Just wanted a post more recent than the previous one, and to explain my (long) absence away from the blog…

As you can probably tell, we’re now on WordPress, and though there’ll be a few more days of sorting things out, there’s now light at the end of the tunnel.

See you at the other end!

Clare

I’ve blogged before about “job creep” (or at least I think I have). That’s the unpleasant position a person finds themself in when (usually through being good-natured) their job has moved so far from its original description that they started out as, for example, “Head of Creative Projects” and end up as “Head of Applied Bean-Counting” instead.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, I’m exaggarating to make a point. Well, yes, though not as much as you might think.

And it’s only the starting point. Because this week, I’ve come across a variation of “job creep” that I want to warn you against, especially with the summer coming up.

What is it?

Last week, I decided, for various reasons (below) to take this week off.

This week, despite having relatives coming (tomorrow!) and huge amounts of preparation, so far., I’ve answered more calls and sent out more emails than usual. Other than not seeing anyone outside, as I normally would, the “holiday” I’d decided upon has been virtually non-existent.

In other words, work has crept into designated holiday time (a.k.a. “work creep”)

Naturally, I agree with any thought you might be having along the lines of, “Well, she’s only got herself to blame.” But it seems sensible to turn the situation to everyone’s advantage, and lay out some hard-won “guidelines for avoiding work creep”.

Ways to have a relaxing holiday/avoid “work creep”

1. Go away from your home, or anywhere that you can be contacted.
2. Switch off your mobile.
3. Tell everyone beforehand that you’ll be on holiday.
4. Pre-book treats.
5. Stay away from the PC.
6. Be clear about what you will and won’t do when away from work and (unlike I’ve done so far this week) stick to it.

Well, I guess this means that for the rest of this week, by definition, you won’t hear from me til next Monday. Here’s to a relaxing week from hereon in, and plenty of new inspiration for the blog next week.

See you then

Clare

It’s been a hectic kind of a week, so a distinct absence of blog (apologies).

But I still wanted to share something quite incredible with you.

As you might remember if you’re read this for ages, I’ve been interested in natural vision improvement for a while.

But, as so often the way, I only got really fired up about it again about a three ago (ie when it was time to make an appointment for the opticians).

After going through various exercises, I felt that things had improved slightly.

Indeed they had. The optician checked his records, as well as my sight, and confirmed it. 0.25 of a diopter (I may not have spelled that correctly).

Was he though, as a member of a supposed “healing profession” pleased about this?

Was he heck. Incredibly, he stopped only to stress that the change, though measurable was “too small to merit a change of prescription” (ie I have to stick with a prescription that’s now technically too strong) and that I “still have astigmatism”.

Being me, this trebled my determination to prove that even more change of this kind may be possible, with the right mindset.

But maybe the first thing I need to change is my optician!

Have a great, and clear-sighted weekend. More on this long-running experiment in a while.

Clare

Seems like a good time to keep you up-to-date with the site changes.

First of all, rest assured that the free personal development collection for Goodybag subscribers is coming back, and soon!

The format of it though, will be different, in order to make things easier both for you as subscribers, and a maintenance point of view.

Thing is, I got to thinking as I made a (fruitless, as it turned out) attempt to rescue the databases after the webhost’s crash). This is the second or third time in a year that one way or the other a database problem has led to our subscribers having to wait for the Goodybag. And that’s not fair.

So a simpler solution hit me. Forget the databases, and put all the links to items into a PDF that’s updated every few weeks.

Well, this is now the plan (unless any one of all you clever people out there has a better idea…all suggestions welcome).

In the meantime, watch this space, and my apologies once again for the break in service.

More soon

Clare

Hello again, and I’m so sorry that the blog has not appeared for so long.

The tedious, and not-very-exciting story behind this is that apparently, the servers simply collapsed at our webhost, without warning, and had to be replaced.

And this is the first chance there has been to blog with the FTP actually working.

(Note, the databases are still not working, so the Goodybag will take a little longer to come back online).

But over the next few days, I’ll share with you some of the things that enforced time away from tending the website led me to explore.

But for now, this is just to let you know that the site’s back, (thanks to everyone who noticed!)and to apologise once again for its absence.

More tomorrow

Clare

Just in case anyone can actually read this, I keep posting, or trying to, but Blogger is having a very strange few days.

I think the diary may be moving to a new home shortly!

More soon

Clare

Hello!

Just a quick note to say Happy Christmas and new year…and to let you know that all the new free downloads (Christmassy and otherwise) are now in the Goodybag section of the site.

Have a great time-and the blog will be back early in the New Year.

Thanks for reading this in 2006…here’s to a great 2007 for everyone.

Have fun!

Clare

At last, the personal development download library is back up and running!

This is probably my shortest post ever, but relief and joy are replacing my usual torremt of words.

Pleas just click on the “get your free downloads now” link at the bottom of this post and you’ll get all the details about how to access them.

Have a great weekend and-happy downloading!

More soon

Clare