Feeling accomplished

Small update. Although I'm feeling a little unaccomplished in life outside of work, I'm feeling a little proud of myself in work. I'm finally finding my feet and feeling like I'm doing good work here.  I was talking about it with a former colleague and they said that it sounds interesting and like real legal work.

I never imagined I would end up working in the legal field and dealing with legal matters such as contracts and matters related to Intellectual Property.  I mean 20 years ago in September I went to Middlesex University to study a degree in Media and Cultural Studies with Film Studies, intent on finding a job in the media after graduation, if I had graduated lol... I did with a 2:2 and instead of the media, I found myself in retail and then office services and then railway industry and then to Israel with various jobs and now almost 20 years since I started University I'm working in a field and in a position, which I feel like I'm accomplishing something.  

I don't know how long it will last, but I want to enjoy this feeling while it lasts.

So that's all going in my head, plus 3 and a bit weeks to my birthday.

Also the 13th Doctor is a woman, if you don't like it deal with it.  As long as she is given good material to work with, she will do great. Although if you read some comments it’s the end of the world.

Okay, thanks for reading, leave a comment after the full stop :-)

Feeling Meh

Well it’s been a couple of weeks since I last posted, last week’s thrilling instalment of my blog, which I'm sure you all loved, was on hold, due to a four legged house guest and also wasn't much too tell really.

So I've now been in the new job for 6 weeks and it feels good, this week, I've done more and learnt a little bit more.  I actually was requested to do some legal work.  I'd spotted something that affected the trademarks we hold and after reporting to the boss, I was asked to think about what action we could take, now obviously I'm not a lawyer and apart from a short module on law back in college/school I'm not sure what we can do, so it was looking online and then checking with the lawyer to see what we could do.  I think my answers were correct and there is now more to take, but just waiting for the boss to answer.

Otherwise apart from work, been quiet, except for the house guest who as usually sat around, did nothing, expected me to feed her, take her for walks, allow to sit on my bed... you know the usual, still it’s fun to have her, watch her run around and write on Facebook.

However, I'm feeling a bit down outside of work, not sure what's wrong, just don't feel myself these days out of the office, feeling a bit isolated and alone... maybe its related to the fact I'm going to be 40 in less than 4 weeks and I'm alone and feeling like that, not just in terms of being in a relationship, but in some ways with friends generally.... I mean there are people who are a lot younger who seem to have everything they want or I would want and I feel envious and I don't want to be and I want what they have and yet it seems like every time I try to break the cycle of this, nothing happens. Or maybe I'm just being silly.  IF you're reading this and you're my friend maybe you can help me, maybe you can help me get out of this funk I'm feeling trapped in.  But that would also mean someone is reading everything I write here... someone who isn't a family member...

Stuck in a rut and I can't get out of it!!!

One Month on

So I've completed my first month in the new job, still feels weird to be there, still getting used to it all, but I'm doing well I think.  One of my new colleagues said that it will take a month to get used to the people and 3 months used to the job itself.  Well after a month I'm comfortable with the people, even if I don't remember everyone's names yet.

As for the job itself, I'm still learning and doing new things each week.  The main focus though for me seems to be internet spot checks for our products where they should not be.  It’s time-consuming but I'm getting the hang of that.  I've also been asked to write reports on the findings, which is something I'm not sure I'm getting the hang of.  I don't think I've ever been really good at reports, usually I'm very plain and basic in that regard and these obviously need to be direct and to the point and also a little specific.  Still I've worked on one this week, gotten feedback and sent it back with changes, so let’s see what happens tomorrow.

I'm also going to be shown more stuff to do, that will be my responsibility.  I am finding it a little tough as I'm the only paralegal there so there is a lot of work sent my way.  Plus with the person training me, also got a lot of work there is not as much time for training.  In this respect I wish there was either a handbook or the other Paralegal was not out on Maternity Leave as I would probably be spending all my time sat next to them learning how to do the job.  I suppose on the reserve side of things, I'm learning on the fly and its going well.

Although some people have realized where I work and have asked do I get discounts on the products... yes Dana, yes Davina I'm looking at you two :-).

Otherwise, I'm still trying to find the balance between work and social life, but I'm sure that will come.  I did get out for Laila Levan on Thursday night and hang with friends and soak up the atmosphere which pretty cool and I also managed to visit my friends in Kiryat Bialik and have lunch with them and apparently agree to dog sit for Kiki, so people The Kiki diaries will reappear as will lots of Kiki pictures.  Just warning you all in advance.

Anyway that's all for now, hope you guys are keeping well, leave a comment, let me know what you think.

Some weeks are tougher than others

So I finished my 3rd week and this week felt tougher than the first two.  I think it’s down to more work being sent my way which is good, because I don't like not being busy, but as I'm still learning it’s tough.

One of my colleagues told me that I shouldn't worry and that in her opinion, it takes a month to get used to the place and the people and 3 months to get used and know the job.  All I know is I've felt a bit off this week.  I think I figured it out in that as some people know I did a previous stint as a Paralegal here in Israel and it didn't go well and I was only there for 3 and a bit weeks and I think with this being my 3rd week I was feeling a little apprehensive about it all.  I'm not sure why though, as my supervisor says I'm doing fine so far and while I'm not doing a lot, I'm trying to learn and expand my knowledge if there is something I do not know.  I'm asking questions as well and talking to other staff if they can help me.

I have though found the task that I think I'm never going to like, even if I ever get to understand it LOL.  But still there is always a job within a job that we don't like doing :-).

But yeah 3 weeks in, still feels new but I'm getting there and I hope in a few months, all the doubts I have about this new job and worry about doing a good job are a thing of the past.

Other news, had an enjoyable time seeing former colleagues at the wedding of Moran and Elad.  It was fun and a hearty Mazal tov to you both.  To my former colleagues I hope to see you all soon.

Otherwise it’s pretty much same old, same old.  Putting my non-work thoughts into what I can do for my birthday in 7 weeks.  Suggested some things and people have said what they think, I just have to make the decision what we actually do. All I know as well as the evening event, I won't work on my birthday for the first time in a while and I want to do something during the day.  So if anyone has ideas what I can do during the day time please suggest away.

So, I hope you all have a great weekend, be in touch.

2nd Week and still going

So my 2nd week is done, in fact it’s the end of the weekend and I'm heading into my 3rd week.

It’s not hard to make sense of a first week, everything that happens in the first week is all about getting settled into the job, learning and training.  However for me it felt a lot of more like being thrown into the deep end of the pool with been shown how to do things and then given tasks to complete with a deadline in mind.  However I think I managed the tasks well and everything went well, so my first week was fine with a relaxing weekend following including dinner and Wonder Woman at the cinema.

So onto the 2nd week, unfortunately it was a bit of lacking in training due to the head of the department being away it meant my supervisor was a bit busy with other projects.  However I took it on to look further into the diversion aspect as a follow-up to the meeting we had with the representatives of that country last week.  And then I followed up with another countries diversion before a phone conference to be held on Wednesday.  As a result I had to send my first official email outside the office and received a 'this is brilliant' in response.  It’s nice to know that my work is appreciated so far :-). The phone conference went well and I followed up with things that then went back to them.

As I mentioned it was a bit of a quiet week with training not really happening, I was also left alone for 1 full day, as I joked on Facebook I was the legal department for the day.  Still I'm settling in and hopefully all will be well.

Meanwhile I've not done much socially, spoken to friends and hung out with people over the weekend and tomorrow night looking forward to seeing my former colleagues at another former colleagues wedding.  So it will be a chance to relax and let my hair down.

So for now, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

First Day, First Week, how did it go

So it’s the weekend following my first week, this time tomorrow I'll be back in the office for the first day of my 2nd week.  

Since I started working after University, I've had a few jobs and sometimes they have gone well and I've been there a few years and others haven't.  But the one constant thing that needs to happen I believe is a good first day and a good first week.  If you settle down in the first week, I think it sets the pattern for your time there.

So as of last Sunday I stepped into a new position, new office, new people, and new challenge.  I'm a Paralegal at Moroccanoil based in Rishon Lezion.  So I have to travel and it’s a bit further than before, but I've done similar and as someone said to me people who work in London, don't always live in London so they commute, so it’s not a big deal.  And it isn't... as it stands I get up, get the train for 25 minutes and then walk from the station for 25 minutes to the office.  So far I've been getting to the building about 20 minutes before work.  It gives me a chance to relax before work, spend 10 minutes reading before I head into the office.

So anyway the actual job, its working for a cosmetics company in their legal department and as I found early on, it seems like I will be busy and taking a lot of responsibility on.  Currently I am the only Paralegal.  One left and the other is away on Maternity leave.  So it’s just me and even though it’s very daunting and something I'm not experienced in, I would like to think I'm up for the challenge.  So far already, I've participated in two meetings with distributors from overseas.  The second of which I actually contributed to by preparing a report for the meeting.  Which when you've only worked in the company for 8 and a half hours and asked to start preparing said spreadsheet/report is very nerve wracking.  But I've tried to listen and learn as I go along and ask questions about something if I'm not sure and it’s gone well. Our part of the meeting went well and I think my bosses were pleased with what I had done and that I was following up on stuff as well from that meeting.  

It feels good to have some praise with my work and yes I have a lot to learn, but I do feel I'm off to a good start I hope and well I'm taking each day as it comes and I hope to feel eventually fully comfortable in my position there.

Thanks to everyone who has wished me luck for this week or liked my work related Facebook statues, I promise to not do too many, but this is a new start and a step into the unknown for me, but so far after 5 days it’s going well.

Closing the Chapter on the Typist and starting a new one.

Well its been a couple of weeks since I last posted, been fairly busy but I've some downtime now so here I am.

Well as most of you know, especially if you're on my Facebook I've been counting down to yesterday evening, where after 2 and a half years as English Typist at Dr. Shlomo Cohen & Co. I bid farewell to that position and from Sunday morning I will be starting a new role.

I have to say although as people have commented that I look so much happier from the moment I announced I was leaving this job to move to another and in someways I do feel happier.  But I am also nervous because I'm stepping into the unknown and while I have a little experience in the area my new job will cover.  It is still very much brand new.  I keep telling myself that this company would not have hired me if they didn't think I could do the job, but still there is always a little doubt in my mind, I just have to go into Sunday with my eyes wide open and listen, learn, ask questions (even ask the same once a few times).  But above all else stay calm.

Still it will feel weird to not be an English Typist anymore, after all I've been in Israel now 5 and a half years and this role was my longest here, taking 2 and a half years so its not hard to understand that while some things I did not like.  I've made friends there and one of the hardest things I've found is staying in touch with people when they or you move on and I sincerely hope that it does not happen.

I will miss my girls though.  When you're the only guy among the Receptionists and the Achamashia... its kind of hard not to see them as my girls :-).  Although at least I will not have to share my chocolate anymore (sorry Daniella and Hadar... its all mine now..).

Going to be weird not getting calls to come check and correct people's English, but everything ends and all that, I'm going onto a new thing and I hope that it will be the start of an amazing thing.