David Hollingworth

I know the blog’s been a bit quiet the last few days as I’ve been somewhat preoccupied with my work situation. I was made redundant last Thursday (31st May) and even though I’ve known this was coming since the start of March I’m still finding it harder to adjust too than I’d expected.

Despite of having lots of plans for the future, this blog being part of those, I still feel angry that I’ve lost my job, and not a little down too. I guess it’s knowing now that all the structures that go with having a full time job; the routine and not to mention the pay cheque each month, have all been stripped away leaving me feeling empty and rejected.

So here are some of the things I’m doing to stay positive:

1. I’ve lots of DIY to do around the place and this is coming on well. I’ve never had much motivation for DIY in the past; but I’m pleased with what I’m doing now and I’m getting a buzz out of getting the jobs done.
2. I’m a firm believer in positive thinking so I’ve a list of career oriented affirmations that pop-up on my PC every 30 minutes. These keep me focussed on the opportunities that now present themselves.
3. I’m also a firm believer that these things happen for the right reasons and that nothing arises in our lives that we’re not already equipped to deal with or find the answer too.
4. I’m continuing to read up on subjects that interest me and that might lead to new avenues of employment.
5. I’ve the feelers out with the recruitment agents so I get an early shot at any relevant positions that come along.
6. I’m continuing with my goals and expanding on these as I go along.

So, all in all, I’ve a good bit to be getting on with. Actually, now that I’ve written this posting, I feel a good bit more energised and positive. It’s been a very useful exercise just to get me back in touch with some of my core values and beliefs.

Right, back to the gardening!

I’m very pleased to say that last Tuesday’s (22nd May) encounter with the bat has not been repeated. So either

• The bat went out the way it came in and hasn’t bothered making a return visit
• It’s still lurking behind one of the book cases.

The latter is possible; but there’s been no aroma of expired bat about the place. Believe me if you’ve ever had a rodent expire in the ceiling you know something has died for several days. I think a dead bat would create a similar fug!

I guess its also possible it’s still alive; but I’m sure it would have made another appearance by now if it was.

So, fingers crossed, it’s, “Bye, bye bat”.

As a bit of a departure from the usual posts I thought I’d recount a scary encounter I had last night.

First you have to get a mental picture of my “office”. The room is about 15 foot long by about 12 foot at the very widest; but most of the room is a lot narrower than that. My desk and computer are up the wide end of the room under the window, that’s my “office”; whilst the dish washer and machine machine are up the narrow end - that’s the “utility room”.

So last night I’m sitting at my desk writing my journal about 11pm. It’s well dark outside and I’m aware that there’s a number of moths flying against the window attracted by the lights. Sometimes the moths manage to get in as I’ve the window is locked slightly open to allow some ventilation.

So I’m typing away when a shadow falls across my screen, “Oh!”, I think, “There’s a moth after getting in”.

Then the shadow passes across the screen again, “Hang on! That’s a very big moth”. I swivel round in my chair and there’s this great, black bat flying straight at me!

I don’t have to tell you that I didn’t stop to measure its wing span!

Now it could have been a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) or a House Martin (Delichon urbica) as we’ve both nesting around the house at the moment and it looked a similar size. Except for the fact that I didn’t see any white or other colouration on it this thing then did a disappearing act and vanished which is a thing I think a bat would do whereas a bird would probably keep flying about. There’s a huge number of crooks and crannies a bat could hide in behind book cases and appliances. Maybe it even went out the way it came in.

Before you ask; no, I didn’t imagine it. Mrs H. saw it make a pass of the kitchen the instant before I saw it.

So somewhere in here with me now there probably lurks a bat. I’ll have to wait and see if it comes out again tonight.