Tag Archives: work

Do you laugh or do you cry?

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Today has been a…challenging…day.

I had a meeting about advertising today which went on longer, and consequently I was running out to get lunch close to 2 p.m. and desperate for the loo.

Dumping said lunch on my desk I ran to the toilet.

And now I shall refer to the text I sent Sarah after she asked me to explain ‘How did the centre bathroom get flooded?’ where I refer to myself in the third person.

“Laurie needs to pee. She enters the bathroom and notices the tap running. She goes to turn it off and top part of the tap falls off. Water spouts up in the air creating an unwanted water fountain. Laurie tries to get tap back on all the while crossing her legs as water feature not helping need to pee situation…”

Eventually, after I managed to get in touch with our Landlord and the bathroom floor was swimming with water (despite my efforts to try and catch some of the water in a bucket as gravity overcame the shooting up effect splashing everywhere) I succeeded in putting the tap together again. By this time I was rather damp.

A man came by looked at it (& briefly recreated the water fountain)  and declared that ‘The tap was broken and needs replacing’

No kidding.

Let’s add on to that the fact that I now have to write an e-mail of complaint to Google Ads (another long story), my car seems to be leaking water into the passenger seat floor every time it’s been raining heavily and I came home to find a bill for almost £500 in my mail pile…I wish I’d never written what I posted yesterday.

Sigh.

No Selah today.

But apparently the story of the tap turned fountain made Sarah chuckle…glad to be of entertainment once again…!! :)

A brief moment of summer

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There’s a reason that my high school peers believed that in the year 2012 I would be ‘giving out love and sunshine’. Because that is what I love.

So for that reason, I changed my plans to crank up some overtime hours travelling for 40 mins by bus to spend an afternoon in our North facing dark cold office and decided to make this my office for the day:

It’s almost 24 C (74 F) outside. 

You’ll know by following my twitter feed if nothing else, how rare this is in Scotland. And after over a month of cold wintery dreich days, I’m taking advantage. Because it might be grey, dreich and drizzling again tomorrow.

The Pastor with the key question

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Today I was encouraged.

For a long time, I’ve prayed that a passion would be placed on peoples hearts in areas of the UK where there are no pregnancy resource centres.

I was excited to get an e-mail earlier in the year from someone wanting to start a centre in a place not too far away from here.

I was not surprised when this person got ill which prevented her from meeting me during the Easter holiday. You might have noticed that as soon as a Christian wants to enter into this no-mans land in middle of a highly emotive and controversial subject that the attack begins early. We’re not being ‘Christian’ enough or ‘pro life enough’ for some, and the fact that we believe in God makes us untrustworthy in the eyes of others. We begin the tightrope walk  so we can be the neutral person. The one not to voice an opinion. Just be there. Just offer the information on all sides.

As a wise person put it today ‘It’s a bit like going to see your financial advisor – they’ll tell you what all the options are, what all the potential consequences could be, but they don’t tell you what to do – the decision always gets left up to you‘.

I’m so excited. The person who visited had such a clear calling to this work and is not going into it with rose tinted glasses.

But something extra encouraged me.

Her minister came with her.

He asked me questions about practical stuff, and asked some tough but really good questions. I told them about some of the times I’ve struggled in the counselling room to not revert from listener to mother!

But the best question came near the end as the person was out of the room for a couple of minutes.

How can I support xxxx in this work?

I only wish more people in that pastoral leadership capacity asked that question when someone in their church family was entering into the sort of work we do.

Like my friend who works in the gynaecology ward. Or my friend who used to work in the recovery ward at the private abortion clinic. Or anyone of the people (particularly centre managers & trustees) who are running pregnancy resources centres all over the world.

It’s a question we should all be asking of the people in our church family. You can’t support everyone – and that’s why smallgroups are important! For the people in my smallgroup, I want to know ‘How can I support them?‘. For the people in my team at the centre or the teams across Scotland that Elizabeth & I hope to encourage – I want to know ‘How can I support them?‘

Today gave me hope.

Someone showed me that there are church leaders willing to stick their neck out to support a member of their church family as they enter into something controversial with compassion rather than a soapbox, and not exactly popular.

Thank you Mr Pastor for asking me that today.

In turn I hope I’m going to be able to support you all as you enter into a new adventure, which I’m sure is going to help a lot of people in the years to come.

:)

This malteser moment involves keys

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Yes. Last week was in a word: stressful.

So on Friday when I rushed into work (as much as somebody can rush when relying on public transport…) to print off the updated documents for the conference before I had to head out to Edinburgh Airport to meet our lovely guest speaker and his equally lovely wife!

One of our volunteers was moving away from Edinburgh this week. She’d been the lead signatory for CRBS checks before me, and so she had left me the keys for the all important cabinet bolted to the floor. I put the keys in a safe place, as knew they couldn’t be left in the office for confidentiality and legal reasons before rushing back out the office in a little bit of a frenzy.

And so today when I went to find the very important keys, imagine my horror when I searched in the little pocket of my bag I could have SWORN I’d put them in and discovered they were no longer there! 8O

A crazed search began, and figured they must have fallen out my bag at home. I hoped.

Then we later realised it was 30 mins past closing time. Time for home. I checked the bus website to find out my bus would leave in 9 mins time. I rushed to get my stuff together. But then I realised my keys were not in my bag (different keys…these are the big bunch with my car key, numerous house keys and office keys). They weren’t on the office desk, the coffeetable or any of the usual places I discover I’ve laid down my keys as I’ve walked into the office and had to immediately get to some task.

Where did I find them eventually?

The fridge.

Yes. I’d gone out to get my bus pass renewed and got a little wet in the downpour so bought an umbrella and a couple more packets of throat soothers on the way back. I’d put my keys in the shopping bag, bought milk, mozzarella, spinach and fresh pasta in Tesco, put my Boots shopping bag (containing said keys) in the Tesco bag. I’m efficient like that.

Then I’d put the Tesco bag straight in the fridge when I got back to the office forgetting the Boots bag was inside it.

Doh!!

My keys were pretty chilly when I retrieved them.

Anyway. All’s well that ends well.

The very important keys turned out to be in my jacket pocket – I’d obviously put them in there to keep them safe in case they fell out my bag (ha!) and they are now safe. In a place I won’t disclose to you.

Hopefully no one at my work ever reads this post.

I wonder if I can sing about the PVG Scheme?

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Being behind a microphone?

After 9 years – I’m used to it now. As long as I’m singing.

Speaking?

Not so much.

But it’s becoming part of my job sometimes. And this weekend I’ve with a Powerpoint presentation on probably what is one of the most confusing and dull topics in the history of charity work! Yes people, I’ve been asked to try and explain the new ‘Protecting Vulnerable Groups’ scheme in Scotland (basically vetting people applying to work with children & vulnerable adults on a paid or voluntary basis).

I’ll be heading up to Dundee tomorrow afternoon via Edinburgh Airport for our national conference (the Scottish one, rather than the wintery UK one). I was all ready to go on Monday, but due to some last-minute changes myself and the other Scottish Partner had to redo some our preparations today.

I’m feeling a little bit icky from remaining throat/sinus issues, but hope I can continue to fight through them.

:)

Anyway, if it’s quiet on the blog, facebook & twitter front over the weekend – you know why!

A return to London town?

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Keep your eyes peeled for flying cars

So last year I took a wee road trip as we had a Partners Away Day in Hertfordshire. It was AMAZING to meet up with friends old and new.

I wasn’t expecting to be heading down South again until November at the earliest, but it turns out I’ve to head back to Basingstoke on 13th July.

And since I don’t get holidays, I’m thinking of spending a wee bit of time in London/South West England if I can around that time. I won’t be driving – I will be at the mercy of the London Underground/Overground/East Coast Railways/South West Trains. :)

Anyone up for a catch up?

Things that sneak up behind you

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So last night at Powerpoint this video got shown…(I would like to thank the Lord right now that I didn’t go to Starbucks that day, I’m concerned for how close the ‘ghosting’ activities were to my usual place of work).

And while we’re talking about things that sneak about from behind…how did May get here so quickly? Was it not only last week that I was panicking about the lack of funds in my bank account as I headed down to London?

Today I realised that there’s only one week until the Scottish Conference. This year it’s going to be in Dundee, and I don’t have a car. I’m feeling quite unprepared, and today I found out I have to do a 45 min presentation on the new Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (those of you thinking that sounds really dull – you’d be totally correct).

So after a hard day inside training our wonderful new volunteers on a beautiful sunshiney day, I’m now surrounded by lists. Delegate lists. Network group lists. Workshop sign up sheet lists.

It’s difficult to believe at this time next week it’ll all be over.

Anything been sneaking up on you lately?

Guest blog: Careers Week @ Rebeccalouiselobb.com

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Hi Guys,

Last week was probably the most challenging week I’ve had in my current job, so I have to say that writing this post for Rebecca was difficult (my replacement power adaptor came with only a few hours to spare too!). Bec has been doing her first blog series: ‘Careers Week’, asking her friends to share about what they do as a career and how they go into it.

You can see my guest post here.

And I totally don’t have a secret twin! Just a lot of help from my laptop & Cassie the Corsa…and an ability to annoy the snot out of people when I say ‘no’ or have to choose one thing over another when unexpected stuff crops up. :)

LA x

How the molehills become mountains

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So right now, I’m in my pyjamas, scarf wrapped around my head, nose coated in vaseline and doing my bit for deforestation in the form of kleenex ultra-balm. I feel I should take this opportunity for turning up to Inter:act yesterday, because it must have been pretty gross as I blew my nose again, and again, and again. Plus I looked weird wearing earmuffs indoors. But they were a comfort as my ears screeched and popped inside my head.

Yes, this week has become a challenge.

This fortnight is exceptionally busy, last week I didn’t really have my ‘sabbath day’ because I had to be at a conference for work. There was Vicky’s party, StreetLight Sunday and this weekend I was supposed to be stewarding at a conference and on Monday I start training our new recruits in pregnancy crisis counselling & support!

So I wasn’t so thrilled to wake up on Monday feeling filled with snot again. I rushed in for supervision (which got semi-cancelled) and lay across the chairs in our office willing myself to not go home. Then someone came in who felt the need to tell me about an experience no emetophobic wants to hear (and not just once. they repeated the story 3 times to me – yes, it took a lot of effort to keep my counselling face on and not yell QUIT TALKING ABOUT IT! I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!).

When I get to heaven I’ll be asking God why he decided that ‘morning sickness’ should be a symptom of pregnancy. Gah.

And then in the afternoon I got 2 calls from Spain. Just another episode in the family soap opera! But it has been while…

To top off the Monday though, I was driving home when I realised ‘Hey…My heating isn’t working. Wait why is the temperature gauge changing so much?’

These were the signs that led Cassie the Corsa to the garage a month ago where I paid out £440 to have her fixed. So I wasn’t impressed that it seems like she is broken still. Unfortunately they are short staffed at the garage so she can’t go for a ‘car hospital’ visit until tomorrow.

I’m now slightly stressed that I won’t have my car back tomorrow evening.

Because on Thursday evening I have a meeting at my church – these tend to go on late, and there is no direct bus (I don’t do walking alone at nighttime for the simple fact that so many people I know have been attacked walking along at night). On Friday morning I have a car load of schools equipment to drive to village on the outskirts of Edinburgh plus a volunteer. On Friday afternoon I have another car load of stuff to take to a conference to set up a stall in the exhibiting area of the EICC. And I need to be able to get a stationery order plus all the tea/coffee stuff for the training course starting on Monday.

And if this sinus infection doesn’t go away (this is by far the most uncomfortable I’ve been as it’s hurting my ears and at times I can’t hear properly – not great for counselling!) I may have to pay a visit to my GP across the other side of town.

All little things. But somehow all the little things create a big problem.

There’s 3 things I always need for my job 1. a laptop 2. my car & 3. my phone.

This week is showing me how much I can’t do my job properly without them.

Hopefully it’ll all work out somehow. My Mum is off work the next few days as our cousin from Southampton comes to visit. So it will be great to see her. :)


Frazzle Dazzle

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Oh. My. Word.

What a day people, what a day.

After getting home at 1 a.m. when the streets of Edinburgh were frozen and slippy, I literally woke up, ate toast, showered, dressed and went out the door. My bag CRAMMED full of stuff to prepare for the last of the training sessions in post abortion counselling support I’m doing in Perth this weekend and headed to meet my Inter:act mentor before work.

Of course, my little revelation came up for discussion along with emetophobia. Where I really wanting to be praying, I’m finding my head is difficult to focus just now, as it is having to think about too many things at the same time as trying to adjust my head thoughts & attitudes about other things.

I headed to work with high plans of getting things done in a calm and timely manner, but it was not to be.

There were clients needing to be listened to, sisters that have been incommunicado for months ringing via skype, people phoning to sell me stuff, invoices that had disappeared and outstanding, people to e-mail, many to phone, many who did phone and people asking me to do stuff for them thinking they’d sent me documents they hadn’t actually sent me at all…

Technically I was off sick on Monday & Tuesday, but now it doesn’t matter. By the end of Saturday I’ll have done my work days regardless!

On the days where everything goes a little crazy – your plans go out the window, I do get a TON done, but it means I come home with a head that is buzzing, and still thinking of all the things that need to be done or could be done.

What have I missed?

What could I have done  better?

Will that work out?

Should I be sorting that out now, or is it too soon?

Oh crap, I forgot to do that thing I’ve been meaning to do for months…

Did I unplug everything before I left?

I am so looking forward to Saturday evening, when my work week will be over. And I will eat Chinese food. Chill out.

Before it all begins again!! :)