Moving Forward

I've done it. I have applied for a new job.

Well, when I say I have applied, I have filled the form in barr one question, but it's nearly done. The job involves fitting, testing, checking and removing electronic tags. Monitoring from home, (I assume they provide the equipment), reacting to any breaches which are highlighted by the system, investigating the reason for them, and completing reports. The advert for the vacancy said it would be 'very challenging, involving a multitude of different situations on a daily basis, sometimes stressful ones' Hey look, I may not have the monopoly on stress, but there's not much in the course of a job that could outdo my private life sometimes!!! lol

It is £3000 per year more than I earn now, which is fantastic. The hours are not so clever, with 8 hour shifts ending at either 1am or 3am, but as the post involves working from home when you're not out and about, I reckon its not so bad. Finish work - collapse into bed. What could be easier? I have never been an early-to-bed kinda girl anyhow so I don't think the shift pattern will bother me that much to be honest.

On a different note, back in November I think it was, I blogged about an application I had made to join the Kent Search and Rescue opertional team. This is a group of dedicated people, who give up their time to train in search and resuce techniques, first aid, radio transmitting and a host of other subjects, all on a voluntary basis. The group are called out by the police and/or coastguard when help is needed to co-ordinate and execute a search for a person that has been reported missing.

I think the rewards of helping people who are 'lost' for whatever reason would be huge, and the same for the poor families sat at home by the phone just waiting for news of a loved one. I am a realist if nothing else, I know that occasionally the person will no longer be alive, but for the families, even hearing that at least gives them something concrete. It can take away all the whats wheres and whys, at least for a short time, and allow them to start their long and painful grieving process. I have always believed in life, in whatever area, that the not knowing is the worst part.

Having reached mid January, with no contact since sending in my application, I was feeling a little disheartened that I had not heard from the KSAR co-ordinator. Out of the blue, at the end of last week, I got an email from him, apologising for the delay but inviting me to join them in a Basic Search and Rescue training weekend in 2 weeks time. They are still actively seeking female members to join the team, as Russ put it "they relate to young children and old people better than big hairy men do".

There is a training evening two nights before on basic search and rescue techniques, which I can attend if I wish. I think it would be a good idea to meet the rest of the volunteers in an informal evening training session than to just jump in at the deep end and go straight for the weekend, so that's what I shall do. Am really looking forward to it. I feel, for me, it is something positive to focus on.