15 December 2012
Ah
Since I'm sitting in tonight due a generous co-worker who came to work sick, might as well start on the to-do list...
05 December 2012
Haven't Seen You In A While...
Hello!
In a couple of days I will have been here for 11 months. Oh how time flies when you're having fun, as they say, and it sure does.
Work has been intense. There was a restructuring of our division that was proposed not long ago that had me gasping for air because I thought I was on the chopping block. Unfortunately, people who have dedicated something like 8 years were made redundant. They are good people too, and it sure brought a solemn feeling to the office. With these people gone, we are about to acquire 5 new people and if you've ever worked on a team, which I'm sure they must've felt when I started, it'll be hard to adjust to work ethics. Some people are great... others, not so much, and with deadlines that are pertinent on other people doing their job... I'm hoping for some eager beavers to walk through the door is all I can say! On the flip-side of unfortunate happenings at work, I survived my first annual return. This is once a year when we contact all 19500 members and tell them they need to update their information and confirm that they have complied with continuing professional development standards for this year. It's no fun I assure you and my ear was glued to the phone for the first two weeks while answering emails at the same time. My multitasking abilities have never been put to such good use! Ha. I don't mind being busy - the time flies and I do feel like I'm actually helping the institute's members directly. Oh, also part of the restructuring is the idea that my team, Central Reg, is to take on customer service. I can't say that anyone is thrilled about this, but to be fair, we really don't have any customer service at all throughout the institute which for a professional body is kind of bad. I know it will mean more work and training and stress but the reputation of the institute will grow in a good way and hopefully bring in more members. So, it's bittersweet I suppose.
Along with work has brought nights out! There was a curry night were we had some amazing selection of curries, naan bread, poppadoms, appetizers and beer. Yesterday we had a Christmas day with a Christmas market set up in our main meeting room, sweets brought in by colleagues to raise money for charity, and then topped off with snacks and mulled wine in the afternoon. Other things like drinks after work and seeing comedy shows throughout the festival in the summer, and coming up will be our division Christmas lunch followed by the institute Christmas lunch and then it's HOLIDAYS BABY!! Wooooohoooo!
As some of you may know, I am not coming home this year. I toyed with the idea of coming home since the summer and thought it would be a good idea. However, and probably most obvious, it is even MORE expensive to fly home during the holidays and I haven't been gone that long! I do miss everyone, that goes without saying, but I will see you soon. It sucks but I DO have Skype, just email me to arrange when and I will hopefully still be awake! (8 hours ahead here!)
So the social side of things have really picked up. One of the guys who worked with me is a DJ and knows a LOT of people in Edinburgh and all of them are sound. He is one of these people you can't hate and even when he's a goof, people still love him. Haven't heard one bad thing about him and I have to say I'm in agreement. Anyway, he brought me out to meet his mates one night and I have never looked back. I see them pretty much every weekend and have an amazing time with them all. This weekend will kind of outline the activity of the past 3 months - Thursday is drinks with some people from work, Friday is a show by these three guys whom I love (one is a music producer - he is actually so lovely, and the other two are DJs with great banter), and Saturday is a show at Musika where I feel like I have been living since I go there so much, and, it's hopefully going to be a big one where everyone will make it out! I love dancing and a weekend where two out of three days are filled with hours of good music, great people and dancing is a fabulous weekend for me!!
I know that the question of if I have met someone over here is something I have evaded to talk about because it's really not that simple. After being in a relationship for so long, some can just get right back out there while others are reclusive and scared of commitment. Guess which one I relate to? The latter. I'm not saying there hasn't been opportunities, because, Europe is friendly, but I just am having a hard time, partly because I don't want anything at the moment. I've probably heard most of the sayings... 'Just give it a chance' is common but it's not that easy! You have to be vulnerable and unsure and you guys know being a 'tad' bit of a control-freak, this is really an unappealing prospect. So suffice to say, I am not in a relationship and can't foresee pursuing that venture anytime soon, however, stranger things have happened.
With that out of the way, today is my last annual leave day and I am in the process of cleaning up my room, getting laundry done, and finding/listening to some new music. I have an olive loaf waiting for me to toast it in the kitchen and a london fog waiting to be concocted.
I forgot to mention that Ish and I have continued to escape the city sometimes, most recently going to St Abbs which is a massive, hill-rolling countryside with cliffs that would take your breath away. Although it was cold, we sat and talked, leaving room for silence for our thoughts as well. It was a beautiful afternoon and I'm very grateful to have the opportunities to do that being in Edinburgh. Also have been spending more time with the people I first met when I got here, sometimes going over to their flat just to hang out. The German Christmas market is in full swing along Princes Street and I'm hoping to head there with a few of them in the upcoming weeks. There's a Ferris wheel and multiple Christmas stalls - by the way, shoot me an email if there's anything you'd like for Christmas and I'll have a gander :-) Also planning a mulled wine and homemade treats night with some people, those who won't be making it home for the holidays, so that should be good.
I also made Erin and Kurt a birthday dinner celebration for their gift since they didn't want anything. Treated them to a 5 cheese lasagna with spinach noodles (Mozz, Romano, Parmesan, Gruyere, and Ricotta) with stuffed mushrooms and homemade french bread, and then for dessert, white chocolate cheesecake and coconut lemon bar. Wish I would've taken pictures! I absolutely love cooking and 'tis the season at the moment so I will be embarking on many sweets recipes.
Love you all and although I might not reply to emails right away, doesn't mean I don't read them. Sometimes it's easier to reply to the emails that are just a line or two, but don't shy away from the essay-esque ones either.
Ar xx
In a couple of days I will have been here for 11 months. Oh how time flies when you're having fun, as they say, and it sure does.
Work has been intense. There was a restructuring of our division that was proposed not long ago that had me gasping for air because I thought I was on the chopping block. Unfortunately, people who have dedicated something like 8 years were made redundant. They are good people too, and it sure brought a solemn feeling to the office. With these people gone, we are about to acquire 5 new people and if you've ever worked on a team, which I'm sure they must've felt when I started, it'll be hard to adjust to work ethics. Some people are great... others, not so much, and with deadlines that are pertinent on other people doing their job... I'm hoping for some eager beavers to walk through the door is all I can say! On the flip-side of unfortunate happenings at work, I survived my first annual return. This is once a year when we contact all 19500 members and tell them they need to update their information and confirm that they have complied with continuing professional development standards for this year. It's no fun I assure you and my ear was glued to the phone for the first two weeks while answering emails at the same time. My multitasking abilities have never been put to such good use! Ha. I don't mind being busy - the time flies and I do feel like I'm actually helping the institute's members directly. Oh, also part of the restructuring is the idea that my team, Central Reg, is to take on customer service. I can't say that anyone is thrilled about this, but to be fair, we really don't have any customer service at all throughout the institute which for a professional body is kind of bad. I know it will mean more work and training and stress but the reputation of the institute will grow in a good way and hopefully bring in more members. So, it's bittersweet I suppose.
Along with work has brought nights out! There was a curry night were we had some amazing selection of curries, naan bread, poppadoms, appetizers and beer. Yesterday we had a Christmas day with a Christmas market set up in our main meeting room, sweets brought in by colleagues to raise money for charity, and then topped off with snacks and mulled wine in the afternoon. Other things like drinks after work and seeing comedy shows throughout the festival in the summer, and coming up will be our division Christmas lunch followed by the institute Christmas lunch and then it's HOLIDAYS BABY!! Wooooohoooo!
As some of you may know, I am not coming home this year. I toyed with the idea of coming home since the summer and thought it would be a good idea. However, and probably most obvious, it is even MORE expensive to fly home during the holidays and I haven't been gone that long! I do miss everyone, that goes without saying, but I will see you soon. It sucks but I DO have Skype, just email me to arrange when and I will hopefully still be awake! (8 hours ahead here!)
So the social side of things have really picked up. One of the guys who worked with me is a DJ and knows a LOT of people in Edinburgh and all of them are sound. He is one of these people you can't hate and even when he's a goof, people still love him. Haven't heard one bad thing about him and I have to say I'm in agreement. Anyway, he brought me out to meet his mates one night and I have never looked back. I see them pretty much every weekend and have an amazing time with them all. This weekend will kind of outline the activity of the past 3 months - Thursday is drinks with some people from work, Friday is a show by these three guys whom I love (one is a music producer - he is actually so lovely, and the other two are DJs with great banter), and Saturday is a show at Musika where I feel like I have been living since I go there so much, and, it's hopefully going to be a big one where everyone will make it out! I love dancing and a weekend where two out of three days are filled with hours of good music, great people and dancing is a fabulous weekend for me!!
I know that the question of if I have met someone over here is something I have evaded to talk about because it's really not that simple. After being in a relationship for so long, some can just get right back out there while others are reclusive and scared of commitment. Guess which one I relate to? The latter. I'm not saying there hasn't been opportunities, because, Europe is friendly, but I just am having a hard time, partly because I don't want anything at the moment. I've probably heard most of the sayings... 'Just give it a chance' is common but it's not that easy! You have to be vulnerable and unsure and you guys know being a 'tad' bit of a control-freak, this is really an unappealing prospect. So suffice to say, I am not in a relationship and can't foresee pursuing that venture anytime soon, however, stranger things have happened.
With that out of the way, today is my last annual leave day and I am in the process of cleaning up my room, getting laundry done, and finding/listening to some new music. I have an olive loaf waiting for me to toast it in the kitchen and a london fog waiting to be concocted.
I forgot to mention that Ish and I have continued to escape the city sometimes, most recently going to St Abbs which is a massive, hill-rolling countryside with cliffs that would take your breath away. Although it was cold, we sat and talked, leaving room for silence for our thoughts as well. It was a beautiful afternoon and I'm very grateful to have the opportunities to do that being in Edinburgh. Also have been spending more time with the people I first met when I got here, sometimes going over to their flat just to hang out. The German Christmas market is in full swing along Princes Street and I'm hoping to head there with a few of them in the upcoming weeks. There's a Ferris wheel and multiple Christmas stalls - by the way, shoot me an email if there's anything you'd like for Christmas and I'll have a gander :-) Also planning a mulled wine and homemade treats night with some people, those who won't be making it home for the holidays, so that should be good.
I also made Erin and Kurt a birthday dinner celebration for their gift since they didn't want anything. Treated them to a 5 cheese lasagna with spinach noodles (Mozz, Romano, Parmesan, Gruyere, and Ricotta) with stuffed mushrooms and homemade french bread, and then for dessert, white chocolate cheesecake and coconut lemon bar. Wish I would've taken pictures! I absolutely love cooking and 'tis the season at the moment so I will be embarking on many sweets recipes.
Love you all and although I might not reply to emails right away, doesn't mean I don't read them. Sometimes it's easier to reply to the emails that are just a line or two, but don't shy away from the essay-esque ones either.
Ar xx
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