A Crepey Advent-ure

[MontserratCaballe]

Over here, my darlings....

Hi there ReggaeShark ( fab name if ever there was one) do jump on. We love new people.

Herbs, I think GGG has a good idea about phoning round a few people with similar skillz to get an idea of what's being charged. Just as a guide.

Away to bed again. Tried watching a bit of Gareth Malone, but feel overwhelmed suddenly.

Welcome ReggaeShark! Great name!

DD2 is doing French, Art and Film, MI.

DD1 is doing Sweet FA. Rocket up her arse today and pass agg email to the Organisational Tutor, the subtext of which was, why the fuck are we paying you £80 a week when she is still disorganised, behind and not handing work in, and has no plan of action/to do list?

Nice evening in the pub with my team and boss.

Just back from a ten-pin bowling evening with work. I agreed to do it ages ago, when it seemed like a good idea......

That's a very, very nice combo, MrsS.

Hello ReggaeShark I think I was the latest Crepey??

Am VV excited to be meeting Colly tomorrow. Tha day has taken ages to arrive!

Lalsy am in panic about that jobs thread regarding how to find a job. Should I start a new one where we all extol our virtues? Am worried I'd be seriously outing myself... OTOH, I'm quite sure that it could work.

It does bother me that there are SO, SO many of us with perfectly good degrees, a bit rusty around the edges, maybe with commitments regarding childcare/ parents, but nothing we couldn't sort - and bundles of enthusiasm. Also a view that the World does not Owe Us a Living, the ability to turn up on time, common sense in abundance, and a multi tasking can do attitude.
Employers should be beating a path to our doors! ...and not the other way around.

In other news, I am biting my fingers in an attempt not to contact my career minded SIL who posts stuff on FB full (I tell you, FULL) of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. It's not her private account, but her business one. She'll think I'm an interfering jealous bat if I say anything. Lord knows what her clients think of it.

Sorry to hear of the Crepeys under Covers. Where is Matron when you need her? (Oh? She's ill too?) jugs of Barley Water all round, and sympathies.

Cocoa, don't panic, doing nothing always an option . I think it could be an interesting exercise at the very least - we could learn how to name change just for that thread (you could start it as you, then name change to post)?

This was an interesting thread about part-time work, what people wanted, why there seemed to be a mismatch or a gap or something, with recruiters saying they could never get decent applicants. And Cocoa had the idea of asking Mnetters to post a brief and honest summary of what they wanted etc. I got very excited at the thought of writing "Unambitious pedant seeks local, interesting but unstressful work" .

Happy Mini MU tomorrow and Maxi MU on Saturday.

And Auriga and Crem, you both sound miserably poorly, hope much better tomorrow.

I'd like to do a four day week. DH looked at me as if I had two heads when I said this. But looking at the finances, I wouldn't actually lose that much money. Chances of getting it agreed in this job = zero though.

Got very cross today with junior colleague mansplaining something to me. Had vague tasking, wrote paper. He said the tasking didn't mean what I thought, and that the paper should focus on A, not be a balance of A and B, with more focus on B, which is what I had done. And completely rewrote the paper for me. Badly. I cut and pasted the tasking to him, and he admitted he had misunderstood the tasking, but suggested I used his paper in my rewrite and focus more on A than B. (I cannot say on here what the subject is, but can bore the pants off all of you on Saturday.) I have ignored him and carried on with my paper.

I need another life. I don't seem to have achieved as much with this one as I would have liked. If I had my time again I would have enjoyed more drugs, been more promiscuous, not have married at all so young, gone to university and probably gone NC with my mother a long time ago. And I'd have had more cats.

Here a job has been given (a promotion) to a man - no interview - who will now carry out a review of our restructure (only 6 months too late) and he has already told someone my team is too big - how's that for independence and objectivity?

MrsS I'd have slapped colleague down in a 'who asked you' way.....

I'd like to do four (instead of 6) days too - have seriously considered asking for extended days.

Raggae welcome!

Auriga hope you feel better soon.

Think I have sent everyone coming on Sat a PM - we have to choose our menus - can you all PM me your choices back. And if I have left you out by mistake, let me know!

So sorry to hear of younger/less competent and mostly thrusting males making your jobs more miserable. And still so long before we can retire. My DM took early retirement at 55. She has now been retired for 30 years. No chance of that for most of us.

I am looking forward to getting back to work, but at this stage, who knows when that will be. Normalish seems a long way off

HaHa Lalsy ! Yes, have taken the 'do nothing and think about it option' for the time being. I agree, a name change is in order. I'm permanently signed into MN, so need to dig out my password.

I'm also aware that I'm not in a position to start a job in the very near future, anyway. Need to get through DFs demise first .

In my dreams, I'd have an inbox full of PMs asking me to start next week unlikely

I tried to get a 4 day week agreed last year but it didn't happen. My boss asked me to write a business case to support the request, which I did, but it wasn't what he wanted. I asked for guidance and he told me to write as a promotion application (for my current role). He did have the grace to look embarrassed when I clarified that he was asking me to be reassessed and pointed out that if they weren't happy with my ability to do the job 4 days a week hadn't they made rather a mistake 16 years ago when they promoted me to do it full time. So I'm currently stuck full time and dreaming of escape.

This is not a good day so far. Am on a seriously delayed and overcrowded train courtesy of a broken rail at new cross. Being grateful for small mercies I do have a seat - but i think I'm sitting next to a man with the world's largest genitals since he needs to keep his legs at at least a 60 degree angle.

And dh is having a nice day out with dd3 at her Southampton interview - he has an enlightened boss who appreciates that 4 days from a motivated employee is worth far more than 5 days resentment. I want that too.

MrsW, sympathies from Catford. BTM, have sent menu choice. I must go and write. Am marginally less horribly exhausted today, perhaps because did not Ladyjog.

Ask him if he has, MrsW. Don't ask to see them, though. Although if you do, and he does, do post a pic here.

Too late Molly I'm afraid - train limped in to Cannon Street and I'm now on the bus. If I see him tomorrow I'll ask 'for a friend'

Okey-dokey.

Menu choices sent BTM

Sitting in another institution (the one where dp works) waiting for a meeting to start. Feeling 'off colour' in a non-precise way...

BD, I am utterly exhausted and have been for days. I think this whole bereavement business is probably taking it out of us (no shit Sherlock).

MI, BD & everyone else who has been bereaved - after my mother, who had Alzhiemers, died it took me nigh on a year to stop feeling exhausted.

Losing a parent is a life changing event & it is not at all surprising that the grief takes time. Be kind to yourselves & don't worry about feeling TATT - it is normal & part of grief.

I am struggling to catch up...So many poorly Crepeys. MM I gather labyrinthitis is a long job....so sorry it's flared up again. Crem how are you today? Auriga oh no...are you in a darkened room with plenty of pain killers? MI..off colour...oh no they're going down like flies...

Monty hope the mood lifts...in the grand scheme of things a bit of dossing in IT...well could be worse, I suppose.

Good re the counsellor, Tilly Sorry everything seems to be on ice at the moment

Long, long ago, In the days when I was a Somebody...I went down to a four day week. This isn't uncommon in the NHS....it hugely improves quality of life but you have to be very disciplined not to sneak a bit of work home and end up doing it on the day off. 4 day week is not WFH!

I am somewhat destabilised by a set of automated texts from the surgery variously telling me that my blood results are in and no further action required or contact the surgery. I must have been spammed at least 10 times with each response...the system has gone mad. I called them and the receptionist said my cholesterol was 6.8 but I didn't need to do anything unless the Dr contacted me... what does this mean Crepeys? I don't want to take statins...I don't want to never have another scone ever again...

Welcome Reggae

MrsF I have PM'ed you.

Thanks Rosebag - darkened room, painkillers, tick. MI and BD, maybe we all need to ease up a bit. And Montserrat.

MM, sorry you're not out of the woods yet, disappointing and debilitating. Hope the recovery is quicker this time.

Crem, any better today? Would love a chat about Politics when you're/we're up to it.

Need to revise policy on cat in bedroom. Furry company much needed.

BTM, sorry won't be seeing you but thinking of you all the time.

Oh and welcome Reggae.

Think you're right, Auriga. I just nearly burst into tears during an interview (it was relevant to the interview and I know the interviewee!). I am also a bit under the cosh with the novel, self-inflicted but necessary!

When I went for a counselling assessment last week, the lady asked me how long "this" had all been going on for.

"Oh, about 9 years if you count the cancer. 11 years if you throw in the dementia, too."

No wonder everyone is exhausted. Its like a bl**dy marathon.

Sympathetic vibes to you all as I assume that hugs are not allowed on this thread either