Monday 27 July 2009

Bucket List

I was chatting with my Sis and her friend the other day, whilst the kids amused themselves with the dressing up box upstairs, and the conversation turned to jobs. Namely Job Satisfaction. Looking back at our respective career history each of us has taken totally different paths. We did all have one thing in common however- the desire to keep moving on to the next thing, be it a promotion or a different direction.

Now I feel really lucky. My job is varied and challenging. Certainly no room for boredom there. However I remember what a School Governor once said, back in my previous life as a teaching assistant. He said you should change jobs around every two years. You need one year to learn the ropes, then another to feel like you're doing a good job. After that it is time to move on to the next challenge.

I must admit I feel like I'm still learning the ropes at work even though I've been in my current team for well over a year. I'm certainly not planning on scanning the situations vacant ads just yet! But we started to chat about all of our interests and how these could fit into working life. if you turn your hobbies/passions into work how many of us would relish the Monday mornings we so dread? In an alternative reality there is a me who is a Herbalist, or a rock star. Sadly in THIS reality I can't sing so the day job remains safe.

My fella often accuses me of having 20 ideas but only following through with one. I'm not sure that having tonnes of ideas is such a bad thing, but i think I get his drift. If you want to dig a well it's better to concentrate your efforts on one deep hole rather than digging 15 shallow holes all over the place. I'm not great with a shovel so I'll delegate that task to him. Meanwhile I'll continue working down my list of things to do before I die. To humour him I thought I would write a list: my Top Five Things I would love to do before I die but probably never will, if I'm honest and let my fella plant my feet back on the ground:


1. Learn how to fly a plane
2. Live on a barge
3. Rescue stray animals from war-torn countries
4. Read all the books that catch my eye
5. Visit all the countries that are on my List Of Countries To See Before I Die

I may do some small part or a watered down version of these things. Either way I have had the happy realisation that I am totally contented with my life, my job, knocking around with my little girl, drinking tea with friends, being teased by my boyfriend. I wouldn't change any of it for the world. All though I would like to add a number 6 and change the world....

Tuesday 14 July 2009

television au naturel


television au naturel
Originally uploaded by jonnybaker
I was reading Gem's suggestions for tV free Kids www.ooffoo.com/listing/TV-Free-Kids---over-100-fun-things-to-do-that-dont-involve-a-television.aspx
and it got me thinking-
I've always thought that mini me has fairly limited TV use but what are we parents supposed to do at ungodly AM? What did we do before CBeebies was invented??

I'm not proud, quite often she's plonked in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal whilst I creep off to get an extra 30 mins snooze time. It's better all round as it makes me much nicer to know!! But when did this tactic begin?

Well I remember the day in fact. It was May, 2 years ago when I had tonsilitis and no one in sight to help out with my (then) 2 yr old. What a saviour my TV was- my nurse, my babysitter, my salvation!!

Back then I only had your good old fashioned 4 channels. Sadly, since a lovely friend treated me to a freeview box last winter CBeebies has crept into our evenings too. Not every evening mind. When the washing up can wait and the dinner taken care of we while away our evenings with games (Lunch Box game is a favourite). And thankfully with the temperate weather I'm honing my swingball skills- how come my 4yr old is better co-ordinated than me??!!

And how my little pixi loves dressing up and putting on dancing shows for me. Who needs TV? WEll, me actually. It keeps me sane on those tired evenings when I've had a hard day at work, or when the dinner hasn't been cooked and the washing up can't wait. But like with many things in life- everything in moderation, a little of what you fancy etc etc.

TV isn't inherently evil, but I was pleased to read the 100+ suggestions for TV alternatives, and smiled smuggly at the amount of things we already do from that list.