| ooooooh!!!! |
[Mar. 11th, 2007|11:23 pm] |
| peterk's LJ stalker is haleyh! | | haleyh is stalking you because they have nothing better to do with their time. They are also in jail for murder! |
|
|
|
| Ding Dong |
[Jun. 27th, 2006|12:05 am] |
Started in Avon today! Finally! There were 7 of us in the training group. One guy I saw on the way down, and I just knew somehow that he was starting in Avon too, and he did. Turns out he lives just across from me, and I think we'll get on.
It's quite a big place, but quite relaxed also. There were decorations all over the place celebrating the world cup (all teams, not just England!) and it seems this is something they do quite often.
we were given some free toiletries and made to watch some boring videos, before being led to the computers to start the real training!
The training manual is mahoosive. It seems like there's still a lot to learn! Today we were just taken through the basic screens and shown a bit about how the system works. The training seems to go quite easily, at least in the beginning. It seems like quite a friendly place with a good support network, so at this moment I'm quite looking forward to it.
They are very good to their employees. I found out I can even transfer my pension from the youth service, so I won't lose the 10 years of contributions I've already made, which is something! They also have life insurance, private health care and dental plans too!
There's a shop for staff which is really cheap, and anything you can't get in there (they don't really stock everything, just things they don't sell in the catalogue or returns) you can buy at a decent discount.
So all in all, I'm quite positive and looking forward to getting out on the floor and dealing with real customers. At least I'm used to that. I'm hoping they won't be as difficult to deal with as taxi's drunken punters :) |
|
|
| So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish |
[Jun. 20th, 2006|10:25 pm] |
Tonight was my final session as a youth worker. After 9 years paid in the job, and a few years as a volunteer before that, I never really thought this would happen. I thought I would always be a youth worker.
I fell into being a youth worker quite by accident. I dropped out of school early because of various problems, with left me with virtually no self esteem. I ended up at a unit for kids who'd been excluded from school, where I met a guy who was totally cool, and I latched on to him. Then one night I joined a local drama group, and he was there. At the time I wasn’t doing much and was looking for a YTS placement. So he got me a place in the youth work office, doing paperwork.
The drama group closed, and I was dismayed. However the leader of the team suggested I took it on. I was baffled. Me? Lead a group? Well anyway, I stayed doing that for a few years and absolutely loved it. Eventually it came to a close, and I found myself doing another project. I kept trying to get work as a youth worker, only because I had nothing better in the offing.
Eventually, in 1997, another youth worker who’d taken me under his wing was helpful in my winning a youth work post. To be honest, in those early years I never really took it seriously. Then one year I was ordered to take the youth work training course.
On that course, I was forced to revisit my youth. It was a very painful experience to go back to days I hoped I had left far behind. However, it helped me make a lot of sense of things, and from that moment on, I knew what I had to do. I had to be a youth worker.
I knew I wasn’t like other youth workers. I couldn’t hold my own with some of the more difficult young people, who reminded me very much of the kind of young people who had made my life hell. But I had in the back of my mind the strange notion that if I could make a difference in one kid’s life, if I could show someone that there is life beyond your teenage years, then it was all worth it.
It’s a simple yet bizarre equation. If I hadn’t been through such a tough time, I wouldn’t have been excluded from school, and I never would have met the youth worker who changed my life. Sometimes I still struggle to get my head round that.
Well I know I’ve achieved that. Just by being someone they can talk to, I’ve given young people happiness. Now a lot of the young people I initially worked with have grown up and some of them have kids of their own. I remember a couple of years ago a young lady coming up to me with a pram and saying ‘I was a cheeky little kid, but I remember you and and all the other youth workers who put up with me and I’ve changed so much'. The feeling that gave me is something money can’t buy. That’s why the politics of the decision to close the youth service upset me so much. But now is not the time for that sort of talk.
I look back on my years as a youth worker with some great memories, some great friends and I know it changed me. I was perhaps slow to pick up a lot of the skills, but I’m there now. As most of you know, I’ve been training for a computer teaching diploma this year. I’ve really enjoyed the course. If you’d asked me 10 years ago to consider being a teacher, I’d have laughed in your face.
Now I’m moving on. I start a job on Monday in the Avon Call Centre, and it feels like my life is changing completely. I feel like we’ve all been dumped on by the county council. Not just the youth workers, but future generations of young people too. Hopefully something will happen. Maybe I’ll find the time to do some work with young people, even in a voluntary capacity for a while. Maybe I won’t do anything any more. Whatever, I can look back on the last few years with pride that I achieved something not just for the young people, but for me personally. I don’t know where I’d have been without it.
In the words of Aerosmith – Life’s a journey, not a destination. |
|
|
| Baby, Think It Over!! |
[May. 13th, 2006|11:24 am] |
I've taken a lot of stick for this, and I guess I can see why, but from a work point of view (and actually a personal point of view) it's been a really useful experience.
So, where were we? The morning she woke at 5:15 was quite difficult. I did everything I could think of to stop her crying, but she did just cry solidly for 45 minutes and suddenly stoppd. Very realistic, from what I know.
Most importantly I couldn't hear Neighbours!!! My priorities changed!!
Anyway, that morning whenever I tried to something useful, like college work, she'd start up again. So I had to give up on that!
I opted to wash, dry and put away the dishes and that passed without inciden, but anything requiring brain power or thinking - forget it!
I called a friend of mine who's due in 6 weeks and had a chat with her. I have to plan next week's session which is about the cost of brining a baby into the world and she invited me down for lunch. She wanted to see the baby! I thought about this and decided it was private, so I didn't mind.
I quickly realised that taking her out was going to be a military operation. I took the battery out as there was no way I was having it go off on the bus, and packed her in her box. I tried to remember to take everything with me, but when I got there, I realised I'd forgotten the ID tag that lets me check in to adminster care. I did take the controller though, so I gave her a demonstration of how it cries. She has an evil cat, so she wanted to see how the cat would be with it crying. It came and had a sniff round and left it alone, so we're condident she should be OK with the new baby, so that was useful.
Since then I haven't had her on, because I'm working all this weekend and to be honest that one day was pretty tiring! I probably won't switch her on again. I've been able to work out a lot of the difficulties involved in having a baby and have a new respect now for single mums who do it on their own. It's quite incredible.
There is a lad in the group who's doing this, so at least I can say to him that I've experienced taking it out, and I've experienced the stick he's going to get. A friend of mine wanted to see it today, but that involves being in public with it, which I'm not ready for. That's another point, I guess we give people a lot of stick when a real baby cries in public, but there isn't much a real mother can do.
There is a lot more I can do with this, but the stick I've taken has been enough, frankly.
If anyone is thinking about this project, I'd really recommend it |
|
|
| Baby Think It Over! |
[May. 9th, 2006|11:57 pm] |
Currently at work (my work with young people - Yes, the same one that recently handed me my redundancy!) I'm helping run a program aimed at cutting the number of teenage pregnancies.
We're doing this by taking young girls (and one young boy, clever lad!) through all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth and parenting. It's a really useful program that doesn't seek to glamourise pregnancy. We'll be giving the kids a computerised baby simulator toward the end of the program.
It's quite a big baby (I'm guessing about 6 months?) and it has a small computer inside. It cries, and has demands from being fed and burped to changed. There are a number of tools to help with the simulation of the experience.
They've given me one of the dolls to get used to how it works before we give it to the young people
I think I need new batteries for mine though, so will need to get those tomorrow.
More info here as the week continues.
Wish Me Luck! |
|
|
| What's 22p between friends? |
[Jan. 19th, 2006|09:07 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  angry | ] |
Please, please, please, I urge you to copy this and send it out to everyone you know, anyway you know how. It affects us all:
Northamptonshire County Council (Conservative) in December elected to cut a total of £6 million from the budget for services to young people. This has amounted to ¾ of the budget for Children & Young People’s Services. This is resulting in the eradication of the youth service which works with some of the most difficult to reach young people.
In an age where many people’s focus is on ‘yob culture’ this means, no youth clubs and evening projects keeping young people off the streets and out of trouble. It means a lot of social inclusion projects will be lost, such as out of school education projects where young people who have been excluded from school will have no means of education at all and could be hanging around the streets during the day, a lot of drug prevention and and teenage pregnancy prevention work will be lost
I’ve just come from a pretty heated public meeting where county council representatives admitted that the cost to the taxpayer is a measly 22p per HOUSEHOLD per week. I am outraged. I find it hard to believe that ANYONE would object to a mere £17 increase in their council tax as an alternative to giving young people nothing to do and no hope for the future.
Judas Iscariot sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, now 2000 years later our nation’s young people are being sold for 22 pieces of copper.
Did our meeting work? As someone said to me afterwards ‘we’ve never seen so many people thoroughly ignored.
I am a youth worker, and in case anyone thinks I am only interested in saving my job, I work a mere 3 hours a week. However, there are a lot of workers who work a lot more hours who do stand to lose their jobs, but also bear in mind that these staff are highly qualified and we fear that those skills will be lost forever. 196 workers will finish work by the end of March, and there will be no workers in place by 1st April. County Councillors have claimed that this will be a ‘smooth transition’ but it clearly won’t.There will have been no 90 day consultation as set out in county council policy. We were informed that this was going to happen. Young people have not been consulted, neither have service partners nor other users of the buildings. The effects of this are far reaching.
Youth Services are due to be made mandatory by the Government in the next few months. The County Council wants the ‘voluntary sector’ to take up the slack but what if they don’t want to? What money will be available? Who will maintain the standards that the Government set in youth papers such as Every Child Matters?
Please sign this petition which will be forwarded to Downing Street in due course and the media over the next few days and let your feelings be known. Act now, before it happens in your county.
http://www.petitiononline.com/SOYS/petition.html |
|
|
| This is the end... |
[Jan. 7th, 2006|11:30 am] |
Well it's nearly time for me to leave Australia :(
I must apologise for not really updating like I promised (so what's new?) but I've been having an awesome time and will have loads of stories to tell when I return and have loads of time to do it all in. There are loads of pictures which Carmy took and she even made a few videos so you'll get to see/hear loads I promise.
So things didn't really work out with us. I'm still disappointed but I do think it's for the best. I guess when I get home I'll be be able to process things through and work out what happens next. I still love Carmy heaps, and her family are just the best, but I guess things aren't meant to be. I promised I'd come here and give it my best shot, and that's what I did, so I guess I can't feel too bad.
So...bring on 2006. New year, new opportunities, New dreams to make. Let's hope it's a good one, without any fears. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Dec. 16th, 2005|11:53 pm] |
 Dear Santa...
Dear Santa,
This year I've been busy!
Last Sunday I didn't flush (-1 points). In March I bought porn for ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) bagpuss1966 (-10 points). In October I broke dred's X-Box (-12 points). Last Tuesday I turned jenl212 in for running naked in the mall (3 points). In July cjbrown1983 and I robbed a bank (-50 points).
Overall, I've been naughty (-70 points). For Christmas I deserve a lump of coal!
Sincerely,
peterk |
|
|
|
| G'day all! |
[Dec. 5th, 2005|06:00 am] |
Well here I am in OZ, having an absolutely fantastic time.
The 3 plane journeys over were very long and boring. I was quite ill on the second flight and didn't manage to sleep on the first two flights. My body gave up on the third flight and let me have a bit of sleep! It was kind of interesting seeing a little bit of Dubai and Brunei, but you can't really tell a lot about a country from the airport departure lounge.
I arrived safely on Sunday night to a big hug from Carmy and lots of introductions at the airport. Don't seem to have stopped since then! We hung out for a couple of hours before I tried to get some sleep with much difficulty due to the heat and jet lag. Yesterday we hung out for a couple of hours and I introduced Carmy to the delights of the great British Game Top Trumps which she managed to thrash me at :)
Last night we went to the beach and I got introduced to Carmy's friend Rachel who I know a tiny bit about and have spoken to breifly in the past, but it was nice to get to meet her properly.
Today I got a full nights sleep, but I got up early, because I read the time wrong on my phone, and I know we have to be up to get to Australia Zoo at some point, where I'm hoping NOT to run into Steve Irwin!
So, yeah, Carmy and her family are just utterly fantastic and I love them loads. :) |
|
|
| Oh. My. Stars. |
[Nov. 30th, 2005|07:49 pm] |
Well I guess I should update again :0
As has been pointed out, Carmy and I are no longer a couple. Sad, but maybe it's for the best. She really is quite an amazing person, and deserves all the best.
After all this time I'm going to meet her on Saturday. FINALLY. I can't believe it. I leave my house tomorrow night and a great friend called Stewart is putting me up and driving me to the airport on Friday morning.
I'm going through a range of emotions at the moment. I'm excited as this is the trip I've dreamed of making all my life. Australia, Ramsay Street, Carmy, it's going to be a Christmas I'll never forget, but I'm sick with worry too. Wish me luck.
We've got a wide range of exciting activities planned. On Sunday I shall be on the beach with Carmy's family, Rachel (her friend)'s family and others. Next week we're going to Australia Zoo. I hit Melbourne (all on my little lonesome :() on the 10th (I think) and it will be one massive adventure. I'm planning to meet up with Carly from NF.com and head off to a Neighbours Night. She doesn't know it yet, but I'm hoping she'll show me some Neighburs sights.
Make no mistake. This is the trip I've dreamed of making all my life. I owe it to everyone I ever met through the board, and particularly to Carmy.
Prob the next time I write on this journal I'll be complaining I'm too hot. I do plan to update this more than I have with all my adventures, so please be sure to come back! |
|
|
| Reasons Why Guys Like Girls: |
[Aug. 11th, 2005|02:16 pm] |
Carmy sent me this today, and I totally agree with all of this, at least those I know about atm. I'm working on the rest, stay tuned for more on that:
Reasons Why Guys Like Girls:
1. They will always smell good even if its just shampoo
2. The way their heads always find the right spot on our shoulder
3. How cute they look when they sleep
4. The ease in which they fit into our arms
5. The way they kiss you and all of a sudden everything is right in the
world
6. How cute they are when they eat
7. The way they take hours to get dressed but in the end it makes it all
worth while
8. Because they are always warm even when its minus 30 outside
9. The way they look good no matter what they wear
10. The way they fish for compliments even though you both know that you
think she's the most beautiful thing on this earth
11. How cute they are when they argue
12. The way her hand always finds yours
13. The way they smile
14. The way you feel when you see their name on the caller ID after you just
had a big fight
15. The way she says "lets not fight anymore" even though you know that an
hour later....
16. The way they kiss when you do something nice for them
17. The way they kiss you when you say "I love you"
18. Actually ... just the way they kiss you...
19. The way they fall into your arms when they cry
20. Then the way they apologize for crying over something that silly
21. The way they hit you and expect it to hurt
22. Then the way they apologize when it does hurt. (even though we don't
admit it)!
23. The way they say "I miss you"
24. The way you miss them
25.The way their tears make you want to change the world so that it doesn't
hurt her anymore..... Yet regardless if you love them, hate them, wish they
would die or know that you would die without them ... it matters not.
Because once in your life, whatever they were to the world they become
everything to you. When you look them in the eyes, traveling to the depths
of their souls and you say a million things without trace of a sound, you
know that your own life is inevitable consumed within the rhythmic beatings
of her very heart.We love them for a million reasons, No paper would do it
justice. It is a thing not of the mind but of the heart. A feeling. Only
felt. |
|
|
| Update....I repeat.....Update! |
[Aug. 4th, 2005|07:47 pm] |
Well, I'm updating! YAY! Mainly because Carmy won't give me peace until I do. Hehehehe. You know I love her really ;)
Well, we've had our dramas lately, and as most of our friends and wellwishers know, we split for a while and got back together. I'm glad it's all sorted now, and we're stronger than ever.
That and a number of other factors recently have led me to (finally) take the plunge and start stashing some money away, with the hope of being in Australia really soon. Nothing is definite yet, but I pretty much have the air fare sorted, just need the spending money now! I haven't made any promises, but I'm working hard and aiming for Xmas. If it doesn't happen then, I'm pretty certain it will happen very soon after.
One of the things I've been doing in an attempt to raise money is building my friend's business a website. If it takes off he's promised to buy my return ticket. So if you know anyone with a problem with water algae, and no-one else can help, please urge them to visit www.waterhabitats.co.uk, for an environmentally (and fish) friendly solution to this horrible affliction. ;)
I've grown another notch on my tree and turned 31 The best present was (naturally) from Carmy, and was a very posh digital camera. I was so amazed and love it so much, I fully intend to get out and about taking more pictures of everything in my home town of Corby for her, but I'm just so tired with work at the moment.
Recently a discussion on the website www.neighboursfans.com let Carmy to say 'If a guy bought me a red rose, I'd be his forever' (not too subtle hinting there, eh?;)) So that's exactly what I did. Ordered it in my home town and arrived on her doorstep in Australia 2 working days later. Not a bad price either. So, I'm marking this in here as being on record, so I'm holding you to that Carmy, OK.
Love you honey, xxxxxxxxxxxx |
|
|
| Didn't... |
[Jun. 23rd, 2005|05:56 am] |
|
Win the Lottery. Bah! |
|
|
| My Word It's Hot! |
[Jun. 22nd, 2005|06:44 pm] |
It's summer, there's no Neighbours, and even worse, Carmy's away! The world is a very strange place right now. Tomorrow should see the completion of the painting the bedroom. Wow! That leaves just the bathroom to do and the whole house has a new look. Unfortunately can't do the bathroom till the council decide to come and fix the ceiling in there though.
They have however decided to come and rip out the central heating. Hopefully they won't make too much mess of my new paintwork. Rumour is of new smaller radiators though, so I may have to get the paintbrushes out again. Oh well. I really hate this year so far. Fingers crossed I win the lottery tonight folks :) |
|
|
| Is There Anybody Out There? |
[Jun. 17th, 2005|10:47 am] |
Time to update again. I don't update as often as I should, but I hope what I do update is worth reading.
I've been thinking a lot about The Internet. I spend a lot of my free time online now and it's become a huge part of my life. Whether I'm mucking around, talking to people or studying something that interests me to broaden my knowledge, these days T'Internet is where I turn to first. It always interested me from the moment I first heard about it, and it has developed so much just in the few years I've been online. It has taken over my life and changed it completely. Who needs Trinny & Susannah?
The most important thing to have happened to me because of the net is the Lovely Carmy. From the moment we first met I always felt drawn to her and as I look back I realise we've known each other for 3 years now, and the 2 years we've been together have been the happiest of my life. It's been a gradual process that I haven't even noticed, and it's only looking back that I can see how huge it is. She is an amazing person in every way. She's gorgeous, smart, funny, brave, talented, witty, warm & kind. There are many more superlatives I could use but you're probably looking for a bucket right about now.
I'm expecting visitors so I'll wrap this up, but rest assured I could talk about how Carmy makes me feel FOREVER. Which is how I long I want to spend with her. I love you my darling Carmy and I can't live without you. You hold me up and make me a better person. When I met you I didn't have any religion in my life, but for anyone who doubts the existence of God, I know I just have to think about you to know I believe in miracles.
Forever yours, Pete xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PS Sorry to those who feel sick now ;) |
|
|
| I did It! |
[Jan. 19th, 2005|08:52 pm] |
On Sunday it will be 3 weeks.
Things are a lot better now. I'm starting to get more sleep. I don't have a full night of unbroken sleep yet, but it's not as bad as it was 2 weeks ago.
This is the best thing I've ever done. I can't believe I've done a complete 360 and am totally anti smoking now.
I'm never smoking again. It was the most stupid thing I ever did. All it did was put money into the hands of the companies that make the cigarettes and risk my health.
My breathing is a lot better now, and even tasting food is completely different.
Everyone is getting annoyed at my constant going on about it I know, but the only way anyone will ever give up smoking is if someone tells them what a good idea it is.
The best thing anyone can ever do is not start in the first place.
Hehehehe watch me give in at the first sign of a problem and reach for the cigs. God I hope not, because I really don't want to.
Best thing I ever did.
Love you Carmy, as always xxxx |
|
|
| To Carmy |
[Jan. 16th, 2005|09:30 pm] |
I swear by All 4 One
I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky
and I swear like the shadow that's by your side
I see the questions in your eyes
I know what's weighing on your mind
You can be sure I know my part
Cause I stand beside you through the years
You'll only cry those happy tears
And though I make mistakes
I'll never break your heart
Chorus
And I swear by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there
I swear like the shadow that's by your side I'll be there
For better or worse
Till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear
I'll give you every thing I can
I'll build your dreams with these two hands
We'll hang some memories on the wall
And when (and when) just the two of us are there
You won't have to ask if I still care
Cause as the time turns the page
My love won't age at all
And I swear (I swear) by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there (I'll be there)
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)
For better or worse
Till death do us part
I'll love you with every beat of my heart
And I swear
And I swear (I swear) by the moon
And the stars in the sky I'll be there (I'll be there)
I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side
I'll be there (I'll be there)
For better or worse (better or worse)
Till death do us part I'll love you
With every single beat of my heart
I swear I swear I swear |
|
|
| So it's come to this |
[Jan. 16th, 2005|09:03 pm] |
Today it's been 2 weeks. 2 long difficult and painful weeks with very little sleep.
A friend thinks I overdosed on nicotine withdrawal stuff. That could be true. I've had 2 tabs of nicorette today, which is better than sticking a patch to yourself for 16 hours IMO.
I never want to smoke again.
Right up until I gave up, I never wanted to give up. Each day drives me on, because each extra day is one extra day without smoking.
I think the clouds are lifting and I can see the sun rising over the horizon.
Of course, that's a metaphor, because it's 9pm at night lol.
Which means i'm late texting Carmy. Ooops. I'm sure she'll understand when she reds this, and I'll have done it by the time she does anyway.
I couldn't have done this without Carmy. I did this for her. I love you baby. We've promised so much to each other and I really meant every word. I believe you did too.
Thank you for coming into my life. xxxx |
|
|
| Don't look back.... |
[Jan. 11th, 2005|10:23 pm] |
Nothing's ever easy
If you stay on track
love is gonna find ya.
Last night I ended up putting the threads up for todays UK Gold & BBC Neighbours eps at 1.30am.
It's Tuesday and I haven't had a cigarette at all since the Sunday before last. It's been OK during the day, but I've found myself struggling at night. I've been woken about 3 times a night.
Yes, it's difficult, and I KNOW that the easy way round it is to have a cigarette, but I've decided I don't want to. I've come a long way in the last week, that I don't ever want to go back. I was standing in Smith's the other day , and I could smell stale smoke on other people I nearly threw up no joke.
So right now I want a cigarette, but I really think that's going backwards. I've come a long way, and I don't ever want to go through this again. Smoking and I are through for good. I Just wish I could convince my body it's a good idea. :_
PS Love you Carmy. More than anything xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
|
|
| 24 hours! Woohoo! |
[Jan. 3rd, 2005|08:33 am] |
|
Well, more than that really, but I'm still going. This morning was a real struggle though tbh. I woke up with a massive headache. It took me a while to work out that I really really needed a cigarette. I lay there for ages trying to control it before I gave up, got up and had a gum. So, it's all good. I can do this. |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
| |
|
|
