It's been a while........

Hello world. I have not blogged for ages as I have been so busy with work stuff and I couldn't really write about it on the Internet. So since I blogged last I no longer work for the local authority we have no successfully divested our organisation from SCC and we are now Leading Lives a social enterprise run as an employee owned cooperative. This piece if work has been really hard and time consuming but is also one of the things I have been involved in that I am most proud of. The feeling of we all did this when I look round at work is so motivating I feel I could take on any challenge thrown at us. I think that's why this type of company is proving to be a positive model for the future, in a world of bankers bonuses, fat cats and a huge divide between the haves and the have nots a cooperative is about all pulling together and achieving outcomes to support not only our organisation but also the community. So what else has been happening? My eldest has left college as he hated it and got a job in social care, when he comes home full of how good his day is it really makes me very proud. I can also see how it's maturing him (not totally of course he still drives us crazy) he thinks much more of others. My wonderful husband is enjoying working in a new studio in colchester and is pushing himself to produce some great work, and having just had a new tattoo yesterday I was blown away with how great it is. What has not changed since I blogged last? Mmmmmmm it's still raining! I don't know about you but Im sick of rain at the moment, I long for some lazy sunny days by the beach but no luck so far. Ruby is still drawing everything and her pictures are getting better and better she clearly has Daddy's talent! And my twins have finished their first year of exams and have done really well. They work really hard on revising something their big brother could learn from! So is there some deep message in my blog this time, well perhaps what this blog is saying is that life rolls on. A friend said to me recently that it's hard when you don't hear from people but sometimes that's because life gets busy and you become occupied with living it not just writing about it. Having said that I am going to make an effort to blog weekly again, if you can all bear it! Enjoy the wet stuff everyone and I don't mean fifty shades of grey!

Overcoming obstacles

Life is about thinking about how to overcome obstacles. Problems, issues concerns are all obstacles which we have to think creativly about how we get round, past or over them. If life was all really easy with no obstacles achievements at the end would feel less valuable. So why this topic, well a good friend of mine who has RA has been writing about how she is struggling with university and battling to get her tutors to understand her disability. She wakes up exhausted and in pain and yet still has the strength to fight on to achieve her goals. So I am thinking of her at the moment when I have to make hard decisions, overcome difficulties I am visualising her strength to get me through. So if you feel like throwing in the towel, think of someone you admire and who is brave and visualise them to get you through.

Birthdays

I have been very last recently as real life has taken over virtual life with work getting busier by the day as we take some exciting new steps. My wonderful husband has also taken some new steps as he has changed his workplace. For many of us this is quite a mundane thing but for an artist changing your studio is huge. He found making the decision hard but when he met his new boss and colleagues he felt instantly at ease and knew he would feel nourished in the artistic sense although since he changed job I have been making a packed lunch so he is nourished in the physical sense too! The littlest in my brood has moved into a big girl bed. To many of you this may seem a non event but to little children this is monumental she is now in her bedroom trying it for size. My eldest has passed his driving test and got a new job, the first steps in adult life being well and truly taken, the boy will be mobile in the next few weeks I think I may need some more hair dye as I know this is a huge worry but he has to take risks and I have to let him, parenthood is much easier when you can still control all their choices. But the main reason I'm blogging today isto reflect on the steps my lovely twins are taking on today their fifteenth birthday. I can just about remember being 15 and it was a real up and down year, not a child but not yet the grown up sixteen when you start getting new rights. For them it's a year of study and exams, choices about their future careers, the choices about relationships and social groups, identity and fashion. So my beloved twins enjoy these steps, but support each other for unlike many teenagers you have the gift of knowing you have unconditional love and support from each other, so use it. As for me I have to accept as they get older so do I, maybe I need to shop at Bon marche? Pah! I'm detirmined to go backwards in the age front so bring on the dye and the leopard print........

diary of a multitasking woman: Today is the National Day of Dignity. It was a cha...

diary of a multitasking woman: Today is the National Day of Dignity. It was a cha...: Today is the National Day of Dignity. It was a chance to reflect and share good practice. At the place I manage we had a fun day with a cake...

Today is the National Day of Dignity. It was a chance to reflect and share good practice. At the place I manage we had a fun day with a cake bake off in two teams within the service. We asked another manager to be the judge so it was fair. I filmed this and asked people questions about what dignity and good support means. The answers were simple but compelling, being listened too, being respected, being yourself, treated as an equal. The manager who judged summed it up when she said it was about being included and that in the activity she had seen everyone in the service being included and taking part in a way which met their needs. For me as a service manager that made me feel very proud of what the team built today, how they feel and believe everyone is important and has a voice. Its very easy to assume you are a voice for people without listening to what they want and this is something I will ensure I will focus over this year. I will not assume or presume to think I know what those people I manage or support feel or want and I will be curious and inquisitive to learn as much as I can about people's needs, desires and wants. So I would urge everyone who works with people to set themselves a bew years dignity resolution so we can all strive to give people the support they really want.