This was quite an interesting week for me. I finished up the back-to-work programme I mentioned earlier, and we ended the programme with a networking drinks event. I also made friends with the other ladies in the programme and we’ve decided to keep in touch even afterwards to give support to each other and also coach and help the others. We’ve planned to meet for lunch or coffee perhaps at least once a month and the person who gets a job will have to treat the others!

During the networking event, I was asked for an introduction by a couple of people from companies that sound interesting. I’ve also asked to be introduced to organisations I was interested in and have sent my resumes to those who have asked for it. After a very long time, I feel optimistically cautious!

On another note, given the programme I was on, I feel I owe it to myself to give myself time till the end of this year to focus on getting a new position. I want something bigger than what I am doing and will focus on this for the next three months, after which, if nothing comes up, I will switch to an entrepreneurial mindset and start working on growing my business.

Please send a small prayer my way (or if you are an atheist, send me some good luck) for the next few months to be great!

Another hectic week! I’m strange right, when I don’t have anything to do, I complain about that and now that I am really busy, I am not too happy about that too. Actually, I am not unhappy about being busy, but I just wish I am busy doing something I really enjoy doing, not something I am doing just for the sake of it.

My freelance work is now taking up a lot of my time, some days I am doing it even for more than six-seven hours a day. It is slowly becoming a full-time job, but with a quarter-time or less than that salary. I am going to keep a close watch on the hours I am spending on it and maybe after around three months time, I will go back to the people I am working for and see if there could be more money in it. I am also hoping that the back to work programme I am doing will result in a good and interesting position and soon.

This week is also slightly more hectic than usual. I have my last back-to-work workshop and a networking event after that. I also have a hospital check-up scheduled this week for my eyes. This is a follow-up from last year when I was referred to the hospital for some possible complications due to my diabetes. After a couple of visits, it was determined that nothing was wrong with my eyes at the moment, but given my chronic condition, I was asked to come back for a follow-up after 18 months. I am also going to ask about the frequent tearing and redness in eyes.

Is it me or did September just zoom past?

I started September with a huge sense of optimism and this month has not really failed me, which is why I feel that this month has literally flown past.

I started the back to work programme that I was quite excited about in the past few sessions have learnt quite a bit about how I should structure my resume and look at it from the other side’s point of view. The biggest takeaway for me, however, is in knowing that I am not alone. In the same programme as me, there are other women, more successful, in higher positions than me, who for whatever reason decided to take a break from work and now are finding it difficult to get back into the game. I always thought that there was something wrong with me, but I know now that I am not alone. We’ve now created a Whatsapp group and so hope we are able to share our getting back to work journey together. This week I meet up with a consultant for a one-on-one session which I hope will be beneficial and next week is another workshop session followed by a networking event.

I’ve also been quite busy with my freelance work and if this job thing does not take off by the beginning of next year, I will focus more on my freelance work and try and get more clients onboard. Maybe that’s where I will see success.

Ok, gotta go and do some work now. Have a pleasant week everyone.

The last week was not a very hectic week, but this one is showing signs to become one.

Yesterday, BB & GG 8-9 friends came home and they had a blast. I had ordered some pizza and fried spring rolls and samosas and then brought some drinks and of course, the mandatory cake! They spent quite some time with us. It was funny because BB friends (all boys), who are all typical nerds like him were settled in his room, each with a laptop and gaming together while GG friends (all girls except for one boy) were in her room laughing and giggling together. Even though one of BB’s friends is a common friend, she didn’t really speak much with him.

This week, I am taking part in a back to work programme organised by a local recruitment firm. I am quite excited about this programme as I think I will learn a lot. Even if this programme does not result in a decent position for me, I am hoping to take back ideas and tips which will help me run my business better. After all, all that we do to impress a potential employer can also be used to impress potential clients. So it’s a win-win situation for me.

Have a happy and blessed week people!

This was also another hectic week. Not because I was busy with work, but because it was the September school holidays and I got to spend some real quality time with GG since BB was away at his OBS adventure camp.

We went to see a professor of history at one of the local universities, who is a friend of my cousin. She introduced us because GG is a huge history buff and this professor specialises in a particular section of history which BB & GG are doing in school this year. We had a good time there talking about history (something I am also interested in) so much so, we got late leaving from there. We had planned to have lunch before GG went to school, but we had to cancel that plan and just grab a sandwich. GG literally ran to school from the station but managed to make it on time!

We also managed to catch a show of Crazy Rich Asians (movie review coming up soon) and spent a day together doing stuff that GG wanted to do. I’ve realised my daughter like me, is not much of a shopping person. She also likes to buy what she needs and not waste time window shopping, just like me!

The children head back to school today and I am expecting a quiet week. This weekend marks their 15th birthday and we’re hoping to have a small get-together with their friends at home.

Have a wonderful week folks!