Sunday Walk

With the Leas just a 20 minute walk from my house on such a lovely day I felt the pull to get out and although it doesn’t look like it in these photos a lot of other people had the same idea.

With the sun going down on the sea makes it look quite late but this was only 2.30 in the afternoon. Vines used to grow along the lattice here it is nice to see this area restored and would be a peaceful place to sit with a book.

Recommendation: Podcast

If you like me are a fan of an occasional true crime documentary or book then I highly recommend the podcast Bear Brook:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/bear-brook/id1423306695?mt=2

It is fascinating and extremely well told true story of a disturbing and haunting discovery in Bear Brook National Park, New Hampshire in 1985 and the subsequent far reaching consequences. It is not sensationalised and treats the victims with respect told through narration, interviews and detailed investigation. The use of the background music is very effective. I am sure you will be like me and will find this story as gripping as I did and do remain subscribed as this story is still ongoing.

Thanks to the YouTuber Adventures and Naps for the recommendation – https://adventuresandnaps.com

My First WordPress Post

I have had a blog on Blogger for some time:

http://thestitchingbookworm.blogspot.com

but with the recent scare over Google Plus being shutdown I thought I would set up a blog on WordPress I’m not alone in this check out Lady K’s movie review blog:

www.ladyksmoviedialogue.wordpress.com

I love cross stitching but over the last few years got caught up in working on a project I should have cut my losses on and given up but I’m a bit stubborn and kept going and as a result I became a bit cheesed off with cross stitching but finally last year I finished it. So now I can get back to actually enjoying my hobby and I started a new project to celebrate and I chose one of my favourite subjects Christmas and you can see my progress below:

I love the colours I bought it off eBay but it came recommended from a Cross Stitch Facebook group I follow so I saw an actual finished project before I bought it. It is by http://www.sodastitch.com and they produce very professional colourful patterns. It is on 14ct Aida and being stitched with DMC floss.

Anyone who has any questions, opinions, ideas please feel free to post a comment. Thanks.

Light At The End of the Tunnel

I am happy to say that finally there is light at the end of the tunnel of what has been for me a very long tunnel. I have a JOB! It is such a relief, I interviewed at the beginning of July and started working on 20 July. It is a secretarial position at a small firm of solicitors in Hythe so only a short bus ride from home so no long commute anymore which is excellent and everyone has been very friendly and welcoming. The benefits of working local far outweigh any losses from working in London. It is a very busy position but that is great too I just concentrate on what I’m doing and my mind doesn’t have time to wander and worry about other stuff.

Travelling to Hythe has been really nice along by the seafront and I get off by the Military Canal every morning. It is great being so close to the shops I can pop into the supermarket before work; there is a library a short walk away and with my bus pass I can now pop on and off the buses locally which is great.

I still have to complete my probation but fingers crossed everything seems to be going well at the moment but I have a lot to learn.

Struggling with being unemployed

It’s been a year since I was made redundant and apart from two short periods of temporary work I am still searching. Every interview becomes harder it feels like a part of me is being sucked out and left behind. It is very frustrating I’ve never had a lot of confidence in myself, I read the job descriptions and my heart sinks with phrases such as dealing with high pressure situations and demonstrates proactivity and takes the initiative, etc. The feedback I receive is “we like her but …” normally related to feeling that I am quiet and they worry I won’t be able to deal with the partners/fee earners but I want to scream at them I worked for 27 years as a secretary I can’t have been that hopeless. But I suppose they have to whittle down the candidates and this is the way they do it. I find it hard to sell myself in interviews to find the right phrases to say I don’t have enough STAR stories. STAR = Situation, Task, Action, Result. I’m no good at making things up I can only be myself.

Every time the phone rings my stomach does somersaults usually I deal with agencies when they initially contact you they are all confident – oh your CV is excellent we’re get you a job in no time and you know it’s a lie. I decided to switch my focus more towards local jobs it would be nice not to have to travel so far but I’ve have had a couple again they went with someone more suited to the role. For one of the positions I applied for and did an interview, and was told they went with someone else about a week later I got a call from a different agency asking if I wanted to apply for the same role! That was a real boost to my confidence. A lot of the problem is my field of legal work is mainly employment and pensions and for a lot of local secretarial jobs it’s more conveyancing or family based legal work and companies want experience in those areas before they will consider you for interview. I’m willing to travel to other areas of Kent, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Margate, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, I don’t mind, I’m willing to try a different area of law if someone would be prepared to give me a chance.

I really don’t know where to go to from here I keep thinking what else I could do change of career, go back to college, but you need a talent that you can work on and I’ve never been very academic. And my anxiety is playing havoc with my emotions, even when I’m watching TV in the evenings every few minutes I can feel the ache of anxiety in my stomach and the despair just hits you, when am I ever going to get a job again.

I suppose I just have to keep plodding along hoping that I’ll get lucky.

New Beginnings and a Revived Interest

In June this year I found myself for the first time in my life facing redundancy which although was a shock to deal with emotionally I was not altogether surprised since my role had become quieter and it had become obvious there was less work to go around. It has been an adjustment dealing with this new world of job hunting and especially the daunting prospect of attending interviews since the last one I had was 27 years ago! I have been using outplacement consultants provided as part of my redundancy package and have joined a few employment agencies to help me navigate my way. As a result of my new found status I have found myself far too distracted to concentrate on reading so have picked up my cross stitch needle to help. The last time I did a cross stitch update was in April 2015 far too long ago so it does feel good to be stitching again.

I have made some progress with my Humphrey Bogart project his face is finally complete as you can see. I am pleased to say I am nearing the end than the beginning I have two small sections at the bottom to stitch and have begun the first already though I took the photo before. My Dad is pleased too.

I also decided after having been given several tapestry cushions many years ago as gifts and been saying to myself on many occasions I will learn to do tapestry one of these days so I can make them. Finally got off my butt and bought a small basic learners tapestry kit and am over half way through. I have found it pretty easy to pick up after following a very helpful You Tube video:

Link to Video – Beginner’s Guide To Tapestry

The design is by Orchidea and is called “My First Embroidery” it is quite a small piece only 6.5″ x 8″ – I found it slightly difficult to see the difference between the white and very light grey stitches in the colour guide I far prefer working with black and white symbols as you quite often do in cross stitch patterns. But it does stitch very quickly and I’m already over halfway and it looks quite effective. It is nice to have a break every now and then from the tiny stitches I have to do for the Humphrey Bogart piece.

Hopefully I’ll have some good news on the job front soon.

My 2016 Year In Books

Thought that I would share my year in books through 2016 from GoodReads to my Blog:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2016/2230482

My favourite book was Slaughter On A Snowy Morn: A Tale of Murder, Corruption and the Death Penalty Case That Revolutionised The American Courtroom by Colin Evans which was a fascinating true story of injustice and corruption of those who are suppose to uphold the law but broke it due to laziness and personal ambition. It was a real page turner Colin Evans detailed the characters in such a vivid style and I really enjoyed learning the backstory of each.

Highly recommended.

My least favourite book was A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James – sadly it was the first book I read for the book club I joined this year but it was so hard going it was brutal, violent, deeply unpleasant reading and very hard to follow due to the Jamaican dialect it was largely written in. Why is it so often that books which win the literary prizes are so inaccessible.

Not recommended.

Remember, No Matter What You’re Gonna Be Okay

Anyone who suffers from anxiety will know it is immensely frustrating. You get frustrated at yourself because it has such a debilitating effect on your life and because others people who don’t suffer from it just don’t understand. There are lots of resources out there to help including therapy and self-help books. But I wanted to recommend Paul Dooley’s podcasts (The Anxiety Guru Show) which are available on iTunes and via his website:

http://www.anxietyguru.net/

Paul is a qualified therapist and runs his own practice in San Diego. However, he far more importantly knows exactly what anxiety is like as he suffers from it himself so has first hand knowledge of the effects and the different therapies/tools that assist in controlling anxiety.

Paul’s podcasts vary in length and cover all aspects of anxiety including how to cope at work, in relationships, socially etc using straightforward language not psychobabble. Paul’s podcasts are about practical solutions and advice. Paul does occasionally talk about his therapy practice and he does have ebooks for sale on his website but he doesn’t force these on you. Paul’s podcasts are about helping others.

He often makes humorous comments and little asides off the mic which have me chuckling. It helps alleviate the seriousness of the subject but does not in anyway undermine the information he is conveying. He helps boost your confidence and gives you hope that recovery is possible if you are willing to put the work in.

“Remember no matter what you’re gonna be okay.”

Example of How Anxiety Affects Me

So this is me – my tentative Friday afternoon/evening arrangements – having to leave work early to catch a train then a bus to the dentist. Then as I want to go and see Star Trek: Beyond afterwards locally I have to get a bus back into town, have a bite to eat beforehand and then get a bus home afterwards.

So a little bit complicated but I am not planning a trip to Mongolia for goodness sake so why am I getting anxious and have butterflies. I feel ridiculous but I find writing things down – the order of events focuses me a little. And yes I’m anxious but like Paul Dooley (www.anxietyguru.net)* says:

“The better you tolerate the unknown the better you deal with anxiety – manage not knowing – roll with it”.

“Stay in the moment. Day by day. It won’t feel so overwhelming. Eventually it will subside.”

Breathe.

UPDATE (9/8/2016 – 07:30)

I realise I get worried about pressure of deadlines so being on time for appointments stresses me out. Paul Dooley is right it’s about control – I don’t have control over the train so I worry I will be late (hey this is Southeastern we are talking about!). But be organised leave yourself plenty of time.

Also I hate telling people in advance what I’m doing in case I either change my mind and bottle or something goes wrong. But this time I made a point of telling people what I was doing and everything went fine I made the appointments with plenty of time to spare and went to see the movie which was great by the way.

I also went to a march at the weekend through Hythe never done that before it was for a collective protest to Save Princes Parade (see photo), against the lorry park and Otterpool. I’m really pleased I went in fact very proud of myself.

*Note: Paul Dooley runs a website http://www.anxietyguru.net and a podcast – I will do a separate posting about him.

New Star Trek Series

I was very excited to hear at the beginning of the year that CBS were to broadcast a new Star Trek series on TV. Finally Star Trek back where it belongs. The films are okay but I’m not a fan of the timeline they have chosen to use including the destruction of Vulcan nor recasting the iconic characters from the original series though I have seen them.

However, this news inspired me to watch Star Trek in chronological order so I have started with the Enterprise series and am currently in mid Season 2. I realise there are whole sections of Star Trek I have missed as I started watching in the Deep Space Nine era which my Dad got me into and then I continued with Voyager which was my favourite. But I missed the Next Generation series altogether so I have only seen odd clips and it has been many years since I’ve watched the Original series.

It has been fun watching Enterprise it is far better than I remember it, what I enjoy is seeing the crew using and inventing for the first time many of the iconic elements that make Star Trek what it is today. I also love Porthos, Capt Archer’s sweet beagle, and I must also be one of the few people who like the theme song by Russell Watson.

I heard today that the new series will be broadcast here in the UK via Netflix I’ve put off subscribing to an on demand service before as I have so many shows on DVD and terrestrial TV that I watch already. But it seems I will have to cave in and sign up. What a dilemma!