Shattering the glass ceiling

Hello All, 

And so the moment has finally come. No not the lockdown ending (although I won't lie, that is certainly peaking my mood), no not the fact I am less than a day from my pork scratching advent calendar and no not the fact that I am less than a few days away from seeing my nail lady for my Christmas inspired tallons. No. Now is the moment we discuss moving on ... 

Arriving at work, it suddenly hit me that this was it. There were no second chances and that once it was done there was no turning back. Up until getting out of my car that crisp Tuesday morning last week it hadn't even really seemed real. But now it was very real. The next time I stepped into my car the dynamics would have shifted and all would have been laid bare. I was nervous. Trying to think of the perfect moment was awful. I mean I had some time to think since it had nearly been a fortnight. Nevertheless, I thought I would let management grab a coffee and settle into emails before telling them my news. 

But then started the normal morning rush and before I knew it lunchtime was upon us. After telling a few close colleagues I knew I had to seize the moment and if not now then when. And so, alone in a quiet meeting room I slid the white envelope across the desks (you know COVID-safe and all). Smiling, my manager asked what it was. I explained as best I could without taking up any more of his valuable time although I felt as though I was rambling and not really making much sense. I blathered on about this and that but when it really came down to it, what was there in his hands was quite simply the final nail in the coffin. My resignation. 

I joined the company over four years ago and in that time life had changed immeasurably. I had got Clifford, my big red car after my beloved Vivienne was written off. I have gotten engaged and planned a wedding. I got my best ever freebie, my little pup Frankenstein. I even managed to get myself on the property ladder after years of wondering and dreaming about if it will ever happen. Yes, there had been many a happy time shared amongst my office space and colleagues. However, in recent months and even going back as far as last year, I have not been happy. 

Standing there in a silent meeting room with my manager I explained that it was a decision I had made not lightly, given the situation the team would be left in and considering the pandemic. But I knew in my heart of hearts that now the wheels were in motion I couldn't turn back now. Who knew that walking through those doors all those many moons ago that I would not only acquire the skills for dealing with difficult customers and colleagues but also that I would learn things about myself, my values and my value to others. 

I never expected that I would get a taste for anything more than just a job to pass time and fill up the years before I settled down to have children. I know now that I want more than that for myself and my future. I want to have a job my children can be proud of, doing something that I am good at with people whom I enjoy being around. But there is more to life and I needed to spread my wings and fly off for a new adventure. 

So where am I going and what is next?! Well, following a successful interview I had a phone call one Friday morning before I started work. Switching on the grinding coffee machine in the office kitchen I listened to the voice at the end of the phone tell me the news I had been hoping for. I had bagged the job. But which one? I remembered interviewing for the job, but couldn't find anything on my emails as I desperately scanned through. The lady explained she would send everything over and looked forward to working with me soon. 

The following week I finally received all the finalised paperwork, information and new starter forms. Working normal office hours I will instead be heading in the opposite direction to the other half in the mornings come the new year and into the hustle and bustle of Milton Keynes. Along with the normal benefits package the offices are super easy to get to and is right by the lake, so the "healthy-me" is thinking it would be a great idea to invest in a bike or for a walk or maybe even a run (haha) around the lake maybe two or three times a week. The "fat-me" thinks about all the amazing places I can order food from in the city and how it will be delivered to me by a man on a bike or even better - A robo-delivery-box-a-mijig! 

To say I am excited is putting it softly, but despite my enthusiasm, my heart still aches for my situation and the reasons which have lead me to where I am now. I hope that one day I can talk openly about them, however as most of you know who have been reading along for a while now (can you believe it has been nearly TEN YEARS!) I don't talk about work or employment and keep them and blog very distance. 

And so I suppose this is probably the most honest or open I have ever been about my work-life, but with the next few weeks until Christmas laying ahead of me, things are changing all the time and who knows what curveball or spanner will be thrown into the cogs of my life next ... 

'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