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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I always reply to Comments from nice people.
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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