Good Morning ALL! As the mornings begin to be progressing cooler and the daytime temperatures slowly start to return to normal (not for today, tomorrow, or Sunday) we breathe a collective sigh of relief. I am not saying that folks do not like warm temperatures but there are hot temps and then there are HOT temps. 30+ celsius is way too hot. Thankfully with the cooler mornings and having had the windows opened last night, it is quite cool in the house this morning and hopefully it will remain comfortable as the day progresses. I have noticed over the past few weeks how our daytime highs seem to be hitting so much later in the day. I wonder why that is? Note to self: google it.
This has been a transition year for so many people as some people are making their way back to their “offices” to their jobs at their place of employment. We have been working from home with the minimum attendance at the office. Our productivity has been off the charts and minimum use of sick days but at the end of the day our management team has decided that they “need” us back in the office. The reasons that we were given are “social” – better to have face to face with other teams and your own teams, training is easier and they want to see us. There has been much debate and many tears as we crumble to the decisions made by others. After coming up to three years of mainly working from home, we would we turn back? As one team member said “why fix something that is not broken.” If it is training that is an issue, staff could go to the office to be trained. I am so filled with emotion over this decision. At first we were told that effective immediately we go to the office “three days a week” and now didn’t that put everyone into a tailspin. How can people get child care and other arrangements in place over a long weekend? Not likely very easily. The decision after some discussion was changed a few times and the end result was one day at the office per week for September, two days per week in October and then transitioning to three days per week come November. I am not quite sure how I am going to be able to manage these changes with Mr. Alvin and his health issues. One day per week and possibly two, I may be able to get a friend to come and check on him at lunch time but that is quite a time commitment and I have not got my head wrapped around this. There are other options but I am not ready for them at this point in my life. They would mean major changes. I have had plenty of major changes over my lifetime. So anyway that is the story. We will be back into being crammed into an area that has very little natural light, packed in like sardines as I like to say (well maybe not quite that close but very close) and the noise level when everyone is back makes it difficult to talk on the phone. Anyway the decision was made and that is that as they say. I am grateful for the time that I have been able to work from home and yes, it would have been perfection to continue until I retire. I guess unfortunately for most of us this is not a perfect world. Not where close.
The back to the office also adds with it, additional costs. Parking/transportation/long commute. Poor Alvin, I worry about him. I worry for all those pets now being left alone once again. Did you know that they will not drink or very little if they cannot go outside to pee? Or there will be accidents. I wish in hindsight that I had known to train him to pee on pads, then some of the stress would have been relieved.
Well time to head outside for a walk. I am only working this morning as Mr. Alvin has another vet appointment, this one is to trim his nails etc. His regular appointment. It has been a stressful and financial straining week.
I look forward to a hopefully quiet and uneventful weekend.
Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee. Lots of coffee!
Always, Carol & Alvin
My New Life @ 51 