The other side

I am sure you will be pleased to know I am out the other side of the recent funk, I think! Today has been a good day! Bridey has finally had her baby, after 4 days of labour and much yukky trauma, but baby is here now, Bridey is recovering and all is well - will hopefully get to see them both on Saturday!

I have had some difficulties at work recently - a completely unexpected, unpredictable and impossible to manage situation which has had a real impact on a key member of staff and will result in my recent addition being removed from the team shortly after starting. Despite this, I've felt really supported by my line management, and although there are still difficulties to face, namely the gap that will be left in an already small team, at least a decision has been reached and the current situation ended!

I am currently doing a team leader course, 5 days spread out over 4 months, and today we did a lot of work on personality types using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, which I thoroughly enjoyed, was really enlightening and was a day much needed after the recent work events. I found it so interesting to see that my "type" is pretty much 100% accurate, and what was most interesting is that although I struggled to categorise myself in a couple of areas (Sensing v iNtuition, and Thinking v Feeling if you're interested), what came out of the afternoon was that I'm a definite Thinker as oppose to Feeler, and even more interesting is that other people in the group said it was very clear to them that I was a Thinker. I really think I know myself well so am always pleased to discover additional facets to my personality, or to view myself in a different way. Food for thought (yes, ironic considering) indeed!

This piece of information has also made me spend some time reflecting on my personal situation in recent years, and helps to explain to me how I have struggled so much to make sense of the situation. Although it hasn't helped me to rationalise the events, or more importantly my emotions and reactions to these, I guess it has given me a little peace that it is in my nature to have that need to rationalise, and I need to examine how I find the way forward with this knowledge. Particularly as I'm aware that emotions are feelings not thoughts, and that rationalising emotions isn't always possible - though it would appear to be what I need to do. I don't know but it's been a reflective and interesting day!

Impatient

I am so impatient for Bridey to have her baby - don't know why! I'm certainly not broody and can't see me ever having another child, in any way, shape or form, but I'm really looking forward to her little one arriving. It's probably the ability to go over and ooh and aah and cuddle and then bugger off - perfect parenting :-)

She's been in labour since yesterday, and went to the hospital today for a check, but is not having strong enough contractions so has gone home again, and will hopefully need to go back again tonight and the deed will be done by the end of tomorrow! Her son, who is 8, has been here since yesterday evening, planned anyway so that he could come trick or treating with us and then sleep over. The plan was that he would go home today and Bridey would cook a lovely Sunday dinner for us all, however, that's all changed and he is still here! Fortunately he doesn't have school tomorrow (they live bout 17 miles from us) - much to X's disgust as she has to go! - and I can wriggle work if need be, so fingers crossed there is a new arrival this evening!!

Farewell Bridey

Yesterday was The Bride's last day at work before she heads off to have a baby in 3 weeks, so last night X went to sleep at Lily's, and the evening saw the gaggle of us in a gorgeous Italian restaurant in the town where I work, with piles of fabulous food loaded onto the table. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling well, so I had a tomato and onion salad and ate only a handful of that, plus a taste of CJ's monkfish - most annoying when everything looked so good! On the bright side though, it did mean my meal only cost me a fiver, which is good as it meant I had a whole £15 for shopping today!!

It was a good night, and everybody had a good time, but I am very sad to be losing her for 9 months (assuming I am still there when she comes back in July!). She has really been my rock in the last 3 years I've been there, and is such a strong, supportive and knowledgeable member of the team that we will all feel her absence. It just won't be the same without her.

That said, I will definitely be seeing lots of her, as I already do out of work - particularly as her son is a year younger than X so we share a lot of holiday childcare, that and she's always willing to cook sunday dinner for us all, being one of these people that can't sit still for more than 15 minutes! Regardless of work, I am sure she will always be a good friend of mine, and at my age, that is something to be grateful for!