The Lost Months of Chick in the City: August 2011 - Great Expectations

So you've heard all about the proposal and I've told you about gaining my degree - so what comes next? Well, that same question came bouncing off of the lips of many of may friends and family:  "What are you going to do now you've graduated?"  If i was asked once i was interrogated 100 times.

I'd always wanted to be a teacher.  I'd done plenty of voluntary work in a school during my year out from uni, so naturally when i saw an advert for a Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) i HAD to apply.  As I'd got so much classroom time under my belt already, i was a shoo in for an interview at least!  And so the invitation arrived "we would like to invite you to interview for the English GTP".  I was told to inform them of any requirements i had due to disability. 

I dutifully responded to confirm my attendance and to put in my requests:

• A parking space
• Access to disabled toilets
• A stair-free day

Everyone knows that those with reduced mobility are best to stay on the ground floor, no?!  Well evidently not.  On the day all three requirements were forgotten.  No space was reserved for me to park in, i had to ask multiple times before knowledge of disabled loos were surrendered and i was forced to climb sooo many stairs i just wanted to lay down and cry.

This experience showed me that until those in charge of schools can learn to negotiate the needs of disabled people, they will not provide 'us' with a happy working environment (unless of cause you legs are paralysed-even the most idiotic admin worker seems to understand THAT!).  After the interview day i was poorly for two weeks.  I am NOT cut out to work in a school; I had no idea how physically demanding the job would be.

So this brought me back to square one, "What are you going to do with your degree?"  Well the honest answer is, I'm already doing something with it, I'm a writer.  But until my name is plastered all over billboards and my books are in WH Smiths this answer is unsatisfactory for most.  So I made a really controversial decision...

I now tick the box that says 'Housewife'. 

I am a modern day feminist living the life of a 1950's housewife, and do you know what?  I'm happy.  This arrangement suits all three of us - me, my fiance and Arthur.  While my other half gets to live in a clean and tidy home, with his dinner in the oven after work, I get to indulge in my true passion; writing.  Meanwhile, once the chores are finished Arthur gets his own way too.  Although when Arthur's having a particularly demanding day, there's no job that I have to do that cant wait until tomorrow (the future Mr Chick isn't a tyrant you know!)

Maybe I should move to Wisteria Lane...

This blog was created by Chick in the City www.facebook.com/chick.inthecity

The Lost Months of Chick in the City: July 2011 - Graduation

As you all know, I've been studying hard to achieve a degree in English Literature.  Therefore the months between December 2010 and July 2011 were pretty much written off.  My life came to a grinding halt while my days were spent researching, writing, redrafting, and proofreading.  While my nights were spent worrying and panicking over essays due the next morning, reading that hadn't been finished or generally the fact that my ass needed kicking out of bed so early my bones were duty bound to protest!  My life and my head were jam packed with 'Final Year Stress' - and Arthur clearly demands that he MUST be my number one priority, ALWAYS.  I i thought he would give me an easy ride i had got it very, very wrong!  Every time a deadline approached he'd attack with full force.  Making this, that or the other swell up and hurt so much i couldn't tell where one bit started and another ended.  Excessive essay writing is a KILLER on the hands.  I persevered though, completed all my essays and exams, including a 10,000 word dissertation on the feminine figure in vampire fiction, to achieve my BA English degree, and graduated with Honours. 

Arthur tried his best to put me down and made it a bloody tough year, but after having to take a year out following my hip replaced in 2009, i was adamant that I'd have the last laugh!!!  While i was hard at work studying my ass off,  I felt rotten, emotionally drained and physically bollocks - but do i regret any of it?? Not one bit.  I achieved something that my teachers at school probably thought would never be possible - and for my collection of high grades I am very proud... I'm not saying I'd choose to do it all again mind; well not yet anyway...maybe once the literature bug bites again i might return to do a masters...but we'll see.

My point is, guys and gals - that although Arthur is a pig, and sometimes life seems incredibly, overwhelmingly difficult, we need to push hard to get through and knock Arthur's stupid block off!

I'm not going to tell you that anything is possible; I'd be lying.  But i will maintain that you should always try, never give up on believing in yourself and if sometimes you don't succeed, shake off the hurt and try something else, something new, instead.


This blog was created by Chick in the City www.facebook.com/chick.inthecity