Ready for the next adventure!

Before I post about Japan, I have other news...One Wednesday a few weeks ago, my workplace announced redundancies, my job was one no longer included in the company after the proposed restructure so by the following Friday I had already put in my application for voluntary redundancy.

Also by that Friday, the information of which jobs were placed at risk had leaked out and people started giving me the side-head "I'm sorry" speeches. It was a bit awkward because I'm really not unhappy about it so I responded with a cheeky grin and an explanation that I view this as the universe simply giving me a nudge to go and move on to my next adventure.

I feel like I have the whole world at my feet right now and honestly, that's quite exciting. I know that I'm lucky, I have very few commitments, so this is a great freedom for me whilst I understand that for others it could certainly feel like their world is crumbling.

A few days before I left for Japan I got called into the boss' office and they gave me the best news - My application was being accepted and I was being put on garden leave from the following Tuesday (I needed to come in and see my direct boss before I could officially go anywhere and she was off on leave).  I admit that I didn't do anything from there onward that might have constituted work for the next few days.  My team were shocked at the speed of the process (from announcement to final decision in less than a week) but it was far better for me not to have it drag on.

So now, I'm free....

I'm feeling a little odd about it, if for no other reason than I've not been unemployed since I was a teenager. 

I often said that in this situation I might consider starting my own business - I still might - I've not even started to decide yet. At the moment, I'm planning on taking a few months off and going on a couple of trips with Mr B before I really start to think about getting back to the grind. 

Barbie has a productive day

I have quite an odd job.  I do love it, but it can be a little strange sometimes. Other than the fun travel, I'm often stuck in an office looking after my staff, but even in the office I get to do some odd shit sometimes.  One of my priorities for today was this:

I made a postbox! 

Yup, I made a postbox...and I don't work with small children.  We have a staff away day tomorrow so it is part of a bigger plan.  I'm just proud of my postbox!  The ducks are just photo-bombing, they're not coming to the day.

If you're wondering what the boxes are, I've edited out the contact details so I don't get spammed at work ;)

Firewalk with me...

No, this post is not about the twin peaks movie. Next Friday I will be walking over 15 feet of hot coals to raise money for char-ity (*cough* excuse the pun) I'm very excited, and as the day draws closer I'm also getting rather nervous!

Walking on hot coals is a massive challenge, and one that many people would shy away from (based on the reaction most people have given of asking if I'm completely insane) but I think my mind/body can hold up to it....If not this is going to hurt! I'll be getting as many photos and videos as possible as evidence of my trial, maybe more to prove to myself that I did it than for anyone else as I'm pretty sure it will all feel like a bit of a dream afterwards.

Wish me luck folks! (or if it goes wrong, send bandages!)

Cunning Plan?

I saw this article in todays news. If you can't be bothered to read it, the general idea is that recent statistics have shown that 40% of people who attend A&E leave without receiving treatment of advice.

"The study also showed around half a million patients leave A&E or injury units before being treated."....."It also shows a significant number of patients were recorded as leaving the department without having had any advice or treatment."

I immediately thought of at least two reasons this might happen...

1. The patients attend, get seen and then leave without actually needing anything. I agree that this would be a monumental waste of time and resources which could be better used elsewhere.

or

2. The patients attend, sit about for what possibly seems like an eternity, and then decide to give up and go elsewhere (maybe their GP, or another hospital)

I'm not having a bash at the NHS here, or making any kind of complaint about waiting times etc (in fact in my own experiences I have always received excellent service - and I have been a fairly frequent user at times of facilities such as A&E) but I am fully aware that such generic statements made from statistical analysis can be taken in more than one way.

I have a cunning plan however...Maybe St Johns and St Andrews ambulance services (and other voluntary organisations that are similar) set themselves up with regional clinics that could administer first aid and refer people who needed further attention to the hospitals. (this may require some public thought however - a hand thats been chopped off, or a heart attack, or other serious injury doesn't really count as something treatable with first aid alone and should be taken to the hospital directly!) This way the organisation members get plenty of practice and experience and the hospital has fewer people trying to get seen.

It's got its flaws, but I'm sure they'll get ironed out somewhere...

More Genius Ideas...

You may remember a post from last year about a TV show called Genius...(Its been back on again, and is on BBC iPlayer so look it up) Along the same lines as the previous post, I've had another Genius-worthy idea....




wait for it......




Heated Bus Shelters

For those cold -12ish mornings where you would give anything for a little heat. What about installing heaters into bus shelters to encourage winter commuters? These could be hooked up to solar panels on the roof of the shelter and as they would only really need to produce heat in winter, any excess energy created could be added to the national grid. Problem of freezing my ass off SOLVED!