Hello blog, welcome me back!

May seems so long ago, but also just a blink.

This career break has been busy but very satisfying.

Biggest achievement since mid-May, I've lost over 10 kilos and am fitter than I have been for 20 years. My knee took about two 2 1/2 months to repair, so I focused on exercise I could manage and following an eating plan. My gym Contours Dulwich Hill have been so supportive and helpful and now I am:

• Going to the gym 6 days per week
• Half way through a six week challenge at the gym
• Running 3-4 times per week. I have last week started the run 10 km app (next step up from my 0-5 k app) and given my break from running began at the 3 km mark and am slowly building up. It was delightful to find this has been quite easy and the knee is holding up beautifully.

I am only part way to my weight and fitness goals but feel very positive and motivated. It's also been nearly 4 months so importantly feels sustainable. I saw an old colleague yesterday who I hadn't seen since about the date of the last post to this blog. She was startled by the change in me (in a good way). The last few kilos has really made a noticeable difference in particular. Mitch has been beautifully supportive and happily eats what I eat, and stays dry on my alcohol free days, when we are together.

Job market has been quiet, I am hoping it may pick up now we are finally past the election (not with the Fed's of course). I had one interview in June but think I interviewed myself out of the position (for good reason) but still found a lot positive and constructive out of the experience. E.g. expect the unexpected with the non-government sector. They can ask you anything! My presentation was fun to deliver, stimulating to prepare and very well received. Phew I haven't lost my skills or enthusiasm during this break. I've put another couple of applications in recently but heard nothing. I've turned this into a positive - planning my holiday with Mitch in late October. My CV is being revisited and refreshed to take with me to a few Agencies post holiday.

Last week I started a new six week course and my first MOOC "how to teach online" coming from a community college in Hawaii. It's going to keep me constructively busy (and has also resulted in me revisiting this blog - yep I had to start a new one for this new course - http://onlinemooc.blogspot.com.au). Other than that I've been doing bits of volunteering within the cat community and also at a family and day care centre in Mt Druitt (note to self, when agreeing to volunteer, do check location) and have been exploring further volunteering options on SEEK volunteer.

Carly's Facebook page and YouTube channel (Carly Calici) also keeps me connected. She has fans ready and waiting for her daily posts and do I know it if we're late.

Next challenge, to pop into this blog more regularly!

Been a bit quiet on the blogging front

Yes, I've been a bit quiet on the blogging front. Clearly it has not yet become a habit. I hear, and believe, from experience, that it takes at least three weeks to form habits. Phew, great that I am onto week four of my run app.

So here's an update if I can remember my labels:

Job seeking - I've accepted that two months of not thinking about job seeking was enough of a treat and that I must start the process now. I've started a little spreadsheet to manage what jobs interest me - I was confusing myself before I had even put pen to paper (or rather created documents and tapped the keys).

Here are the columns headings in my spreadsheet:
Organisation, title, term, location, ~ salary, full/part time, selection criteria, resume, covering letter (I just put the document name if created for the last three), date close, date submitted, contact, cull/interview advice, comments.

So while I have five possible jobs on my spreadsheet, I have only applied for one so far - a casual/on-call training job for a community organisation providing job seeking skills training. A tad ironic. But suits my desires at this stage. I dont know if I want to use this year with another full-time and full-on job.

There are so many other things to focus on also:

Health

Running app is going really well. I am half way through and running for a number of blocks of 4 mins, to go up to 5 mins next run. A former colleague says, if you believe you will do. So I have signed myself up for a 4 km fun run on Mothers Day morning for breast cancer and in tribute to my Mother Julie and my friend Carmel. I am so touched to have a running buddy come and join me from Melbourne; my lifelong friend and my family's second daughter. Very fitting (except she is very fit, so will have to slow down and pace herself with me).

Carly

Our darling little girl continues to be a delight. We had teenage girls come and stay recently. Carly was obsessed with them, and somewhat despondent when they did what teenagers do and went behind closed doors and slept. To help provide comfort spots for these extra bodies I bought a bean bag chair that opens into a lounge. Carly is obsessed with that too. I dont think any guests are going to get a chance now. We both did so love our young visitors though. And I enjoyed rediscovering Sydney through fresh enthusiastic eyes. Good mindset to be in for my upcoming photography 3 x walk course.

Carly snuggles on her 'beany'

Photography

My DSLR course is this weekend. Can't wait, just have to buy myself a tripod (might be good to fit in some time to study the manual too). Prepare yourself family and friends to be bombarded with photos. I've only just discovered the video setting. Carly can't seem to move without being videoed.

Professional development

My e-learning design course has just finished. I am so full of ideas and things to follow up.  We have a follow up date next month where we get to apply our learning and start designing a course in Moodle. So got some serious research and story boarding to do in the next month. Yeah might have to begin with a mind map :)

The using social media for learners course finishes next week. I have explored so many new platforms but still just feel I am touching the surface. I jump in and start using the media and then I get distracted by another. I think I need a whole new set of time and personal management skills in this digital age. Now there is a opportunity....

Make every day count

This seems like a very ego-centric thing to do, my own blog. A friend of mine calls herself an "over-sharer". I'm not one to share a lot of my thoughts or even goings on. But here goes; this is to capture my journey and is for me. If anyone else wants to join in they are welcome (very welcome if comments are constructive).

"Redundant", "excess to requirements". As someone who judged her work performance on "did I add value today", these were difficult terms to process. It really was a case of working myself through the stages of grief. Some were faster than others, and periodically I pop back to revisit an earlier emotion. Like last week when I saw a job being advertised at my former agency with a significant part of my "education function" bundled up with a communications role. Bitterness resurfaced, but only briefly.

When I knew I was redundant but still had weeks or even months to go - how do I ensure I am still meaningfully engaged and yet also process and honour my emotions? As the sole Learning and Development practitioner, I tried to focus on what did I want as my legacy? What behaviour did I want to model for other staff during these unsettling times? I admit I did take the odd mental health day so I could maintain this approach.

I panicked when first facing not being employed after 25 years in the public service and applied for the first job I saw that I thought sounded good. Everyone said I was crazy. Take a break they said. A holiday, potter in your garden, play with your cat, anything but launch straight into job seeking. I got culled. It was probably a good thing. I've given myself permission to not start looking for work until after Easter and am taking this time as a rare and special opportunity to reflect, relax and focus on personal and professional development.

Being an educator, of course I did a mind map to "make every day count". My greatest fear was lying on the couch watching day time television and my bottom getting bigger. I dont need to worry.

I meant to laminate my mind map and keep it in my face. I forgot. So here's my one month review:

• Job seeking - yes reviewing alerts from SEEK, APS, and NCOSS but just to get a feel for what is out there. Deferring others for now.
• Relationships - Doing great with socialising. Entertaining, visiting, baking, drinking - all happening. Good healthy contacts both in the flesh and online.
• Health - well gym 3-4 times per week, cycling regularly (until Sunday when the handle bars 'broke'), started running app (0-5K). Walking where ever and whenever I can. Oops forgot about meal plan, too much entertaining and socialising.
• Professional development - going great with social media and e-learning design course plus other webinars through the wonderful Gail and Rory.
• Home life - no time to declutter. I've got a blog to write now.... Just maintain order, that's enough.

Why this blog?

This blog has been created as a task in my Social Media course. It will also capture my journey from being made redundant, to hopefully an exciting new job. Most of all I hope to reflect on my learnings and activities as I enjoy a career break. I am so busy, can't help wonder how I had time to work.

I image posts will cover these themes:

• Professional development 
• Health
• Carly the cat
• Photography
• Job seeking
• Personal reflections
• Volunteering.