Okay, Okay, I know its been quite a few months since I posted...

Coles has become a hell of a lot better since a couple of the staff left the bakery dept.  The 2IC was transferred (by management) to another store, and the 3IC left on her own terms to work in the Meat Department of another store as well.  Sarah (who started the same time I did) has been given the role of 2IC, and everyone seems a lot happier.  Justin has come into the fold as well.  "Mr 100%" or "Superman" as he has now been named.

Darren, Will, and Liam have helped me along the way, and I'm now feeling a part of the team.  I've felt pretty alone there for a while, but now everything is falling into place. I'm a lot more comfortable doing the cakes, and packing bread, and my overall product is something that I am happy with.  Took me a long time to get over the Bakers Delight way of doing things, and I do think about my old team everyday, but in my mind now, I've moved on and enjoying life again.

Working 4 days has been fantastic.  The 10 hour days on Sundays and Mondays take their toll on my arthritic ankle (plus the boots and the stairs) but breaking the day up with two 1/2hr breaks helps.  Getting 3 days off each week is fantastic too.  Thursdays I have the house to myself.  The last couple of months I've been catching up on stuff around the house, Fridays I have Caitlyn all to myself, and Saturday is "family day".

Caitlyn is amazing both Gayle and I with her ability to learn stuff.  Colours, animal sounds, shapes, and now, numbers. 

Blog the First

Things have really kicked off at home now.  Caitlyn had started to take steps over a week ago, and I had only caught a glimpse of them as she was only walking half the length of the sofa.  Then yesterday, she started walkinmg properly, which I managed to record 4 minutes of footage on my phone.  She's very excited!

I started my new job today at Coles in Oakleigh today. 

I'd never really considered working in a supermarket bakery before, (Bakers Delight tend to brainwash their staff with a "Supermarkets are evil" mantra) but something in my head told me that I needed to get out of the rut that I was in at Bakers Delight, and put it all behind me.  I've given away the paperwork, the responsibilty of running things my way, training of staff, even taken a paycut, for a job that I can go to, get done, then come home from.

Started this morning at 5:00am, which was pretty good, and got shown how to do the donuts.  Did those for a couple of hours, trayed up rolls, then spent the rest of the shift working on the retarded dough for tomorrow (a retarded dough, for the uninitiated, is a dough that is made today for use tomorrow.  Its kept in a fridge to retard the yeast) 

Had a couple of 15 minute breaks, and a half hour lunch break.  That felt strange after coming from jobs that have no break at all.  (more personal choice than anything contracted)  I will definately be making the most of that.

Hopefully, once I settle in, I'll be able to start taking up some of the hobbies that I'd have given up due to crap hours.  Will be looking at getting back into music, and maybe even stitching a bit more often.