Monday 11 August 2014

Of Absences and Employment

First of all I have to apologise for being away so long! I have been meaning to take outfit photos and write posts, but working 7 days a week (even if those work days are short) was far less manageable than I had hoped.

I started my new jobs on my 24th birthday (in April) and other than 1 week of annual leave (when I traveled to Yorkshire to visit my mum and go to a meeting with a fellow academic) I have been working every day since. It was tiring, never having any down time, always having to get up to an alarm, getting buses every day (sometimes 2 buses or a bus and a train in each direction). I have a confession to make, I started grabbing clothes pretty much at random from the clean washing pile (thank you so much Ash for keeping on top of the washing), thinking only of how weather appropriate they were and feeling pampered if I managed to find time to shave my legs once a fortnight!

I used a lot of my time in the evenings to fill in job applications and do research for the local history group and tried to stay on top of my PhD reading on quiet days at work. Luckily for me, the job applications have paid off and I've landed another part-time museum job! But 'Wait!' I hear you cry, 'How does having MORE jobs help? Wasn't 3 enough?!'. The new job is only two days a week but the museum has longer opening hours, so I do 15 hours over 2 days. This means I can cut down to 6 days a week, and eventually down to 5 days a week (I'm needed more during the summer holidays). Hallelujah! Also this job isn't seasonal so I won't be completely unemployed in November!! I also have an interview in September for a paid internship which would be a big step forward in my career =]

I celebrated my first real day off yesterday (Sundays are my new day off) by lounging around in bed for hours, watching bad TV and FINALLY putting my clean washing away. Such luxury. I even planned an outfit for today =]

Here's the outfit:




I was working with the local history group this morning, and they are completely used to my odd clothes, so I could dress how I liked.

I forgot my camera so please excuse the phone camera pics. The light in my room at dad's isn't great either. Do you like my glow in the dark skeleton friend? I have 3 on different mirrors around my room =]

What I'm Wearing:
Leggings: Carousel Ink on Etsy (reducing to $25 due to one leg being an inch shorter than the other)
Bloomers: Bodyline £11.65 (yen trick + free shipping sale)
Blouse: Miss Selfridge via charity shop £4.50
Waistcoat: Dorothy Perkins via charity shop - I've lost track of what I paid for each faintly identical black waistcoat but it was probably around £3
Boots: New Look £20
Pentagram Necklace: Alchemy Gothic, present from my brother
Poison Bottle Necklace: Claire's accessories, present from my friend Bethany

Feels so good to look and feel more like myself again. Also I tidied my room at dad's as well so I now have order and serenity wherever I stay! The photos were taken after I found the floor under the piles of paper but before I put my 'bedtime reading' stack of books back on the shelf! What do you like to do on your days off  to pamper yourself?

I hope you are glad to see me back, I've missed reading all your blogs! I promise it won't be as long before my next post!!

20 comments:

  1. Those leggings are so cute!! Welcome back to blogging! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I fell in love with them over a year ago and was so glad to have been able to get the last pair in my size.

      Thank you it's so good to be back!

      Delete
  2. This outfit is adorable. Good to hear you're back. I'll be looking forward to seeing your posts :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I am re=ather fond of it, and happy to be back to blogging!

      Delete
  3. Those are some really neat leggings! I feel your pain with the working thing, sometimes I feel like my job has completely taken over my life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I really love them! Oh no, it sucks when work takes over doesn't it? I hope you find a better balance soon!

      Delete
  4. I'm exhausted just reading about all your jobs. :)

    Glad to see you back!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aha! It was only 29 hours, but over 7 days + travel time it felt so much worse! Really glad to have sorted it out a little and to be back!

      I need to catch up on your blog, can't wait to see what I've missed!!

      Delete
  5. Welcome back!

    You should tell us all about your job experiences! I'm sure you'd had some interesting ones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, so good to be back!

      I might try to blog some of my work experiences, but honestly most of them are just 'got mistaken for being in costume by japanese tourist, didn't want to ruin their fun so played along' =P

      Delete
  6. Hey, welcome back, it's nice to see that you're doing good and manage all your jobs just fine...gosh, how do you do it?! ;) You look cute, those leggings are super - pretty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heya, so good to be back =] I wouldn't say I did manage, so frazzled. Starting to feel human again now. Luckily it was only 29 hours so even spread over 7 days with lots of travel time it wasn't too bad!

      Delete
  7. I love the bloomers and stockings! Wow, 7 day work week! I don't know how you survive! The most I have ever done is 5 days a week full time and I was exhausted! I hope the new job gives you a bit more of a rest!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It's a very daring combination for me - too much leg on show, so I'm glad it worked!
      It was 29 hours over 5 days, so really not as bad as a 40 hour week - just the lack of down time that was hard. Going to enjoy my Sundays off!!

      Delete
  8. Glad to have you back! That work schedule does sound very tiring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, glad to be back. It was tiring, but worth it to get the experience. Just glad I can settle down a little now =]

      Delete
  9. I'm very glad to see you back. I have always loved your outfits; cute and with a steampunk twist. I love these tights so much. Actually you have now just reminded me that I have money left to buy something from that awesome store ;D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww thank you! Yay, it is such an awesome shop and their customer service was amazing. What are you going to buy?

      Delete
  10. You look awesome-good luck with all the work! :)

    ReplyDelete