I’ve been at my new job a month now, designing kitchens for a well-known DIY store.
I feel like I’m back in the game. I took my eye off the ball for a while there, getting myself into a situation where my only income was the business I ran with my husband (you know, the one who left in February).
I’d always said that a woman should be able to fend for herself, but I hadn’t followed my own advice. It was fine – until it wasn’t. I was left feeling like a fool for letting it happen, although at the time working in the business with him felt like the right decision.
Anyway, here we are. So much to learn – but I’m enjoying it, and it feels good to be earning my own money.
In my new job, I work shifts.
My shifts follow no pattern at all. I work 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, which sounds simple enough. I’ve never really worked shifts before. When I was a GP’s receptionist (which also happened to be 5 hours a day, 5 days a week), we worked either mornings or afternoons – this is much more complicated! I can start as early as 7am, or finish as late as 9pm, and I can be working (or off) any day of the week. This week it was –
- Sunday – 10-3
- Monday – 7 – 12
- Tuesday – off
- Wednesday – off
- Thursday – 4 – 9
- Friday – 1 – 6
- Saturday – 9 – 2
That’s both a typical week, and also unlikely to be repeated!! I love the variety. I love that sometimes I can be finished by lunchtime, or have the whole morning off, or have a day off mid-week. I can plan other things – necessary things like doing the hoovering, or hanging the washing out, or cutting the grass. But also fun stuff like meeting a friend for coffee on a morning.
I finished at 12 the other day, then drove to East Riddlesden Hall and volunteered for the afternoon. I love being able to do that – it means I don’t feel I’ve had to sacrifice absolutely everything on the altar of getting a job because my husband left me.
I do still have a bit of my old life left.
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Middle-aged, Free and Single 
Do you choose your own shift times? I’m glad you’re enjoying it. What is it you did in the business? Even if it is/was for your husband, the skills you’ll have acquired will be invaluable in other areas of your life.
I really enjoy reading your blog, it’s my early morning little treat on my own days off!
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That’s such a kind thing to say – I’m really glad you enjoy it. No, we don’t get a choice, but we’re told what our shifts are up to 4 weeks ahead of time – and the boss will try to accommodate if you need an odd day off for something.
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House rule- when you make mistakes be it financial , culinary, social – whatever- DO NOT beat yourself up! As Little Dreams says we love reading your blog and a lot of your comments mirror our experiences. As she sagely said, you will have acquired so many skills along the way plus invaluable and priceless life experiences.
We are your ` virtual groupies` so please don`t stop writing as we would miss you!
By the way, I looked at some other blogs currently online….not a patch on yours!
As I might have mentioned in an earlier post, were you a journalist in a past life? xxx
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Blushing over here, Gosforthgirl!! No, never a journalist (although with 26 jobs under my belt, how did I manage to miss that one??). Can I guess you live in Gosforth?? I used to live in Morpeth!!
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I can see how 25 hours over 5 days works for some, but I preferred working a compacted week, working the hours over 2 or 3 days. Leaving me with plenty of days to do my non work life.
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Yes, I can see the benefits to that. But the store is open 7am to 9pm Mon – Sat, plus standard Sunday hours as well, so that’s a lot of hours to cover. At the moment, I’m just chuffed to have a job at all!!
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Hello again…you`re partly right. I was born and bred in Gosforth but sadly don`t live there any more. A much calmer life `Oop North` . A friend once said that you get out at Kings Cross and start running….!
I saw a lot of differences when I last visited.
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I left Morpeth in 2000, and Northumberland in 2007. I’m in Yorkshire now (where I was born), but try to get back ‘oop north’ when I can. And yes, lots of changes!! xx
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