Friday, December 16, 2005

I start my new job, first Monday in February. I could have started the first Monday in January, but I don't think its realistic for us to find a flat by then. That gives me one extra and very needed month to finish my PhD, delve into the very depths of my overdraft, find a new place to live and move there.

It all feels rather unreal at the moment. The lady on the phone said, 'Great, I'll make sure the consultant psychologist clears their schedule for that morning so they can show you around and introduce you to everyone.' Finally - clinical work! Woo woo!

Apparently they have taken on another new assistant and we'll be sharing an office. I've seen the office, its really nice and bright. Great working space, and hopefully, a new friend :)

I'm also looking forward to working with people with learning disabilities again. Having spent over 3 years working in an academic ivory tower, where everyone is judged by their intellectual weightiness, it will be nice to come back down to earth. What little experience I have had working alongside people with learning disabilities before has always reminded me of my own humanity and to value people for people's sake.

PS. For American readers - learning disabilities is called mental retardation in your land. It's considered appalling to call it that in the UK!

10 comments:

Peterson Toscano said...

CA, so glad you have a nice bright office waiting for you in February. Can't wait to see the new place :-)

Lorcan said...

So happy for thee!

Mental retardation is a rather un PC terms now in the US as well, mental challenges are the usual term in polite society...

When it is time to put off finishing thy PhD, go to Kong, a great film about a big guy with ADHD, who never quiet knows who to trust, and as Morgan Gault once says, dresses in a black Hairy Coat...

I intend to watch it several more times, as I am supposed to see it for the first time with Genie, see it for the first time with me mum, see it for the first time with Jane and Chris, all after seeing the second showing at our local theater for the first time with a big bag of popcorn...

But, take advantage of this month to see the partner dude, a good film and all, I suppose folks don't work the silly hours they do in the States... but enjoy yerself a bit, you earned it...

]:<}

lor

Contemplative Activist said...

But they still publish the "Journal of Mental Retardation"! Uck - time for a name change!

We're going to break soon - off to Ireland on Friday morning. Flights to Belfast were £300 a pop over the Christmas season - Dublin was well less than half that - so we're off to spend a day in Dublin, bit of last minute shopping and time to down some of the old black stuff in Temple Bar! (Actually, I can't stand the stuff, but partner dude will probably appreciate it).

Then catch the bus to Belfast to spend Xmas with the rest of my family. The roads have improved drastically since the last time you were in Ireland Lor!

I think it will be strange for partner dude. His entire extended family are only 7 people. Mine is enormous!

Then to navigate sneaking a few glasses of wine over dinner without the tee-total relatives noticing...;)

Oh what fun...

Rach said...

Be careful what you say while you're over here - we wouldn't want you guys burnt at the stake or anything.. :S

Rachxx

Contemplative Activist said...

Aye, we have to be careful, specially partner dude with my family....me-ow. My mum has too many sisters!

zee said...

Great Blog!

Keep it up and all the Best with that PhD!

Ciao4Now

Zee

Lorcan said...

I know... the roads! They were always better in the north, but I drove out west two years ago, expecting the long winding two lane pleasure of ambling about and instead, gone with the thatch were the dear old rotten roads of Ireland!
Well, have a joyous Christmas, AND SEE THE APE BEFORE YOU LEAVE A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE BIG SCREANS! ANd P-doodie, enjoy the gargle mate.
Cheers'm'dears
lor

Lorcan said...

Your ears must have been burning yesterday... Ryan and Molly and Genie and I had lunch at Little Poland... and as we launched into this and that, we kept saying, och if only CA were here to enoy such and such... it was rather good and greasy!!! UMMMM!
Well, happy Christmas if we don't hear from you before that...
:)
lor

Contemplative Activist said...

Borscht, I want my little Poland borscht!

Thanks for the King Kong recommendation. We usually go to our local arts cinema - smaller screens but much better atmosphere - no stale popcorn ground into the carpet and that.

But on your recommendation we braved the bright lights, stale popcorn, puke on the lobby floor (I kid you not) odeon to see it on a ma-heusive screen. Was fabulous!

CA

Lorcan said...

Ah the man... ummm ape himself...

]:>}

Glad ya liked it!!!

Cheers
lor