Can't sleep post
My brain is too full so I'm going to write some of it down in the hope it will help. Also haven't posted in ages so this can be an update of sorts.
Generally:
Things are fairly good I think but a bit too much uncertainty is pushing me outside my comfort zone. My personal collection of neuroses starts to surface at times like this when I don't feel in control so am trying to be proactive about things.
Uni:
Is finally finished. I have my preliminary marks back but the exam board doesn't sit until next week so I don't have my classification yet. As I expected it looks like I'll just miss out on a first which is incredibly annoying but I did get a first for my dissertation which I'm pleased about.
Work:
I have to wait a few months to get my social worker registration. Once that's sorted I do have a job as reported in my last post covering long term vacancies (6-12 months) for the county council. Not sure how I feel about this:
+ves:
- I can turn down any work offered if I don't fancy it
- Opportunity to try out different teams/ areas without long term commitment (this is mainly why I wanted the job)
- If a permanent vacancy comes up in a team I'm working in and I like it I'll probably get to stay
- county pay better than other local LAs
-ves:
- I don't know where I'll be working so more uncertainty
- I want to get my mortgage sorted asap and the nature of this work may complicate things
- possibility of long-ish commute to work and corresponding petrol costs
I have seen a permanent vacancy advertised for a new disabled adults team in Sutton in Ashfield and I really want it so will be applying for that.
Between now and getting my registration I planned to do agency work as a CCO (like a social worker but less qualified) but the post I was meant to start in fell through a few weeks ago and my agencies haven't come up with anything else yet. It's not really worth applying for anything independently as any social work type post requires a criminal record check which takes about 6 weeks. Add that to the recruitment/interviewing period and I'd almost have my social worker registration anyway. This leads to...
Finances:
Not so good. I finished uni with a decent amount of money left (well overdraft anyway) and was planning to use some of it to pay for my holiday to Japan next year (woohoo!). Despite a full on frugality drive it's being eaten away which is depressing when I'm at home twiddling thumbs and very ready to work. I would definitely not do well as an unemployed person - climbing the walls already even though I have lots of house stuff to be doing. I'm still doing one overnight shift a week at the residential home where I work which is helping a little bit. The term residential home always seems a bit unnecessary to me - isn't it just two words which both say the same thing? Anyway, have cut back on my main unnecessary spending area which, unlikely as this sounds is fresh fruit and vegetables. I don't buy from expensive places like supermarkets but I do - or did - eat them almost exclusively which gets expensive :( Cue weird and wonderful food combinations from the dark recesses of my kitchen cupboards - I knew there was a reason I was stockpiling all that food with a long shelf life even though I never eat it. This is quite a big step for me because in the privacy of my own home I can get a bit orthorexic and generally don't eat things in tins( http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/orthorexia - I love the example they give by the way). You have to dscount the smoking and drinking obviously ;) Yesterday I was delighted to discover tinned tomatoes (cold) with a bit of enchilada pre-mixed spices sachet-thing, soy sauce and nutritional yeast is quite delicious. Tomorrow's challenge may involve a tin of mushy peas. Not convinced it will be as successful. I did steal some apples from work though so shouldn't get scurvy anytime soon.
house:
I finally have the time (but could do with more inclination) to finish decorating the living room. I started in December so this is very good. Quite excitingly I will hopefully be getting a lodger very soon. I think she would be an excellent housemate so fingers crossed. This would also help with my finances.
family:
My Mum has had a bit of a health scare with long term consequences. She will be ok though. In theory this puts all my silly worries into perspective but really I just feel guilty for still giving them headspace.
travels:
I just got back from 4 days in New York with my family. This was intense - four days in the company of my family all th time barring toilets breaks - but good, especially in light of my Mum's health stuff. Am very pleased to be home but not quite reset the body clock yet. I should really be in bed dedicating myself to the pursuit of sleep but I got bored.
friends/ social stuff:
I finally get to have a social life again, even if it's temporarily on the cheap. Sorry everyone for being crap for most of the past three years (it seems I don't multi-task that well!) but I'm free to accept invites again now - hurrah! And if I am too skint to do some things in the immediate future I should be solvent again quite soon, I hope.