What do you do to earn a crust??? Seriously...a living????

Hi everyone

Thanks for your ever loyal comments!!!!

Sandy Lee pointed out to me on an earlier comment that she did not know what I did for a living....to digress a little...I suppose I was very nervous about telling too much of my story on my blog for fear of discovery!!!!  I know a few of you have this fear too....my blog is for me and for others in a similar position...(that is you guys!!!) and besides my husband and very best friend in the whole world...you guys are the only ones who know about it.  Not my mum...who put me on a diet when I was 8 or my sister who was allowed to eat chocolates or lollies in front of me and who is now very trim and in fact trains with the Commando for those of you who follow the Australian version of the Bigg.est Lo.ser.

Pre kids I was a pharmaceutical sales rep for a few major players but was so wrapped to leave this postition...despite all it's entitlements and pay to have my children and be a stay at home mum.  I was very lucky to have this choice as my husband has a great job too.  During my children's first few years I did a  few odd jobs such as being a Weight Watchers Lecturer (this was actually where I met my BFF).  I also was a good scrapbooker and did lots of magazine work and also taught internet classes, was on design teams and held worksops in store for many years.

But over the years it became apparent to me and my family that anything medical would be my first fit.  My local GP even said that it was not too late for me to go to Med school...I disagree as my family come first.   Anyway I was looking at radiology or Ultrasound or even human nursing as a vocation for me once my youngest started school.

And then last year we finally talked DH into letting us get a dog...and on the day before my 40th birthday we decided to rescue a dog.....enter Oscar!!!!

This is Oscar ....at Tafe (college ) with me 2 weeks ago

We had decided on another dog which turned out unsuitable for our circumstances but the Rescue lady said that we should consider 'Oscar'  who she described as Heaven on Legs.

So the day after my fortieth we drove to Newscastle (about 3 hours from Sydney) to collect our new family member.  He has absolutely changed my life.....besides being my best friend and sitting with me throughout my foot injury...he opened up the world of Vet Nursing to me and around June of 2009 I had decided that I had found my calling.  I did a Resume drop and soon had secured a position as well as a place in the local Tafe (college) and have been studying for the last 9 months and working about 2-3 days per week in a local practice to become a fully qualified Vet Nurse.

This is my work uniform

I absolutely love my job....no day is the same and I love meeting people and helping their animals.  There are many sad cases but just as many great success stories.  I love the surgery and the medical side and as a Vet Nurse I can be in charge of anesthetic or helping a dog recover from surgery or helping a family love their pet enough to let them go.  Every day is different and every day I learn something new.  Tafe is a huge learning curve and I also love being able to help those younger than me, have confidence in themselves and quite often they lean towards me because I am unafraid to ask the questions they want answered.

In the  top photo (today) I am wearing my first uniform which got too tight on me (it is a size 18 but fits more like a 16).  My boss ended up getting me a size 20 which now swims on me.  My pants...a size 18 ...are very droopy ...and I nearly fell over them today...so it will soon be time to get a size 14...for safety sakes...or for the fact I love shopping.!!!!

They are actually bigger but you get the idea!!!!

The funny thing is that I have fought so hard to keep this job as it has kept me alive this last 9 months!!!!  As I got more and more depressed because I was in the boot shortly after starting this job, and then the crutches...I refused to give up my job which I felt gave me something to be vital for.  I am sure this and the weight I packed on only made my foot worse.  I just got to the point where I was so hot and tired at work that if I got any heavier I probably couldn't have kept up...and this is a PHYSICAL job.  Very rarely do we sit down.....

So there you have it...my new profession...what do you do for a living????

Take care

Sally  xxx