Supportive friends

Now that I have finally made the decision to leave Cruse my friends couldn't be more delighted. They are almost as excited as I am. Every time I sound as if I have the slightest concern about the future they rally around with " it's exciting", " it's  a new chapter" , " now you can do just what you choose".

Of course they are right. I now have the opportunity to choose how little or how much time I spend working.
Throughout my life you could say I have been lucky in that , bar one, I have loved every single job I have done. How many people can say that?? I have moved from one job to another with ease and as a natural progression.
Cruse has certainly been the most rewarding but the most pressured. Now I have reached the stage where I don't need the pressure of a rewarding job. I have enough to do to fill my time with family and fun stuff.
Yes it is exciting, a new chapter and an opportunity to choose. But for now I still have 11 more days in the office, making sure I leave it just how I would like to find it. I wish lots of luck to the new administrator whoever that may be. It is a very different Cruse to the one I came into in 2000.
My time is done and now it can be all about me. Time to be a little bit selfish and why not indeed .

A picture of me....

So there is a convenient space on this picture to describe who I am and what I do. At the moment it is a mystery. My heart is leaning towards my craft as long as my purse will benefit. I think my days of intensity are over and 14 yrs dealing with bereavement has more than paid my dues.
Art therapy may be an option. It has certainly been very therapeutic for me since I started crafting about eight years ago.

I collected my Masters yesterday at Bangor Uni during a " rabbit in headlights experience" .
 I certainly was not my organised self!! So do I look for courses or just go out there with the knowledge and passion that I already have. I need a crystal ball!!!

So in 16 days my Cruse chapter will be over bar  the shouting. Exciting, scary but inevitable!!! Watch this space ................

Some future challenges

On returning to my blog this morning after a couple of years of "no bloggin" I realise that I need to make it more fun. So my September challenge will be not only to bling up my blog but to find my way around my ipad generally.

I love all new gadgets, have to have them no matter what! Then I am intimidated by my lack of ability. I don't normally need classes. I can usually work it out myself, sometimes with the help of my buddy Nick. ( to be honest, mostly with Nick's help! )

So number two challenge is already planned. I am thinking that I may not be able to limit myself to one challenge per month! Those of you who know me can be sure that if I say it out loud then I will definitely do it. So if you have any suggestions throw them this way !

I do have one challenge this week and that is my graduation. It's been a long time coming and should have happened five years ago really. I have a Masters! Yay who would have thought??

Bye for now..... Xx

The next chapter

My time with Cruse North Wales comes to an end on 8th August. After more than 14 yrs of both volunteering and paid employment I am moving on. Although I have mixed feelings about what to do after I finish I have no doubt that it is the right decision.
My mantra in life has always been "While the good outweighs the bad , hang on in there. When that changes then think carefully about what to do" .
So I thought carefully and decided to end my "Crusing"  days.
I have no idea what comes next. I have ideas darting in and out of my mind, some just pipe dreams and some a possibility. I do need to earn some pocket money for my crafting addiction though.
One thing I am sure of is that I now have the time to conquer some of my fears and also face some of the challenges that have previously defeated me.
I intend to attempt one significant challenge each month for the rest of my life. Hopefully I will have long enough to attempt many .
My first challenge will take place on 15th August, my 66th birthday. My baby girl is taking me for a Spa day to Tresygawen Hall  (a treat from my lovely son- in- law). I am going to go into the pool and attempt to swim at least a length!! I have never learned to swim but I really want to.

So Challenge number one will be to swim ................
I don't have a list of challenges so will decide on the first of every month and then achieve it
 ( positive thinking) by 15th of that month.

I have abseiled, don't need to repeat that. I have been white water rafting- definitely don't need to repeat that! Not all the challenges with be extreme. Some may be simple tasks like making a pavlova- who knows!

If you want to keep m e company and maybe encourage me that would be great . Xx