What's Happening?
Comments from the author:
I returned to work (at the local pig abattoir), a few months ago.
Rather than returning my old department (Conditionment; where pork chops and other bits of dead pig are packed into boxes for freezing - and where my job was to put those boxes onto pallets), I now work in Formage Cartons. That means I work with the team that makes all the boxes for the whole abattoir - it's hard work!
On the whole, I was enjoying my new work (although, being based in the roof of the building did mean that it got very hot!) Only time will tell if I can cope with that..
It didn't last, though.....
The photo shows the Girlie and me just before I went back to work - we were supposed to be enjoying ourselves in Josselin but my lack of balance and general grumpiness spoiled the day, a bit.
Although the work sounds simple, my memory just doesn't work these days, and I used to upset my colleagues by constantly forgetting even the simplest of things. Also, and more worrying for my colleagues, I had a habit of collapsing if I worked too fast!
Finally, just 2 days before my summer break, I collapsed and was rushed to the doctors - he signed me off work once again and put me on a new course of medication.
I had been taking medication before but, I now realise that it wasn't right for me. My new drugs have changed my personality and I am starting to become a human being, once again.
It also helps that I have accepted my illness and can laugh at myself (when I do silly things or forget even the simplest of tasks.)
Also (and most importantly), the commitment from my long suffering Girlie, and the help she has given me (even small things like helping me with my housework & gardening) has brought me back into the real world
The second photo is more recent and shows that I have had my haircut and am generally more human - although you can't see, I have also changed my underpants - very important, that!
I am due to go back to the doctor's tonight (5th Aug 2008) to see if he thinks I'm fit enough to go back to work. In my heart of hearts, I know that I'm not - so Girlie is coming along to make sure I don't do the Macho thing and pretend that all is well.
I have started to think of long term plans - perhaps it's time to look for a different type of work? I don't see my illness as a problem - more as an opportunity top try something different.
Although I am a Christian - I'm not really a God-botherer; he and I have an agreement to have a little chat every now and again - I look at my recent problems (and some of my days, last year, were very, very dark indeed - at one point I even wrote a letter to the Girlie explaining how to look after the cats, if I weren't around to do it myself - thankfully, I came to my senses and the letter went into the bin), as a sort of wake up call - a bit like Jonah and the Whale!
Thus, don't be too suprised if I jack in the job, find a little part-time job and set up something on my own (I already do a bit of fixing PCs for friends at work) - who knows?
