I couldn’t resist. When myr s mentioned they were needing to have a crackdown on tidying, and our conversations had turned to how we could motivate that, I suggested a rewards chart – and agreed to buy a big bin, which was duly delivered today.
And it looks more than a little like a spaceman from Among Us.
Definitely sus…
Time to relax…oh, wait… as you were…
On the plus side, although I’m working tomorrow, I have already prepped enough material for a couple of game sessions so I won’t be too anxious on that front this week.
Oh, and I have of course been doing some more doodling – I’m trying some new things in character poses and composition along with stylised light and dark. I’m not aiming for anything I’m particular, but I am pleased with the results:
There’s only another three weeks of the month left, and a lot still to shuffle through in terms of the restructure and a tech refresh and system migration that’s pretty much all happening at the same time.
Sounds chaotic, and there are elements that are dancing round each other like tightly contained dervishes, topped by sparklers and accompanied by cries of confusion…
…and yet its happening, more or less to plan, and with the wider view I now have with inclusion in conversations I have a better appreciation of both the scope and pace of change and of the essential kindnesses that lie behind decisions taking place.
I am reminded again that the people driving what appears to be a chaotic dance are just that: people. I’ve always tended to be mostly blind to titles, for better or worse, but having a chance to actually engage with the new level of management has finally put personalities to the names seen on emails.
But it is still three weeks until I am actually in post, and in the meantime I still need to juggle this engagement with keeping the day job going: managing the day to day business of an individual library and the staff and customers based there. It puts me on both sides of the process, so I suppose it’ll keep me busy…
Yesterday I didn’t feel well, today I do. I’m going to put that down to a combination of the second vaccination jab and a broken night’s sleep. The original plan for today was to have a quiet day off, but training on the admin of our incoming replacement library system was energetically waved at me, so I’ve been doing that instead.
That said, now it’s completed, it’s a lovely sunny day out there so I’m going to take it easy, update some of the website (I’ve added some new maps on the Roleplay Games page), and watch the various Pride flags flip over the railing on my balcony.
As we head into Pride Month, I’ve been musing on conversations about representation – particularly in the context of Equalities and Diversity at work. This has played a prominent role in recent interviews in our restructure and in conversations arising from them.
It is very often the little things that have the most unexpected effects. I was reminded of this when someone remarked this week that they were wearing a bisexual pride pin on their lanyard because they had been inspired by my wearing one.
They had found it a relief to be able to make this statement, and hoped that in turn they would be able to help someone else be able to accept and be their proper selves too.
I was profoundly moved by this. Its one thing to have previously noted the addition of the pin to their daily appearance; another to have someone say in a public forum why, and their hope for further supporting others in a similar way.
I’m proud to work in a diverse community, and be part of ensuring that my workforce reflects that too. Representation matters. Being visible matters. Showing people they’re not alone matters.
We didn’t have a game this evening as myr s isn’t feeling well. Instead we sat in our Discord server and nattered away while doing our own things. In essence a quiet polycule evening being both together and in our own spaces.
Being a fiendish DM I spent a good portion of time downloading and editing map elements for the next few weeks most likely set piece battles, and making up a few random maps that I can turn to multiple uses “just in case”.
It’s one of the key behaviours I’ve adopted while running sessions in a virtual space – to have things relatively generic set aside that can be pressed into service. Contingency planning is a large part of running a more ad hoc series of adventures – with skills gleaned from years of project management, copy writing, and managing staff in general. Transferable skills work in all directions.
Oh, we may also have spent some considerable time looking up properties that we could buy up between us as well. Many interesting decorating decisions in many properties on estate agent websites have been critiqued this evening.
I’ve actually enjoyed today. It’s been one of my regular days off, but instead of flashing by it has lasted. If working you might say it dragged, but this was more the joy of being able to spend significant time on different things and find there was still time to then go and do other things.
How pleasant.
I even had a message saying I could wander in to Walton and have my second Covid jab, but as I’m already booked in for it next week I decided to stick to the original plan.
Hopefully work in the morning will also go largely to plan – said plan being to enjoy being front of house at one of my libraries and encourage the creation of some new displays by the Saturday staff.
I’ve been working extra hours to balance the rotas over the last few weeks so after checking with colleagues and setting out daily timetables I took today off and went down to Portsmouth.
Yesterday’s activities were exhausting on a mental level, so catching up with myr s and the rest of the polycule was a good antidote. Food and drink and a bit of shopping later and it was time to go home again – it was just a much needed break to get some sun and good company.
I wish I could have stayed longer, but we’re obeying the restrictions regarding staying over in the hope we can restart normal visits next month. Here’s hoping. It’s been difficult to be so separated.
Today started a bit frantically as I picked up various emails from yesterday, but I soon got things settled, and had a conversation or two to address some not-so-hidden elephants. So all in all not a bad day.
Tomorrow will be busy with a variety of things, not least of which will be interviewing people who want to work for me, or at least are looking for jobs and don’t object to me being their manager (hello imposter syndrome) – oh and apparently there’s a photoshoot booked for a project launch in the building so there’s that too.
So to unwind I drew a thing this evening:
My weeks normally start with a day off, but with the new job starting in a month or so I’ll be working full time so I want to try and use the time while I still have it.
So today I finally got round to catching up with Lady G for lunch, and the first pub visit since I can’t remember. As is traditional, we both waxed lyrical in our gossip about work and people we know – and it was just nice to see her again.
We both play (I use the term loosely as it’s a mostly zero-interaction game) Godville, so I got challenged to draw her hero and their animal companion – as if I need an excuse to doodle away – so thought I’d share the results here:
Meanwhile, I’m trying to limit checking on work emails while I’m off, but there’s an awful lot happening all at once so I did respond to a couple of them. The very minor issue that it has highlighted is the continuing tightrope I’m walking where I’m still substantially working in my existing job but am being called upon in the new role, while that new role is also still occupied by someone.
I shall have to have a conversation or two about how best to manage this over the next few weeks to both manage expectations and limit any treading on toes.
