I have a new job.

I started two weeks before Christmas.

After eight months of rehabilitation and recovery from my accident, I plunged into LAKE EMPLOYMENT again. I was prepared in case I sank, but the weight belt of doubt had long been discarded, so when I floated to the surface, I adapted to the deep and easy freestyle strokes of working life again.

I admit for once I had luck on my side and was fortunate to find a job that was close to home with reasonable conditions and remuneration. The stations I previously held since leaving Telstra in early 2003 were complete dogs, so I had a very good picture of what was out there (if you were not too picky.)

Two months leading up to finding a position, I worked very closely with my occupational therapist and vocational training consultant, the latter was hired by the Transport Accident Commission to enable me to get off my arse and get a job !. I made it very clear I was not interested in any old crap working in a slave farm.

When I started applying for positions I surprised myself with how relaxed I was at the interview stage, and when it came to being tested my results were above average. A friend of mine emailed me at this time and let it be known they were "employing old cxxts again "

..he was certainly right about that!

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So here I am comfortably slotted in with "Telstra's largest cabling subcontractor". The work itself is thankfully not too technical, and my long engagement with the telecommunications industry has held me in good stead right through the recent training period.

The people are a mix of young and "mature", and I am surprised at how many of the staff are older than myself. I work alongside people who are older, and yes - even wiser. One particular lady in her mid-fifties whose past profession was a journalist, has me in fits of laughter almost every day. Her astounding wit and use of words elates me and makes each day a delight.

A very wise friend of mine gave me some sage advice a few years ago suggesting not to get too involved in the lives of the people you work with, but unfortunately, it is in my nature to delve. I can't help this irresistible urge to enquire. Already, I know many aspects of my new work colleagues' lives and I now see the value of my prudent comrade's counsel. The more you know about a person can sometimes have a detrimental effect on the way you work with them.

My working day of seven hours and forty five minutes is mercifully brief and I break the daytime in two by a forty five minute lunchbreak, weather permitting I saunter over to the meager Virginia Reserve.

This dried out strip of couch grass is squeezed between two huge industrial estates and is populated by quite a surprising variety of Australian native trees, especially the much loved Lemon Scented Gum which is my favorite.

Considering where it is situated, I at least get a moment in time of peace and tranquility.

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At this point I have been giving a considerable amount of thought to my future direction, especially work and career. In my present phase of life I am starting to recognise that fighting time is useless, and being aware that I cannot change careers until I have education, qualifications and experience. The long haul of study and schooling is before me and I will need patience and stamina if I am to get through it.

In my mind there is a clear picture of who I am right now, and in ten years time there is a person I do not recognise just yet, but have a pretty good idea who it is.

It's me.

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Reading : "The Vivisector" - Patrick White

Recently Read : "Dirt Music" Tim Winton

Penguin 70's:

"The worst thing a suburban girl could imagine" - Melissa Bank.

"Murder" - John Steinbeck

"A taste of the Unexpected" - Roald Dahl

"The Country of the Blind" - H.G. Wells

"Caligula" - Robert Graves

"Lady Chatterley's Trial" - Regina vs Penguin Books Ltd.

"The assault on Jerusalem" - Steven Runciman

"The desert and the dancing girls" - Gustave Flaubert

Cinema : "King Kong", " Broken Flowers"

DVD : "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Young Adam"

CD : "Messiah" - Handel, l "Cash" - Johnny Cash, "Flotenquartette" - Telemann, "Ladies'" , "Men" - St Germain.

T.V : "Carnivale", "South Park", "Speaking in Tongues", "Smallville", "Wild West", "The Tramp and the Dictator", "Supernatural" "Surface" , "The men who would rule China"

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