Another Chapter Done ...

Hey Hey, 

What a week. Could I cram any more in? Me thinks not. But I will sure as hell give it a good go this week as well. I should probably explain myself really shouldn't I?

At Lunch last Monday, discussion turned to how rough I looked leaving the Friday beforehand, all in haste with a cup under my chin to catch any vomit and a taxi-cab awaiting me I was certainly far from feeling my perky self. Still not feeling great I knew I would have to come back to work at some point, and there is only so much lolling around on the couch that one can do when ill. So there I was, in the canteen I had come to know and love. A real home from home. I had encountered my first flings with Mr. Warehouse in that room, a few near arguments with others and even a rare heart to heart with Mr. CWG. 

But now my conversations with Mr. CWG were more job related and as such were directed at a position that had become available literally across the road from our Depot in Kempston. You see, Mr. CWG drinks with the owner of the establishment in his Local in Marston Mortaine, and just so happened to mention that they were recruiting for a position similar to what I am doing now as a Service Desk Coordinator for a security and alarms company. Taking the opportunity, I called the offices and asked for some more details. Twenty-minutes or so later I had sent over my CV and by the end of the day they had asked me to come in for a chat after work. Not expecting this at all I trundled over the road after finishing work, hoping no-one from my office would notice and enquire as to where I was going. Thinking it was just a chat I hadn't braced myself for a full blown interview in the offices. I aced it, and despite my deepest apologies for being still slightly infected and wearing Black Button UGG Boots to an interview I didn't know was an interview, less than forty-eight-hours later they offered me the job. 

Dumbfounded I just stared at my screen on Wednesday afternoon, unable to speak. What had I done!? Suddenly I felt my legs become jelly and my stomach drop out of my belly. Was I about to do this? Looking through the contract they had sent over I quickly worked out that the salary would mean I would be better off by about seventy British pounds every month. "But was that enough? Was it worth it? Was it really deserving of leaving all of this behind?" I thought to myself. Immediately I called Mr. Warehouse and as soon as he answered he said what I wanted to tell him. It was like he could read my mind or something. Weirdo! However the boyfriend was less than useful when it came to discussing what I was going to do and how my options now looked. My dearest Mr. Warehouse is not one for talking things through and would have probably rather me just drop it in conversation along the lines of "So this weekend we are doing this and that weekend were somewhere else and Oh I got a new job and did you know were fresh out of Ketchup?"

Confused I called my Dad that night, hoping I might be able to get some more sense from him. Slightly better than Mr. Warehouse, my Dad was positive and I took away from our conversation that no matter how much I had been belittled, patronised and scrutinised throughout the last few months - I still had it. Although ever the realist Dad proposed the facts that I needed to really consider. What happens if I get sacked? What happens if I don't like it? What happens if I can't do it? All these things running through my head, coupled with the mere fact that seventy-quid is not a lot of money to leave a permanent job role I have been cushy in for over two-and-a-half-years I was seriously frazzled. But my early night made no impact on how I felt and whilst the morning always brings with it a new light to see something in, I was severely tired and needed to start thinking quickly about what my decision would be. 

Speaking with yet more close friends and family including Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Hackney and Miss Sugarcoat (yet another close work colleague I have yet to introduce you all too), the reoccurring subject line was that whilst the money was not great in terms of moving, seventy-pounds a month extra was still an extra seventy-pounds a month I didn't have last week and wont have next week. The thesis was that if I was unable to progress where I was in earning more money or more responsibility to be taken more seriously then it should be time to move. I had been considering it for a long while and with the current situation I found myself in I couldn't think of a better time to make the leap. 

Besides I had always said to myself there was never any point in learning to drive whilst I was at my old job, simply because affording a car and living alone, or even with someone would be a stretch if not impossible to do. I enjoyed my luxuries too much and I suppose with this new move I can not only afford the lifestyle I love so much, but also keep up with a car as well. The opportunities are endless and as Miss Sugarcoat put it herself - I am full worth the twenty-four-plus annual salary I am asking for, but it would seem a little odd to go form earning just under eighteen to another five-thousand-pounds a year in one jump. I need to make baby steps and work my way up to a salary I can not only live comfortably and happily on, but also a salary I can start to build a future on, a family and a home life. 

But on the other hand it will be ever so devastating when I do go. As I said at the top of this weeks post, its my home from home. So much has changed since I walked through those doors in April 2013. It was where I saw out my last days with Mr. Cheese (so glad you could make it, long time no see), went on to have some awful dates including Mr. Rockclimber, Mr. Krusty and countless other Mr's that didn't make the grade. Mere months into my probation period I met Mr. Warehouse and from then onwards spent many, many a dark rainy night cuddling in the canteen, away from the prying eyes of his family whom he worked alongside. Our love blossomed in those walls, out from the tea stained floors and breeze block walls came something that I now cherish so deep. Not only that but I have all my work family there and all the wonderful people that I see sometimes not for weeks or months at a time but all in the knowledge that I honestly love them all. Crazy cousins from sales, my office sharing sisters-from-other-misters, weird uncles from other divisions and even my embarrassing office Dad and Grandad. 

I will miss everyone so, so much. Miss Sugarcoat and Miss Hackney and Miss Gravy all but to name only a few. Some of whom I never spoke about on my Blog and others I am glad frankly to see the back of. My engineers whom I deal with on a daily basis, calling up and handing out jobs, asking how the wife and the kids are, sending out Birthday and Christmas cards, sending treats at Easter and Christmas also, all in which I have got to know so very, very well. Even my sales reps, who annoy the fucks out of me on an almost weekly basis, some more than others of course. Again I have wheedled my way into their lives as they have with mine, sharing in every detail of their holidays, families and moments, good and bad. All of them will be missed though, for we are a little family, a unit and a force to be reckoned with on a night out! Speaking of which ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Beer is made by men, wine is made by God!

Hello Dears!

Following last weeks critical and only slightly harsh take on life living with the male species, things have taken a turn for the better, and no, I have not won the lottery. Do you honestly think I would still be writing to you now if I was a millionairess? Pfft, I would be off drinking peachy champagne cocktails and hanging out with Cara Delevingne and trying to tell Evan Peters for the last time I am already taken - But meet me in the disabled loo's in five and I'll show him a real Freak Show!

Anyways I have not hit the big time, but the weather this weekend in the majority of the UK was like being in the Bahamas. So after heading to the doctors in the morning I had arrived back to the flat, changed into some shorts and headed out with Mr. Warehouse and the dog for an long walk in the afternoon sun. After walking near to ten miles to a local nature reserve and back again, puppy in toe exhausted as us from playing in the lake with all the other dogs I was well in need of a comfy Saturday night in front of the telly. With Sunday roast an absolute knock out of the park with everything home-made right down to the Yorkshire Puds and gravy I was well and truly done for the weekend. 

With all of that excitement though I was busy at work when I started to get some very strange emails from Mr. Warehouse. "I can't believe I am doing this" was the first email, next came "Can you bring me a pen and piece of paper when you meet me for lunch" and when I asked what was going on all I got in reply was "I'm outside come and meet me". Scared for what might happen in the next few moments and fearing the worst I made my way from my desk, down stairs and into the canteen where a smug-faced Mr. Warehouse was stood waiting for me. Upon opening up his bag as instructed I pulled out a piece of paper folded neatly and read through the black and white writing and occasional lemon-yellow highlighter pen. It read:
"I can now confirm that we would like to offer you a contract with the Brewery and look forward to seeing you on Monday for your first day with us"

Overjoyed and so proud of my little Pooh Bear I ran over to my beloved boyfriend and gave him a big congratulatory hug and a big kiss. Finally this was the start of something new for us. No more low wages desperately trying to make ends meet for his bills and financial obligations. No more lengthy planning for birthdays and Christmases and holidays. No more horrible shift patterns. Finally life could slot into a more harmonious order for Mr. Warehouse and I. 

Thinking back to last week, and the conversations that followed the uploading of said post, maybe now he can grown more confident within himself. Saying up-yours to his shitty co-workers he has had to deal with the past six years and choosing who he spends his time with will be a blessing. Its time for my Mr. Warehouse to branch out into the big wide world, making new friends and learning new skills. Confidence and being a newbie in the workplace always brings about new friendships and hopefully this will be the time Mr. Warehouse can make some new and more solid friendships outside of me and his family. I can already see him and his new work mates pratting around in the pub or having banter about the footy from the weekend on a Monday morning. We could finally have our own lives whereby he goes out after work with the lads and I wouldn't have to feel so guilty about spending the night in with the girls. 

Yes, I acknowledge that this may not be perfect in the long run as the new job for him will still be shift work but it will also mean more time for us as a little team. With a little more money coming in he won't have to worry about things he is constantly fretting about financially and can relax, maybe even taking a holiday later on in the year. 
I am so very, very proud of my wonderful boyfriend for making such a couragous step and leaving a company he joined when he was just a teenager and the fact that he has done this not for me, or the dog or anyone - But for himself. Besides he can still pop into see me and all his old work colleagues (most of them family mind) if he so wished and we would still be inviting him on the habitual night-outs.Speaking of which ... Whose up for a leaving do!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx