)

PPS, I didn't get the O.U. job (see last blog). Completely fluffed the interview with nerves. Had the full works, cold sweats, shaky hands, dry mouth, wobbly voice and a blank memory of anything intelligent to say. Lets just say it was an experience. It just wasn't to be!! Nevermind...onwards and upwards! I cured my nerves afterwards with a spot of retail therapy in MK! :O)