The Trouble is..........................................

I was thinking late last night that i prehaps have started doing more things that i should be. Let me list what i do: -

1. Scouts (Beaver Leader) and I love it. The teaching of young people in the ways of the world through fun learning and badgework i get a real buzz from that. I am relatively new to the scout movement and was kind of railroaded into it. My oldest, David, was at Beavers. I used to go every week and would stay with him as he wouldn't like me to leave. Although on occassions i was allowed to and me and another mum, Carol, used to take it in turns to help out. I enjoyed it. With really surprised me as kids sometimes really annoy me. I'm not the most patient person I can freely admit that. But, watching these kids make things and play and the trust that they have in me as, their now, Assistant Beaver Scout Leader, it gives me a real sense of joy. They listen..... which is truly amazing as anyone with 6 - 8 year olds knows if a miracle. I'm still working towards my wood beads at the moment and have about 7 modules to do but I have only been serious about being a Beaver Leader for about 6 months so i'm doing too bad really. I can't wait to get my beads.
2. Campaign to save the Oxford Children's Heart Surgery Unit. That has been my life since April this year and will continue to be so until they see ruddy sense and open the unit. It has been reported that the safe and sustainable recommendations are not going to be available until Next Year which means that Oxford remains a closed unit. Not fair. As the reason why they have postponed the recommendations is because it has been discovered that 3 other units have a high mortality in years 2000 to 2008 but these units remain open and Oxford closed. Where is the sense in that. Where is the sense in them keeping a unit shut and sending their patients 100's of miles away and put them through hell. It makes me soooo mad that i just end up crying over it all.
3. Young Hearts. I am quite active with the charity Young Hearts and have just put myself forward as Vice Chair, there is an AGM coming up and I will need to be voted in but hope that i can be part of it all.
4. Abingdon Drama Club. I am currently rehearsing twice a week for a play. Stepping Out. I'm not the lead but i have had to learn quite a lot of words and there are dance routines as well which are whizzing through my brain.

I gave up work last year because i was dealing with too much, with my dad and mum in hospital, too much pressure from work lead to a nervious breakdown which i managed to stop progressing by getting rid of work and although life (financially) has been very hard it has been rewarding and now rather than a few things on my plate i have a lot of things on my plate and i can feel my stress levels raising every day and not sleeping as well as i should be to maintain myself. But the trouble is.......................... i love doing what i do. I wouldn't give up anything that i am doing at the moment because although it doesn't pay a wage, i enjoy.....in fact i would go so far as to say that i love everything that i do. Scouts, Charity work, campaign and the drama club all of it means something. It means i can express myself in ways that i never thought possible and i am the happiest that i have been for a very long time. I get to spend quality time with the kids. Quality time with my husband and it all adds up. I get time away with courses and feel as if i am appreciated a bit more and respected for what i do.