Feel like I've forgotten something ...

I had to go to Asda last night. Traumatic.

I decided that I was fed up of not having much comfort when out working, I often have long breaks where I stay in the car and read, so I popped into Adsa and bought myself a little 350ml stainless steel flask. I shan't let it out of my sight as I can't stand the smell that gets left in them when you put stuff in them. Only hot water will be in mine, I took a china mug a couple of tea bags and a little tin of coffee with me. And a spoon. Quite enjoyed myself actually. Sat in my little orange shoe, with my Penguin Classics Pride and Prejudice mug in one hand, Pride and Prejudice in the other. Ok, so it wasn't Pride and Prejudice - Julian Clary's novel is actually un-put-downable, but it I will pick P&P back up once I'm done.

So, I was wandering around Asda and I needed some Milk (organic, obviously), some bread (forgot to pick it up), and ham, so I went to the "Cooked Meats" isle. As you do. I selected the suitable "2 for £3" offer or whatever it was, and remarked upon how expensive ham can be. On my trek through the store to the milk, I wandered past the deli fridge. How the hell is pre- packed deli ham significantly cheaper than pre-packed non-deli ham? It just doesn't make sense. And the deli stuff is also SO much better quality and cut. Bloody supermarkets.

Still, I picked up my two new cake tins as I'm just not going to get time to get to my shop of choice. I got two pyrex tins which are metal, not glass, and they're really sturdy, good quality tins. I look forward to having them for the rest of my life.

So I had an unexpected early night in from work tonight. I've had double the hours this week than last week, so, as usual, I'm shattered. I thought I had my favorite lady to call on last thing, but, luckily I checked my rota in time and I didn't have her. I was disappointed on one hand, but kinda relieved on the other. Tomorrow I MAY get time to bake the birthday cake for my Step-Mum that I should've baked last week, and I MAY get time to make the other secret present for her. Then again, I might not - it may have to wait until Thursday afternoon or Friday. Ho hum. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

And I've spent NO time with Madame since Friday. Poor girl, bet she's missing her Mum. I know I'm missing her.

Saturday Hang Out With My Homies

Some may say that working all day on a Saturday and Sunday sucks and that I'm sad for doing it. I prefer to think of it as hanging around all day with some of the coolest people I know, and they just happen to be "of a certain age".

They don't facilitate vanity, pull their punches or sit on the fence, and they're all, in their own way a pleasure to be around. You treat them with respect and kindness (they don't LIKE having to have me do things for them) and you get it all back and then some. They inadvertently make you question the principles that we all live by these days.

When it boils down to it, very little actually matters. Just health.

A generation ago, when someone started a home, they'd be given things, acquire bits and pieces and be saving in the bottom drawer for years. A home would be pieced together through a variety of channels, that was the point of wedding presents. Nowadays, it's all different.

I have to be honest, when I first had a flat, that was how I did it. Then when I had to do it again a few years later, I did it all again then. And it was really good fun and enjoyable. I've since come into contact with friends and family alike who have demanded that an entire home be bought brand new and sparkly, before moving in.

Housewares are now commodities like clothing and accessories. Once upon a time, something to be saved for, looked after and accommodated for the duration. Now, disposable, two-a-penny, high fashion, low quality. Designed to last a short period, until such time as they become unfashionable, then thrown out and new bought.

This just simply isn't sustainable.

We all like to live in a nice home, nice surroundings are important. But is the pinnacle of fashion the way to go about doing it?

My ladies and gents vary from having nothing to having, probably, a few quid, but they all have something in common. They aren't remotely worried about whether all their glasses match, if their wallpaper is "so last year" or there's a slight lightening of the outside edge of the curtain that's in full sun all day.

They have enough to keep them comfortable, to store their belongings, and to furnish a home. And they've probably had it for years and years. It may not be the height of fashion (although some of them SO are in the retro sense of the word), but it doesn't matter.

In the 21st century, we all are in such a rush and a hurry to "have it all". Couple of new cars, the perfect home, the perfect life, the perfect family. The cult of Hello! magazine and celebrity has clouded all our judgements, and we've lost all sense of perspective.

It doesn't matter if your sofa is from last year's collection, your carpet isn't exactly what you would choose now if you had to replace it, and your dining table has lost it's lustre. We could learn a lot from the previous generations as I've written about before. My lady with the ancient lino who insists on having it polished.

Buy less, better quality things. Don't replace it until you HAVE to (a change in fashion is not a good enough reason) and don't put your home on an OK! magazine pedestal. Essentially, it doesn't matter.

No one is going to like you any more for having a matching set of mugs, or less because your hall carpet has got a few marks on it.

And if they do either of those things, they ain't worth it.

Diamond in the Rough

I've got some gorgeous vintage fabrics here that aren't suitable for Sarongs, and a great idea for a dress. I think I need a mannequin, though. I can't see how I can ensure that Meg stands completely still for wearing sufficient wobbly bit add-ons to allow me to do what I want. I don't know anything about mannequins, what's the best type, what to look for etc before I go looking for a good second hand one. I'm going to have to get brave and attempt a trouser tailoring attempt as I'm using good trousers for work and ever they're too big. I have a lesser pair I'd rather use as they have to be washed every day with disinfectant and I don't want my good ones to fade. And anyway, I'm barely able to keep those up! I think that's the last thing that my service users need is to see me and my "substantial undercrackers" while I'm trying to get them up and dressed for the day!

So my first shift out on my own has been completed and I'm glad I worked where I did as I knew a lot of them. Everyone was in fine talking spirit today too and I had some lovely chats with some people who don't speak for days hardly. It was well lush, actually. Apart from the part where I did actually gag. I won't tell you more as I may not finish ...

So I put that out of my mind and went for a little lunch with Hubby, to an ACTUAL restaurant. Not a chain pub, but an actual locally owned, free house restaurant we've been meaning to go to for ages. And it's a great restaurant - I can't believe we haven't been there before. We can't wait now for people to come visit so we can show off our little gem in the rough!

His Infernal Majesty

I didn't have to work today as the lady I'm shadowing is off. It's a good job actually as my car sprang a leak and has had to go tot the car hospital for a tank replacement. I'm gutted, I lost half a tank of fuel overnight last night. Apart from the monetary cost, that's litres of fuel seeping into the soil and I hate the thought of that. But, I don't think I'd have found out the leak was that bad until I did fill it up. Still gutting though. SO I'm out in Hubby's car tomorrow, leaving him stranded. Don't worry, he won't be bored. I've compiled a"to-do" list :)

As usual, so it seems, the girls in work are correct. I got more done housework wise on the day that I work than on the day that I'm off. I really haven't achieved a great deal today at home, but in my craft group this morning I taught 5 ladies how to crochet. They got cracking on it, learned really well and then I was stuck with nothing to do as I'd rushed getting out in the morning and went out without half the things I needed.

I'm going to a gig on Friday with Meg, and I need a heartagram top (it's a band thing) so, obviously, I need to make one. I've copied it on to paper and now, I need to transfer it onto my top, which is black, so I've got to find my white pencil and draw it on first, bead it, then hope to god that the pencil comes off in the wash. I'm sure it will, but I can see me sat in the services on the M5 at half past six on Friday night listening to HIM and beading. I bloomin' hope not. For some reason I appear to give the impression I'm organised but I'm so not.

I need to sort out my "play room". It's a state, but given that I have to be in Newport by 7.45 tomorrow morning, I don't know how much of it I'll get done. I have a good few hours of work to look forward to tomorrow and I don't want to be shattered.

Anything good on the telly tonight?

The Biggest Change By Far

So today was a rather big day for me. I started my new job.

If I thought I had an appreciation for what Care Workers do before today, they've gone up in my estimations a hundredfold.

What a service. What a job. What strength of character the Carers display. I really hope I can live up to a quarter of what they do. They are an inspiration. The two ladies I went out with this morning and am about to go back out with are a credit to the human race.

I can't pretend that I chose this line of work to go along with my year or my blog, but they do fit in perfectly with each other. Previously, I've earned really good money doing soul destroying jobs with the only motivation being limiting the stress damage. I've done this full time, 40, 50, 60, 70 hours per week. Instead of that, I'm now training to be a care worker, helping service users to retain as much of their independence and dignity as they can. I've swapped the big salary for the big rewards, and I already know that I've made the best decision of my life.

Never again will I be welded to my office chair, sit at a board room table, have to submit reports or work to "targets".The thought of those things makes me feel sick.

Yes, I've got a whole lot of challenges in front of me that not every one can deal with, but I'm confident that I can master these challenges with the care and respect that they deserve and command. It is not for everyone, granted, but we may all use the service at some point or other in our lives. That makes the difference.

I do believe I have arrived.