What are you doing today ??

[D41]

The first photo looks great...the "cloud-lines"....they look like giant flashlights beyond the horizon.

[Kwacky]

Keeping an eye on the NFL draft. It's a very long winded process.

[Kwacky]

I've got a works so in Brum. My boss asked me to get to Brum early so we could have a catch up. He's missed his train and I'm sat on my own for half an hour

[D6Nutz]

Running round like a blue arse fly.

Picked up some paint for the decorator, popped in to see my parents, washed the fish, cleaned and descaled the demanding coffee machine, and I'm playing taxi for the wife and friends later as they are going to a hen do (god help me)

I've maintained my sanity by looking at Enduro bikes.

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[Kwacky]

Been to get some jewellery for my daughter's birthday. She's 21 tomorrow

[Cav]

Crikey mate, I thought she was doing her GSCEs!!

[Kwacky]

She's just handed in her last dissertation

[C00kiemonster]

21. I remember when she was a little nipper! We are old.

[Stonesie]

Relaxing day today with some added DIY.
Got to see if I can adjust the back door, replace the toilet seat and a shopping trip...

Might get the bike out if it stops raining and fit the tracker...

Am I mad to enjoy tinkering?



EDIT
Okay the toilet seat was not fun, but being a tinkerer I had the tools and some strong nitrile gloves

[StMarks]

Am I mad to enjoy tinkering?

[Kwacky]

Spent the day spring cleaning. I've had a clear up in the back garden. Moved some stuff around or out. Cleaned the paving. Emptied and cleaned a half barrel. Think I'll turn that in to a water feature. Weeded and mowed the side of the house. Laid some turf at the front. Stripped and cleaned the dog cage. Gave the kitchen a full clean. Now putting my feet up

[D41]

Working in the backyard and hating the world....especially any world that has long grass and weeds in it.

[D6Nutz]

Spent the afternoon in a random pub chatting to a random person I met online.

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[kiwikrasher]

Preparations for my new business once I finish offshore

Police Check came through today, registered the Business name, bought my domain name and got my ABN (business tax number). I've also drafted a business logo. All while monitoring 7 turbines and managing 3 work fronts

I'm working on a Disability Support business, specialising in Neurodivergent clients with a focus on Life Skills Support, Workplace inclusion/training/mentoring and outdoor pursuits/experiences for confidence building. My redundancy when it comes through will give me a buffer to slowly build up client numbers. There is a huge gap in support once kids like Byron leave school and transition into adulthood. The owner of the respite/support centre Byron has been using has been instrumental in encouraging me and offering business mentoring.

Really excited to be working towards doing something of real value and improving lives of a mis-understood section of society.

[D41]

I wish you the very best with this new venture. It's come across very clearly over the years that you care deeply about this sort of thing. That, and you must have the patience of a saint.

[D6Nutz]

Preparations for my new business once I finish offshore

Police Check came through today, registered the Business name, bought my domain name and got my ABN (business tax number). I've also drafted a business logo. All while monitoring 7 turbines and managing 3 work fronts

I'm working on a Disability Support business, specialising in Neurodivergent clients with a focus on Life Skills Support, Workplace inclusion/training/mentoring and outdoor pursuits/experiences for confidence building. My redundancy when it comes through will give me a buffer to slowly build up client numbers. There is a huge gap in support once kids like Byron leave school and transition into adulthood. The owner of the respite/support centre Byron has been using has been instrumental in encouraging me and offering business mentoring.

Really excited to be working towards doing something of real value and improving lives of a mis-understood section of society.

Awesome mate, what a great thing to do.

You (and I) already know the impact this kind support will have on, not only the individual, but their whole family.


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[Cav]

Bravo!! I couldn't have thought of a more beneficial business to start and I'm sure you'll have a great success! I'm really excited for you mate

[StMarks]

Bloody hell Kk, that's a bit different from supplying fancy alcoholic beverages.!

Playing to your natural strengths though, and could potentially be a far more rewarding occupation for you imho.

Has your redundancy carrot reached a fixed date at last, or could it conceivably still be a while ? ( the cynic in me suspects in their hope that you get fed up and leave them without it)

[kiwikrasher]

Thanks guys, yeah it is rather different but I’ve worked for the wallet and to put myself and my family in a good position and it’s taken a toll on my own sanity and is only getting harder for those around me. So now (well soon) it’s time to do something for the soul and feel good about my work.

Jess was working retail when I met her and it was crushing her spirit. I pushed her to follow her dreams of being a midwife and she is now living that dream. She’s now turned that back on me and told me to do the same.

I have known for a long time I wanted to work in the disability space, and actually did part time when I was 19 when studying at tech prior to joining the airforce. I really enjoy teaching and helping people. I had considered doing an Occupational Therapy degree post here but being 53 by the time I’d start I’d be 57-58 as a post grad with minimal years left to work in that field.
So when this idea started to evolve during a conversation with the owner of the service Byron’s been using since the fall out with his mum, it’s grown and I’m now putting the foundations down to make it work.

One of the carer sessions Byron had done these school holidays while I’ve been away, was I organised Jess to leave him a shopping list and Sushi dinner order. A carer came and picked him up, took him out to lunch, assisted him in doing the shopping and dinner purchase, got him home and assisted him in putting it all away. Such a small thing in most people’s eyes, but talking to Byron that night and hearing how proud and accomplished he felt that Jess could come home to the shopping done and dinner sorted at the end of her working week just cemented that this is the area I want to work in.

Let’s face it, although I'm undiagnosed, I’m in all reality a fair way up the spectrum myself, and I’ve developed my own strategies in life, so I have an advantage that I am able to lock into what’s needed pretty quickly and develop strategies that work. It literally lifts my mood instantly thinking about doing that sort of thing full time.

As for the redundancy timeframe it’s still the great unknown. So many moving pieces the goal posts are constantly changing. But when I first got back home last time and things had blown up with Byron and his mum, and I realised he wouldn’t be going back to his mums, I actually rang the Field Manager to tell him I may need to quit. He’s a great bloke, ex Air Force as well, and I’ve always got on with him really well. Even had a few Darwin drinking sessions together. He also has 2 grandkids with ASD, so is very sympathetic to my situation. He implored me not to quit and “do what you can to make the next couple of swings”. He wasn’t able to give me definitive timeframes or promises, other that plans were afoot to reduce numbers out here PRIOR to end of production and that he would ensure I was in the first group of people to go. He doesn’t want to see me miss out on a payout as he knows how much it would help my situation at home and give me the breather to set Byron up transitioning from school and into adult life. So short answer is “f**k knows, but quite possibly sooner than I think”

[Cav]

A carer came and picked him up, took him out to lunch, assisted him in doing the shopping and dinner purchase, got him home and assisted him in putting it all away.

There is NOTHING small about that!

My B-i-L is ASD and that simply wouldn't be possible for him. At best he could put some shopping away but it would take him a day to do it and he wouldn't make himself anything to eat in the meantime. He certainly couldn't order food either and even if he did, he wouldn't answer the door to take it in.

Congratulations, Byron!!!