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everything changes...
As you may have gathered, there have been a number of life changing events in the McMuffin household and I'm going to begin another one. I've been seconded into a new post in September, as I've been asked to be involved in piloting a new shadow service (no, it doesn't make sense). That sounds like I'm someone really special, doesn't it? Sadly, I'm not. I was the only person who was foolish enough to agree to do it, although to be fair, not that many people were asked! However, after constantly working lots of extra hours and often being too busy to eat, I realise that I need a less frantic and stressful pace of work life at the moment. The good thing is that I get to keep my current job and can return after maternity leave.
We've also had more changes around the house thanks to Rock Cake and Gypsy Tart. As they want to use our house and garden for their wedding celebrations they have both been quite motivated to make it look nice. Well, that's rather generous of me, as Rock Cake's motivation was Gypsy Tart telling him she was going to cancel the wedding (and meaning it) if he didn't help with the arrangements. They've helped me clear the nasty compost and water barrel as well as various triffid like plants I found growing and are extending the paved area by our pond, so that there is seating for more guests. They are bloody brilliant at this and it's a shame in some ways that they are highly trained and skilled in their professions as they make this kind of hard work look very easy. Mr McMuffin sensibly sat back and only observed. He has to keep his hands free from accidents in order to cater lovely food for the big day.
mrs mcmuffin on 18 Jul 2005 @ 11:00 PM ✲ Permalink
Comments
An Artiste must preserve his hands for the good of the art.....
I can't wait to see photos of the updated garden space.
Is maternity leave a job benefit in England? Here, it's guaranteed and everyone gets to return to their same place after 6 weeks of what I imagine is a lovely vacation, lying around in silk lounging attire, eating bon-bons and getting one's hour glass figure back.
OOH. Slap me. That was not very politically correct.
Posted by: Melissa | 19 Jul 2005 15:22:24
Or...my skin is just too sensitive for all that rough brick and stuff. This was the main reason my brother and I never did join the army. Our skin would have come up in a terrible rash, what with all that rough, and very durable, it has to be said, material they use to make uniforms.
Posted by: mr mcmuffin | 19 Jul 2005 21:15:33
You can see the after photos, the befores are just too grim!
Maternity leave in the UK depends on the organisation you work for, but I'm roughly entitled to 6 months of which 3 months is full pay and 3 months 90% pay and this doesn't include any leave that I have accrued, so I'm hoping to stretch it out a bit longer, possibly to about 8months if finances allow. 6 weeks!! 6 weeks is pitiful.
Posted by: mrs mcmuffin | 19 Jul 2005 21:27:43
Mr Mcmuffin sounds like a smart man.
Posted by: Maribeth | 19 Jul 2005 22:40:39
Re: 6 weeks of maternity leave. Maybe that's the standard in Maine, but the Family Medical Leave Act (for the US as a whole) only requires that employers allow 12 weeks of unpaid leave, and they can force the employee to use accrued paid leave or sick time over the same period. Some states are better, like California, but not by a great margin.
I got 2 weeks' paid parental leave, per child, which is considered pretty good for a dad, south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Mind you,that's because the mega-corp I work for provides the benefit, not because it's state mandated.
Oddly though, Melissa's description of parental leave was a bit like my recent experience -- well, for the 30 seconds between when the baby arrived and her big sister got a raging fever and cough, and was puking etc.
We shan't touch on the week of stomach flu... also known as the weeklong visit to Hacienda del Hurl, Estancia del Emesis, Villa del Vomit, etc. etc.
Anyway, I am sure that there are parents of newborns all over the eastern seaboard of the US who would be happy to have Melissa come and join in the spa-like fun!
Posted by: Colin | 20 Jul 2005 04:35:48
I'm sorry. I mistyped. I meant to say 6 months...which is what it feels like when one of your employees is pregnant every 18 months. But in Maine, where the women are tough, and the bears are scared, I think they only take one or two days, strap the baby to their back and head to the lobster boat.
Posted by: Melissa | 21 Jul 2005 15:44:09
