Jan
Gathering
I must apologize for my radio silence; a few times I've clicked "New Post" to blog here, found myself not only grouchy but far too grouchy even by the standards I've set myself on this site over the years, and decided in the interests of propriety that the one thing the Interwebz doesn't need is even more strongly-worded grouchy invective – even if I hope mine would at least be gramatically above Speak You're Branes level.
The upshot, it seems, will be that to save my job I will accept a 20% reduction in both hours and salary, though this is not finalized yet.
Of course this will have ramifications upon my lifestyle – it's certainly not undo-able, but it will mean some modifications. It's not as if I'll be on starvation level, so there's no need to worry here; just that "lifestyle change" is something I know I have a blobfish-on-a-seesaw-type inertia with.
Change generally is not something I look forward to – I'm fine with it actually happening, I'm just crap at anticipating it, with a huge propensity to pessimism that even Charlie Brooker might regard as slightly deviant and self-defeating.
So again I'll apologize for grouching and if, in whatever medium, I'm not as entertaining, communicating or as verbose as I should be. This too will pass.
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In the meantime, to give you something else to do, may I direct you to this link, in which you can waste an hour and a bit of your time watching the "classic" Santa Claus Conquers The Martians?
You're welcome.
January 30th, 2010 at 17:14
I think not being entertaining/verbose in such circumstances is very legitimate. And not in need of apologies.
You're very stoic in your blogging about such things, for which I admire you. I'd have flung several thousand Fs and Cs onto a post by now.
Hugs
January 30th, 2010 at 19:29
I'm sorry to hear you are going to be affected by cut backs. Hugs xxx
January 30th, 2010 at 19:32
I had been wondering if anything was going on, so it's good to hear you telling something about it. That's a significant reduction you're facing, no wonder it has soaked up some of your good spirits. With the organisation probably also facing many changes it will probably be a while till things settle again. Wishing you strength. *hugs*
January 31st, 2010 at 9:24
Job uncertainty does those things…
And I don't do well with change either. Glad to hear that the job is safe – 20% reduction is not unsubstantial, but at least you also get the 20% off in time. You could do something for yourself in that time (if it isn't eaten up by the sofa).
Glad to hear you're okay, though…
Santa Claus conquers the Martians – downloaded it from Archive.org before Xmas, and Ang and I had mind boggling fun with it. It has Pia Zandora in (though I had to explain to her who that is – and let Ang hear the Jermaine Jackson / PZ collaboration. Still a riveting song!)
January 31st, 2010 at 12:52
Actually it's even weirder than that; it was last Easter, rather than Christmas, when we watched it…! That was a strange juxtaposition of appropriated holiday traditions.
I'm glad you're able to stay in the job, though I understand the lack of enthusiasm with which you're contemplating the lifestyle changes. Put bluntly, it sucks to have to. Like Rem said, a key thing might be finding a specific way to use the extra 20% of time so that it feels like a positive and deliberate change in your life rather than sudden unsettling empty space that was previously occupied…
January 31st, 2010 at 14:14
not too many people deal well with change. sigh.
Santa and Martians? in SPACE-BLAZING COLOR????? I can hardly wait!
January 31st, 2010 at 19:02
Been there done that – we were told that our hours were to be cut (and salary, obviously) last March. I lost over 20% and was told that if I refused I'd be in breach of contract and fired. Nice company I work for. It sucks for a while, then you either accept it or move on. I'll be changing jobs as soon as I move down to Cambridgeshire (hopefully by March). Best of luck, ducky, my thoughts are with you.
February 1st, 2010 at 13:05
Bummer. Sorry to hear about this, it must be a worry. Change and uncertainty always is. Hope things get better, and am sure it will work out for the best in the long run. Hmm I sound a bit like a "Sorry you've had a 20% cut in pay and hours" greetings card. Warm thoughts and positive vibes heading to you anyway. xxx