Happy Monday!

I feel I need to start this post with a disclaimer, I’m really lucky, I have a well paying job that I enjoy, I’m not ever bored at work and right now it’s that perfect job combination of being able to perform well with the skills I already have AND I’m learning new ones. I feel trusted and respected and I’m considered (I was told last week) to be competent and reliable.

Seven years ago, I was made redundant from a job where I did not feel like that. I didn’t honestly ever think that I’d have a job that I enjoyed, where I was valued and appreciated. If I’m honest, it’s still a bit of a shock after 30 years of working for it to feel like that. So when I ‘complain’ that it’s really too busy right now, and that’s why I’ve not been posting, please understand that it’s in the context of actually enjoying my job but just wishing it was a tiny bit less full on right now!

Disclaimer over, the last couple of weeks have been busy, work is full on and my brain is tired. The work isn’t going to stop being demanding for a while but I’m hoping that in a couple of weeks I’ll have some downtime to plan and start my prep for 2024 – look I know it’s only August but you need to make a plan, start adding meetings and then you have four months until the New Year to adjust the plan!

Anyway, for August and into Autumn, I’m going to do what I can and start treating myself like it’s winter, which means being rigid about home tasks and bedtimes and giving myself grace for the rest. It will be fine, it was fine last year when I was adjusting to a new boss and it’ll be fine this year as I take on new things, my brain is just going to be a little bit fried in the meantime!

This week, did have some downtime, I had a day off on Wednesday for a haircut and to catch up with Jane, I was hoping to have some time on the plot but rain stopped play, at least I only had to water the polytunnel this week and watch the bloody cat.

This week, is my first go at the big task of the new responsibilities, reporting for the ExCo. It is intimidating but its about data and spreadsheets and I am my mother’s daughter so I can get comfortable with spreadsheets, I just have to not panic. That’s the sum total of my plans this week, I will probably be in the office for most of the week but on Friday, I’ll be done and then Saturday is an allotment day and Sunday is the first day of my 50’s.

Without wanting to be morbid, my family is not particularly long lived, only one of my grandparents lived past 55. I know when Ma got to 50, she was relieved that she’d lived past her mother’s 49 years and I know that my Dad was convinced that he wouldn’t make it past 50 (which was the age his Dad died), the irony is that he was only 4 days into 53 when he died. I’m pretty sure that I’ll get past 53 but age and getting older is a privilege of which I’m very aware.

All that to say, that 50 is a new decade all shiny to live in, I’m looking forward to it…

Have a good week!