It's been many years since I was just doing 9 to 5. Working in a corporate company as a manager meant many more hours than that, add in over 500 miles a week driving and phone calls and emails long into the evening and at weekends and 9 to 5 would be considered just part time. (I'm not saying that it was right - just that is the way it was.)
Swopping my corporate managers role for that of a self-employed B&B owner and aspiring coach/ HR consultant and trainer meant that the working day started even earlier. Often at work by 7am and on an empty stomach until the guests were fed and working at times into the middle of the evening cooking suppers, we worked more or less every day (ie 7 days a week) for three months last summer. The pattern was repeated for our second peak season in November and December with the guests who came to see the Thursford Christmas show. Not that we're complaining, it was great to have lots of guests.
When January finally arrived we took the opportunity for a few lie-ins and worked 10-6 rather than 9-5 and only Monday to Friday for a couple of months.What a treat that was! The season is now underway so that life is on hold until next January.
And this week for the first time in many, many years I am working 9 to 5. I was offered a 3 month temporary contract last week to do some HR stuff in the NHS across Norfolk.
Meanwhile Mike is left to cook and clean for our guests, take more bookings (we hope), tend the allotment, do the shopping, the washing and the ironing, make jam, finish the decorating, answer phone calls on behalf of Gladstone Coaching (not an onerous task),shoo away unwanted neighbours with time to kill and entertain the cat.
Spare a thought for him as he juggles The Old Bakery Enterprises on his own - but don't phone and disturb him - he's got too much to do!!
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