Decisions, decisions.

I can’t remember who I’ve spoken with or emailed so I thought I would just a do a quick up-date appraisal.  It also might go to some way to explain my 1) absence and 2) cantankerousness (this is a real word – I looked it up!).

As you know, I gave up one school association (2 x job roles) and then immediately was thrown into ‘emergency cover’ at another.  Well, in the past couple of weeks I have decided to accept their offer of a permanent contract as Office Manager – although I have warned both the Head and the Chair of Governors that it is a huge job to straighten-up and get under control and the whole situation will need to be reviewed in three months’ time.  Thankfully they agree with me!  For example, in the school office Outlook Inbox account there were 22,388 emails!  That’s not to say they hadn’t been read or actioned (I think the majority of old emails had) but these had not been filed or deleted …I can’t work like that! I prefer an empty-as-possible Inbox and file as soon as a task has been dealt with.  

So, if that is what the digital records are like in Outlook, can you imagine what the networks files are like?  And, don’t even mention the hardcopy paperwork…. The majority of which is years out of date!!  On top of all that, the school has just signed a building project and contracts and the timings are very tight:  School finishes on 16th December and demolition of the office and Class2 building starts on the 19th December.  Obviously because of statutory requirements the office function has to be up-and-running by the beginning of term (3rd January 2023) so we have ordered a garden office-building (aka a shed!) which is where the Head and I will be based for the foreseeable future!!  As well as the shed itself being erected we also have to organise / re-site all the normal furniture and associated filing, and the IT cabling, WiFi and servers, the photocopier / printer (used by everyone in the school), the fire and security alarms, telephone lines, etc, etc, blah blah blah.  Hmm… and it’s Christmas break in between-time and a lot of companies /tradies are on holiday (obviously and understandable).  As you can imagine it is a juggling act and a lot of this has to take a back seat to the normal day-to-day running of a school office – which is even worse in the run-up to Christmas…. Panto trips, concerts, church services, Nativity Plays and associated families in-fighting for tickets, Christmas lunch (regular? Vegetarian? Gluten free?  Any other kind of allergic reaction – made-up or real!?), Christmas Jumpers  and Shoe Boxes for charity, School Disco, cold, vomiting, snotty noses and exhaustion, and, more seriously, one confirmed case of Strep A… and so on and so forth.  

So, I was already tired (as you know) but the past few weeks have been exhausting.  On top of that I was bogged down with organising entertainment for the Winchcombe Christmas festival.  It was a successful event and took place on Tuesday 6th December.  The emails received and social media comments are very positive, and that is from participants and visitors alike.

As many of you are aware, I have been mulling over things for a little while as I have been feeling so tired and out-of-sorts, and “not myself”. So, in light of all of the above, I have come to a few decisions this week – and acted upon them!  I wrote to my doctor and subsequently have a face-to-face appointment this week; I booked and managed to get a cancellation booking with my chiropractor (and that immediately ironed out a niggling irritation in my shoulder/neck); I have cancelled my gym membership – until I can summon up energy to go and benefit from it.  On the ‘wider’ scale I have also informed all the local associations / people (e.g. Christmas Festival, Winchcombe Together, Open Gardens) that I have done volunteer work with that whilst I am happy to help out, I am not doing organisational roles during the upcoming year.  Basically it was just like a continuation of being at work – emails and spreadsheets and dealing with [stupid] questions from people who couldn’t be bothered to think for themselves or take any initiative. 

I am also considering the remaining “portfolio” of job roles [paid employment] that I hold and whilst they are under control and do not necessarily require too much deep-thought, they are there, an additional commitment and often create a spiralling sub-conscious “to-do” list.

Which brings me to the crunch…. All of these decisions are fuelled by the need to step away from the “real world” as much as possible and look after myself.  I have so little patience with "the general public" and social media that I think it is probably best to keep a low profile.  It has been a difficult few years (for everyone, I know) and I think a little quiet time would be of great benefit (for everyone, I would suggest!). 

So – that’s what I am doing! 

Yes – I hear across the ether - so shut-up Rosie! ?*!

Right – I’m off!  Speak soon(ish).