Today is the start of a heat wave here in Sydney, where the temperature reached a maximum of around 33 degrees Celsius, which felt far too hot. This is just the beginning though, as tomorrow (Tuesday) is forecast to reach 35 degrees and Wednesday is currently forecast to be 37 degrees. I am going to struggle at work this week for sure.

This is the main reason why I have said that this is my last summer working in the job I’m doing now-I really do struggle with the heat during the summer. It doesn’t help that I have been told that I work too slowly-my work is good quality but I’m not quick enough. I have said to the relevant people that I can’t be expected to work at the same rate as a twenty year old lad when I’m a month from turning forty and female-it really doesn’t, and can’t, happen. I was asked today what work could do to help me-there isn’t a lot to say really as there isn’t a lot. I refuse to work myself into the ground to the point that I cannot function in the rest of my life-work is not supposed to do that to you! So in answer to the question given was to get someone in to help, but that is not something that will happen.

So, knowing that this will be my last summer in this sort of job the question is obviously what am I going to do with myself afterwards? Well, first and foremost I am going to continue writing my blog posts most days. Once or twice a week, I am going to start writing more in-depth gardening stuff for anyone that is willing to become a paid subscriber (but don’t ever feel you have to). For my free subscribers I’ll be writing about my little garden and my plans for it once the builders have gone (who have also really got me grumpy today too) as they have really messed up the plans that I did have back in August!

Beyond this, I also have further study plans after finishing up with my current studies. I plan to become qualified to do some teaching, probably at TAFE (the technical college here in Australia). As we plan on moving out of Sydney in the next couple of years, it will be another avenue for potential work. I’ll still be visiting places with interesting plants and/or gardens and talking about them here too-something that I really enjoy doing in my spare time.

While I may not be loving work at the moment, I have plenty to work towards that will allow me to work in something that I’ll enjoy more in the future. This is a reason to be positive, which I try to keep with me. I’ll also leave you with some photos from my day, including hydrangeas, agapanthus and rose flowers.