What will I do when I grow up?

Not generally the type of question you would ask someone like me on the plus side of 50.  I was having a chat with my niece the other night and our conversation turned to careers and how we had started along our career path.  It got me thinking and to be honest my working life has come about by accident, being in the right place at the right time with the right skills for the jobs I have done.

When I left school I knew uni was not for me so I sat for the Public Service exam following a 'suggestion' from my Dad, I really had no idea what my next step would be so I thought I'd better go along with his plans. In those days there was virtually full employment so there was no fear that a person may not get a job. Said exam completed and low and behold I was successfully employed as a Savings Bank clerk with the Commonwealth Bank.  I found out years later that I had come 2nd in the test but as one of the staff didn't really get on with the person that had top marks I was the next in line. My 'career' in banking and finance had begun. I earned about $27.00 a fortnight and had to pay $15 of that for board. Mind you I thought I was rich. The bank was so up-to-date that we had to hand post the savings bank ledgers and calculate interest manually once a month and it was credited annually. The only technology we had was an adding machine (no calculators back then).

So my working life has rolled along from there, from working in a bank in the 70's a building society in the 80's, a full time mum in the late 80's back to part time work in a bank in the 90's an insurance in the late 90's again part time then full time in super in the noughties where I still am. 

I have learnt a lot and each job has been very beneficial for everyday life as I know a little bit about the banking system, home and car insurance and now super. 

Just imagine what the reaction would be like these days if a teenager doesn't seem to have a plan for what they want to do.  There is a lot of pressure put on people these days to decide on their 'careers' from a very early age. 

Looking back I can remember being asked what I would do when I grew up. I can remember saying I'd like to be a doctor (wasn't academic enough for that). I can also remember thinking I'd like to be a hairdresser at one stage but back in the 70's this meant leaving school in grade 10 and becoming an apprentice and my parents didn't think it was good form to leave school before finishing year 12.

So there you go a working life that just sort of happened. One thing I can say though is I have always worked to live not lived to work, as the most important job I have is that of a Mum and Nana. My family are the most important people in my life.

Meet the dog

Basically the dog is a ratbag. There are some members of the family who, when referring to her, start their sentences with, 'Your b*&*&^y dog'. Let me introduce you to Pokey.

Mind you she is very cute and could be described as a devil in an angels disguise. She is a four legged mop with lovely soft hair like a silky terrier. Thankfully she doesn't shed hair all over the place as it keeps growing until I trim it or take her off to the dog groomer. In the fact she looks a bit like and Ewok from Start Wars (pity she can't walk on her back legs and be a bit more human, might have been able to sell her to George Lucas).  She is the size of a normal domestic cat and is black and tan with a bit of grey and lighter tan colours on her body and legs.

She loves people and thinks anyone who comes to the house is just there to see her. She runs off madly to find her green ball as the new arrival will probably want to play with her.  She then proceeds to turn herself inside out and back the front trying to maintain their attention so the said ball may be thrown for her to chase.  One thing she is good at is fetching it.  Mind you it has to be the green spiky ball, no other is quite good enough.  Who knows what may happen if the ball falls to pieces completely.  It's starting to get a more holes and changing with age. I suppose you would to if you had been slobbered on by a dog for the whole of your existence.

She's not so good at coming when she's called and given the opportunity will practise her escapologist skills.  One night she escaped under the fence and I happened to have laryngitis.  Not easy to call her with no voice.  I'm out in the street croaking 'Pokey, get inside' and she's madly running around revelling in her new found freedom.  I eventually coaxed her back inside with a bone.  Once she had chewed her bone a little she collapsed in a heap with exhaustion.  
She's a little dog with a big attitude and certainly gives a piece of her doggy mind if another dog dares to walk past her house. Talking about attitude, she was out in the yard one morning giving a crow a piece of her mind.  She was prancing around on her back legs and trying to use the fence to get a leg up because she was going to have it. Just because it was perched in a tree about 3 metres above the ground was beside the point as far as she was concerned.  

She has one redeeming quality; just like me, she doesn't like the smaller untrained humans that in reside in the street. I'm pretty sure they have stirred her up in the past by banging on the fence. Arrrrrgh!!!! The smaller untrained humans are another story.

Anyway that's the dog and I'm sure she will feature in some of my blogs in the future. Now if you happen to be reading another blog that could mention 'That b*&&^%y dog' then we might be related.

A Mother-in-law

We all have many roles in our life and one that we acquire through the ongoing lives of our children is that of a mother-in-law (MIL).

I was blessed to have had a wonderful Mother-in-law who welcomed me into her life from the moment I met her.  She was one of the most compassionate and caring people I have ever met. She also had a wicked sense of humour (she had to with five children) and although she didn't lose her temper often it was a good idea to hide when she did. We became close friends and shared similar interests. Even after my divorce we maintained our relationship until she passed away. I miss her physical presence in my life but know she is there in spirit.

Now the shoe is on the other foot and I am a MIL. I have a son-in-law (Dad to my two grandchildren) and more recently a daughter-in-law. I hope I can be as supportive to them as individuals as my MIL was to me.  These are the people my children have chosen to share their lives with and are an important part of our family.  Unlike my children, I haven't known these people all their lives but they have become a much loved part of our family and have blended well into the ebb and flow of our life. 

Another part of becoming a MIL is the addition of the other side of an extended family. Again this is a unique opportunity and it's been an enriching experience to share family celebrations with my children's in-laws.

We're not all perfect (except me) kaggklfklfg........ (whoops I lost track, my halo crashed to the floor). As I said we are not all perfect and make mistakes but for me I trust my children's judgement and welcome all those who share their lives, in particular their partners.

And so it goes

It's a little dauting sitting down to write my first blog. That blank white rectangular box staring at me and I'm thinking, will I have enough blurb to make a dent in the gaping white hole. At least a white hole is different to the proverbial black hole. You know that one at work that everything disappears into never to be seen again. Enough rambling about holes.

I'm sure you are wondering why I chose the name 'Jen's Place' for my blog.  It's not only where I am physically which can be home, work, in the car, out for lunch or dinner but also where I am emotionally and spritually.  Being on the plus side of 50 I have had many experiences both good and bad, and gained knowledge that I will share as I get more comfortable with this writing gig. 

Emotionally I'm in a good place for now. It's been a long journey and I'm very happy on my own, doing my thing now.  It's liberating to be able to go out for dinner, shopping or catching up with friends or family whenever I want to. It's also great to be able to stay home and recharge the battereis if needed without any pressure. It sounds a little selfish and indulgent but after many years of being there for my family I am enjoying this little bit of freedom. My kids say I have a better social life than they do. 

I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences and hope that you enjoy my journey as I gain more confidence in putting my ideas into words.