Happy Days

Well...the coffee is kicking in on this..a very dreich Aberdeen Sunday morning..and what do I have to do today?...nothing!!!

Mind you..i did work yesterday...well..volunteered...at an over 40's ladies event yesterday..it was absolutely sweltering I tell the....and there i was the only fella in a sea of ladies!!! Yest another "indoor gardening" event..which is quite ironic really when you think about it...as I do not really know owt about gardening..he he...but it went down well..free pots, compost and plants...and some seeds as well..so all was good. I have to say..although I don't really know much about gardening that it is quite fun...I liked playing in the mud!!!!..nothing much changes does it. I asked one of the new exhibitors if they had a good tie and they replied that they seemed to be networking more than providing information to the public...and that is what I love about it...I know most of them anyway but it was good to catch up..especially as a lot of them had been in the loop about contracts and had thought my post was finished!!..so was like..."hey..how you doing?"..all very nice..all about the banter!!

So, now I am part time and have days off I am actually trying to not do work things....about time really as I have always had a work life imbalance..but now it is highlighted...what to do with 2 days off per week?...hhhmmmm...it is really difficult not to pick up the phone or go to the office and do some e mails...as there is always so much to do...but i see this current situation as an excellent opportunity not to be missed..do something else!!!..work can wait!! In fact, when I visited the Forestry Commission Scotland's office this week to meet all the folk, I met the high heid yin for the north east and he specifically said..."now, you only have 3 days per week, don't go sneaking into the office and try to do some work"..which I thought was pretty good...so I will have to do what I am told.

So, what has been happening? I have now started my part time short term contract with Forestry Commission Scotland..this has involved support from upon high and plenty of string pulling..as the funding was meant to be paid over to another employer and then paid out as salary..ACC has in turn committed the van, phone and office logistics..which is pretty good. This to maintain continuity over the summer months and terminates in August by which time the big post should have been advertised, applied for and satisfactorily obtained by me!!! This post will be hosted by ACC but 100% externally funded..the targets we strive to achieve will be FCS and HLF so we should be cooking with gas.

The benefits are already been seen for me....I have taken on bookings from clients worked with a wee while ago and now..having been kept in the loop...they have come back to me. Bearing in mind the new focus..or same focus but more focused..if you see what I mean...to have feet on WIAT ground..i have booked them onto the sites..he he....no wet weather option!!.so we will need to get our shelters up nice and quickly!

So it looks like i will have a gap between contracts again but not as long as 3 months!!!...which is a good thing really. I tell thee, i had better get the damn job or there will be trouble..but it doesn't seem likely i won't...why would folks do all this if they didn't want me here?...keep the faith...seems to have done the trick so far.

I am trying to gee myself up to take up kick boxing as it sounds like really good exercise...plus a good way to expend any issues. The only thing is that it is on a Tuesday which is usually when i am tired after the late night show on Monday and then work on Tuesday...but perhaps this is an excuse. Anyway, it sounds good to me so we shall see...still enjoying the radio although by 11.45 pm I am a bit eager to get home!!!

Onwards and upwards!!

Tara

Life Changing Moments

Hey,

After many years I have finally managed to sew my own trousers!!!...how embarrassing but very very true!!

I can do it..not very well..but it keeps it all in..as I am sure you can imagine.

Today was the last day of my ACC contract...a bit daunting but easier to deal with as I know my FCS part time contract will start in a weeks time. Had to leave my van at Doonies along with my keys..G was kind enough to drive me to Torry then I walked in..I felt quiet excited really...freedom and possibilities...but still a bit anxious.

Walked into town in preparation for tomorrow's big walk with the walking group at Northfield parish Church..that is going to be a biggy...but fun....went into Game to see if they had an Xbox controller..mine seems to have gone missing in the numerous moves....but the guy (who seemed to be paid extra for his apathy and condescension!!) said they don't make or sell them anymore...damn..did I feel like an old fogey!!!..I could have gone and asked for a Megadrive and felt better...hey ho..so i have to try and find one now...but if one controller is all I have lost in all the moves then i don't think that is too bad.

A few beers after and 2 pizzas..yes..I know...noo need to say owt...and I have had a kip...now awake and about to watch some tv..hhhmmm...strange days.

Tara

S

All Change!!!

Hey,


I just read my last entry and it reminds me of how I was feeling at the time...all was very bleak...seriously...not just me moaning.


The reason I have not put in an entry until now was really..apart from being busy and all over the place...there were movements above me and around me that could not be confirmed until now. It all seemed to move so fast having been so..not fast...and....nothing definite...it seems to have all come good. before i talk about that, I want to talk about this...


Dad's exhibition!!!! At the age of 75 years the old fella had about 15 pieces of his art exhibited..along with 2 other exhibitions....at Lochgelly Community Art Centre...his was placed in the cafeteria area..which was nice and chilled. One of the exhibitions was a bit full on....called migraine..with photographs sliced up and re arranged into weird warped images...like..as if you had a migraine...pretty hard to get to grips with...and some pretty offensive sculptures as well.


Anyhoo, his pictures are there for a full month but there was a private showing..for him and the other exhibitors....I felt it was like him going to my graduation...I was very proud to be there for him and chat away to folk..I hired a car...drove there on Monday at midday....got there..dressed...wnet to the exhibition..back to Carnock...then drove back up here on Tuesday morning...long 2 days..but worth it. My goodness..the ladies do love Mr Bly!!..was nice to see him be himself and chat away....very smart...but the ladies were a bit familiar...bless...he was loving every minute of it...everyone was saying.."oooo, I bet you didn't know your dad had talent like this?"...and my reply was "yes I did, I have been trying to persuade him to show his bloody art!!!" I think he appreciated me being there so it was all fine. He sold 2 pictures on the 1st night...one for £185 and one for £85..which was brilliant..I don't think he wanted them priced but the lady organising did it for all of them..from what i could see from the other exhibitors..none of them had sold on the 1st night...so...get it up ye's ya bas!!!!


Apart from that, I have been working hard to complete projects before the end of the contract..so working weekends as well...and doing my tax return. The way i look at it...I could be going into a stinky gym room...why not put in the effort on some projects....have the exercise outdoors and help other folks as well...everyone is a winner...especially me!!!! so..not a case of doing too much work...just doing what I love...getting ahead..and helping folks out at the same time.


Anyhoo..so what has been happening?


Well..i took a call for the boss from the Heritage Lottery Fund...she was asking for him but I asked her if she could speak to me as I thought it was to do with the grant money...she told me it was and asked me if I wanted to know the result?...I was papping it....part of me didn't want to know but i asked her to do so...and she said it had been authorised that very morning!!!! Now, had that not come through it would have been game over...totally..so i was relieved...slept well that night...think I had been suppressing the stress all that time. So what was next?..well..we had a pre agenda meeting to get through with the same fella that turned down the previous contract extension....if this passed then we look to the resource committee proper in June the 16th. We have the council's economic planner on board and she has this fella's ear...so she worked on him..and the fact we had the full funding..50% from FCS and 50% from HLF put us in a strong position...it passed no bother..albeit grudgingly from the fella...so now we need it to pass in June..which should not be a problem as he has openly said it can be added to the agenda...although he did the same with the extension..but it is a much cleaner proposal...100% externally funded and less than 24 months..which has enhanced benefit issues attached if the 24 months are exceeded.


So now all I have to do is apply for the job..which will be to start around September... if it passes in June and then hope to be successful in that...which I should as I helped construct the HLF proposal...and the FCS wants me in the position.


What about the interim between end of contract with ACC and the start of the position due to start in September? Well...the fella from FCS I deal with had had in mind to divert the 50% which was meant to be paid to an employer to then pay a salary to pay direct as a temporary part time contract. trouble is, he needed authorisation from a very high level in Edinburgh's as it was changing the nature of the funding..Government funding...but the high heid yin in charge of the north east of Scotland...the one who came out last September and saw what i was doing and met some of my clients...was totally behind me and gently kept the topic in discussion with the Edinburgh fella...and we had word 2 days after HLF that it had been authorised. It looks like it will go through as well...and they will give me a vehicle. So..part time means less money but it means I can rest up to a certain extent...which is good as I feel I need it..be good to keep working and recharge the batteries...regroup and re focus...use the spare days for trips to other FCS people...training...with fees paid of course!! i could always do some casual work as well if it came to it..but i hope not...50% FCS is slightly over 50% for the salary..so should be 3 days a week really..which is fine.

So..hopefully...i should be working for FCS between June and August/September/whenever...then move back to ACC to continue the same job i have been doing...except in a different uniform...then we start to look for other sustainable funding.

As you can tell from my last post..I was pretty down..and I don't think i was out of order to be...it was quite bleak...but then you can change from looking to tie things up and leave to planning ahead again..but with caution until it is all sorted...weird really...and not entirely pleasant....kinda...wanting to feel relieved at it being sorted but then not too happy as it may be pulled away from you with no notice...hey ho...keep the faith.

The most flattering thing has been the support from my clients...letters and e mails to those in charge....management moving to support and resolve any issues...all very flattering indeed...just shows I am doing the job right..I hope!!!

So...there you go...all change and all for the better.

See what the next few weeks bring.

Tara for now.