Banality me

Someone said to me the other day that my blog had become a bit 'domestic' - I think it's because I'm using it more like a diary that the general random comments and pictures that I used to post. Actually - I quite like it at the moment. I have a lot on with work and my head is generally pretty full of other stuff, having somewhere to post the banal minutae of my dull little life is actually rather nice.

I have an appraisal today. I looked through the template and it all refers to 'previous' appraisal agreements and conclusions - and as I've only been in the job a few months - that's hardly relevant. Also - as I am only fractional ( I am 0.6 of a person ) it does not take into account the fact that I still have to earn a living outside the college. Essentially - It's working out that for 30 weeks of the year I am full on - practically full time - even on the days when I'm not working I have planning, phone calls, emails and meetings to deal with. Because I work in a commercial industry - it's actually proved to be very difficult to manage the two different parts of my life - and although I have the security of a small  salary, of sorts - I'm financially much worse off that I was before ( and much more tired ). I've lost quite a lot of commercial work because I'm just not available - I knew I would lose some - but not quite as much as I have.

I rather feel like a Victorian unmarried aunt, scraping by on a small allowance and taking in sewing to pay for the coal.

I'm not complaining - I actually love the job and many of the things I've been trying to introduce are working well - but it's pretty full on and I could really do with more disposable income. A big part of my Xmas is going to be working out how to increase my income or find new work that does not clash with the teaching.

Another thing that I find difficult is working within an organisation - it's not my normal comfort zone and although I go to a great deal of trouble not to get involved in the politics.... it's almost impossible. We had the results of our staff survey through yesterday. It was done independently and is quite interesting ( I like statistics ) - not that anything will come of the results... but one thing I found curious was a section devoted to the staff makeup.

The staff are 60% Female, 60% 35-55 years old, 35% have no religion ( Atheist was not an option ) with twice as many Budhists as Jews and Muslims - ( both on 0.5% - which I was surprised by ).

Now - curiously - 76% declared themselves to be hetrosexual - indicating that 24% are not - only 2 people declared themselves to be lesbian ( which is crap - believe me ) and 2 people declared themselves to be transgender - which is news to me. 10% of the teaching staff declare that they are disabled - but I suspect it covers everything from dyslexia to a twitchy nerve in the eye. Interestingly - only 9% have informed the HR dept of this disability..

There are some very strange results in the discrimination section - I don't think it was very well constructed and does not contain a section on sexual orientation - but no staff member feels discriminated against because of their faith - which is a good thing, although nearly 2% feel discriminated against because of their social class (this is Hastings.... I'm not sure how to read that one)

There are lots of more contentious sections but I'm probably governed by something I signed once so I'll attempt to be professional and just 'not go there' - but I do question the timing of the survey that looks at satisfaction with management when we are in the process of welcoming a new principle into the college who will - it's believed - shake things up a bit.

I honestly don't know what's going to happen after the break - I've heard good rumblings - but if it all goes wrong and I end up without a job - I'm very much in the shit, having almost wound my business down to concentrate on this 'project' - I can't survive without the income.

I would have like to see the Lunar eclipse... but it's thick freezing sea fog outside... so no chance.