Days 32 to 34: A twist in the tale

In my previous blog, I promised a very special edition of “Life After the Public Sector” to bring it to a close.  However, since the last publication, things have changed a little and there’s been a slight twist in the tale.

Before furnishing you with the details of this though, I really must tell you about the fun I’ve had over the last four or five days! 

I’d already documented the huge relief I’d felt, but having discovered a new-found security, I started to begin walking around with a real spring in my step.  All of a sudden, all the time I had became completely my own again and a renewed zest for life appeared.

A 'Congratulations on your new job' card
from my Auntie Eileen

I mentioned how I’d been invited to various social gatherings over recent weeks and it was a brilliant feeling being able to nail these plans down.  I’d also described (on more than one occasion!) how my ‘wish-list’ had elongated over recent weeks, so now that my social dates had been confirmed, I’d be needing a few new outfits to match the occasions!  As a self-confessed follower of fashion, you can imagine the delight I took in making a road-trip to the Trafford Centre on Thursday evening to buy some new threads!  ...It felt GREAT!

Two All Saints jackets, an All Saints top and a pair of Clarks Desert Boots later, I’d had my full-on fashion fix and what’s more, I'd enjoyed it entirely without guilt!

The iconic Clarks Originals Desert Boot from the 60's.
"Classics are revived and replicated, legends reinterpreted"

And it wasn’t just new clothes that I was able to ‘tick off’.  I was now able to sort out a whole host of other bits and bobs having finally been unleashed from my financial shackles.  With all my clothes currently hung on wooden coat-hangers, I was able to feed my OCD hunger by purchasing a few more wooden hangars to keep the wardrobe fully in sync!  I bought birthday cards for the upcoming March birthdays of both my Mum and Dad, as well as Mother’s Day cards for my Mum and Nanna.  I purchased a new protection screen and bumper for my iPhone, a basket-full of cosmetics from Boots and a bag full of nick-nacks that I’d been after for a while.  Significantly, I was also able to pay off my holiday which gave me the greatest pleasure of all!

Eradicating the guilt factor of spending my own money was one thing, but being able to enjoy my free time without feeling guilty any more was quite another!  One of the worst things about my period out of work was that the weekends had started to become insignificant.  Without reaching the end of a working week, one simply doesn’t get that brilliant ‘Friday Feeling’.

Even with all that ‘free time’ on my hands, it just didn’t feel as though I was allowed to enjoy my weekends and so invariably, I spent most of 2011’s weekends behind closed doors.  This weekend however, was totally different though as I returned to Pleasington to watch my team-mates in action and followed this up with a few beers in the club house with the lads.

So in a nutshell, it’s been a really enjoyable few days, but what of this late twist in the tale?

As regular readers will recall, I received a phone call from the BBC’s HR department on Tuesday, informing me that ideally, they’d like me to start on Monday the 21^st of February.  Unfortunately, this meant I’d need to cancel my plans at JD Williams for the same day.

However, two days later a new colleague called me to explain that she’d be mentoring me over the first few days …but she wouldn’t be in again until Tuesday the 1^st of March.

Ordinarily, (and particularly having already been out-of-work for so long), I might have been a little peeved at this delay, but it actually turns out to be the perfect scenario.

First of all, it means I can continue with my plans to attend JD Williams and get stuck into my second assignment.  Out of loyalty to RD, and because I’ve enjoyed my work so much there, I really didn’t want to burn any bridges there, so I'm pleased I can keep my word and attend as planned.

Secondly, whilst all concerned at JD Williams already know that I’m due to start my new job at the BBC, I figured it wouldn’t do any harm leaving the best possible impression there and so, I now have the time and the opportunity to do just that.

On Friday afternoon, I received the following e-mail from RD:
“Hi again, Just to keep you in the picture.  Simon & I met with our director today ref: bringing in a new creative team to manage the marketing work.  He has asked us to look at some more variations and meet up again in a couple of weeks when he is back off holiday.  All in all he is was very positive to the idea and in particular to us employing a copywriter.

So in a few weeks’ time, just when you have got your BBC slippers on and feet under the table, we'll probably try to convince you to join us – that decision will be all yours! Just like buses, nowhere to be seen and then two come along at once. Have a great weekend.”

...I really couldn't ask for better than that could I?

In some ways, I feel that by ‘keeping my options open’, it might be perceived that I’m playing with fire a little.  I guess it’s comparable to being in a nightclub one night when two gorgeous girls are giving you the eye!  You have a drink with one, and then have a little boogie with the other.  They’re both cracking looking girls and seem to be keen, but whilst you’re smiling across the room at one girl, the other girl spots your misdemeanours and pours her drink over your head!  Of course ...you end up with neither girl!  (Not that I’ve ever been in this kind of pickle may I add!)

This analogy might be a little far-fetched, but I’m obviously overjoyed with the BBC position and can’t wait to get cracking.  It offers everything I’ve been hoping for and the potential for so much more.  But I also feel that it wouldn’t do any harm at all to make the most constructive use of my final week 'off’ from work, and possibly manufacture an emergency option - just in case I wind up in disaster.

As a youngster I actually set my whole arm alight with a Halowe'en pumpkin, so I've learned the harsh lessons of playing with fire.  Whilst I feel confident that I’m doing the right thing this time around, I really hope I don’t get burnt again.

Until next time, many blessings,

Jason