To Jen, re. England!
#49452 - 03/11/04 05:58 AM
|
|
|
|
Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
|
|
|
Oooo Chocolate! I would love to do something like that. I'm a meteorologist and since I got IBS I wish sometimes that I'd trained to do something more fun and less stressful! Like gardening, or something. But I LOVE chocolate shops! I just wish I could frequent them more often now!
I work at a private weather centre in London and it is soooo boring. I do media work, which is mainly writing weather forecasts for newspapers. It's so repetitive and the only thing that ever changes is how much work I do. However, I'm planning to quit there in May and start working for myself. That should be more fun, but the stress...oh boy!
Working nights isn't TOO bad. At least I then get to drive in (instead of getting shitty public transport) which means less of a rush when I get up. And the shifts I do aren't hat long (8 hours) and I can leave early if I get my work finished. Plus, the office is quieter so it's less stressful that way. But I do hate them! 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Yes, chocolate. Well, I've been stuck doing things I hate for years and years. I'm tired of it! I'm also learning to knit, and I hope to sell scarves and hats and so forth online, too.
I'm much better off doing something creative! AFter all, I was an art major in college. I don't know how I got here to the phone company! 
I work the same old schedule every day right now.. But once the chocolate business gets rolling I should be able to tailor it to whatever I want. I'll have to muster up some discipline, though, or I'll sleep all day! Actually, I'm really looking forward to this on so many levels. I really love making chocolate (even though I can't eat it) and I love watching people eat my chocolate. It makes me happy to make other people happy! I also think it's going to be really good for my health to get out of the "real" business world. I'll be able to take yoga during the day (when most classes are offered around here!) and just have tons more flexibility with my schedule. I think that's going to help my stress (and therefore my IBS) drastically!
OK, I have to stop talking about it 'cause I get all wound up!
My brother would be so jealous of your job. He's a cop, but should have been a meteorologist. It's not that he's not a good cop- he is! He's great. It's just that he's FASCINATED with the weather. He has the weather channel on 24-7. He still gets excited and calls our mom when it snows! So cute. (He's 30!) 
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Hey WIW!
#49464 - 03/11/04 07:15 AM
|
|
|
|
Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
|
|
|
I have an idea for you.
There's a new business that just opened in town here; it's a little English tea room. My friend (well, she WAS my friend until this nasty IBS thing got in her way) took me there for lunch last summer when they first opened. It's absolutely charming. They serve all kinds of teas on cloth-covered tables in little private lattice-covered gazebos. The teas are delicious. They bring you the teapots to the table and leave them there, covered with real pretty tea cozies. They also serve little mini samiches and tea cakes. They have a lady who plays the piano in the background, beautiful soft, soothing music. It's just the most charming place.
Okay, I digress. Sorry. Moving on --
At the front, where you "check out," they sell all their teas and scones and CHOCOLATES, tea cups and teapots and tea cozies. They even sell the little spoons that you stir your tea with. At the time, I was still stupid and drinking coffee -- duh -- but I fell in love with those tea cozies. They were hand-made quilted beauties, all different prints.
Get to the point Bev!
Okay, here it is: I think you should sell all kinds of English tea room goodies like this WITH your chocolates online. (Actually, I think you should open an English tea room just like this one, but I'll settle for online -- and, just a suggestion here, I'd leave Colin out of it.)
--------------------
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I was already laughing from reading "but I digress" when I got to Quote:
and, just a suggestion here, I'd leave Colin out of it
when the Rice Crispy treat I was munching on almost flew across the room. You're a trip! I'll take your advice on that one!
Actually, we're going to branch out, probably, but we're starting with limited capital so going slow at first. We're going to start with a small variety of chocolates with a set menu (you get what we tell you you'll get!) with a few standard "extra" choices (like carob and yogurt covered dog biscuits and chocolate covered spoons). Then we'll expand to gift baskets, etc... That can't be 'til I quit this godforsaken job- I barely have enough energy to get home and in bed now. Can't really add too much to the schedule. Eventually I'd like it to be a range of things, including teas and coffees. (wah- i miss coffee!)
Actually, I'm planning on opening up a chocolate shop -an actual physical one you can walk into!- at some point. The only non-chocolate offerings will be tea and coffees. Everything else will be chocolate! (Yum... chocolate ravioli!)
By the way, I like it when you digress. You're gifted with words! You're a literary painter.
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
The shop
#49485 - 03/11/04 08:23 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
|
|
|
Hey, you could sell all kinds of herbal tea mixtures that most people would never try!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Re: The shop
#49507 - 03/11/04 08:41 AM
|
|
|
|
jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
|
|
|
That's what I'm thinking, but I want to be careful not to make it into a tea shop! Nothing wrong with that, but my passion is chocolate, not tea!
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
just catching up on posts-again!!i'm so glad to hear that someone else is having job issues! HAve ben doing things for last few years that i hate,and since moving back to scotland in summer(used to live in london)have been temping in the bank,then they offered me permanent work,what with the wedding n all coming up,i've taken it,but its all mega sales and targets,ugh!! so am now considering going back to study,even part-time,then i keep thinking"am too old "to study again (31)But,i'm more a creative gal than a pushy salesperon!Lots of decisions for me to make i guess!!
Ah,feel better now for having a venting moment!
mmmmhh,now i fancy some choclate!
--------------------
Morven 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Jobs
#49876 - 03/12/04 03:58 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
|
|
|
Oh, was I feeling blue today (until I read Jen's what not to do with fennel tea!).
I really wish that I'd changed careers when I developed IBS. I did 3 years at Uni studying Meteorology in order to go race yachts as a professional, but then I got IBS and so my sailing career is over before it really started.
So now I'm working at a private weather comapny in London and hating it. The pays okay (though we weather people get paid peanuts!), but it's killing me, exaberating the IBS and Fibro.
So I'm leaving in May to work for myself. My HTB is being great about it - he's going to be supporting us till my solo career gets off the ground. But being a meteorologist is STRESSFUL. Like I've got a job lined up for a regatta in August that could lead to lots more work. Sounds good, eh? But to get the more work, I have to provide a better weather forecast than the regatta's own forecaster. Mega, mega stress. It's soooooo hard!
So I'm way scared about doing that, which doesn't help my IBS and I'm scared the stress will make my IBS flare-up, which would NOT be helpful.
I really wish I trained to do something more fun and creative. I've always been kinda arty when I get the time. I used to make hand-embroidered handbags in the vacations. And I love grdening and plants. Anything to do with that would be amazing.
BUT, my parents went through a lot to put me through Uni and they're so proud of me being a meteorologist (my Dad's a pro-sailor and my Mum suggested the Met in the first place). Also, I think that if I suggested I change careers, my HTB would have a nervous breakdown (he's already stressed about affording a mortgage on his salary!). AAAH! So I feel I'm stuck.
Oh...Just wanted to vent. Sorry Guys. Cos of the above I can't talk to people around me about this properly. Thanks for listening.
Linz
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Oh, Linz!
#49884 - 03/12/04 05:14 AM
|
|
|
|
|
jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
|
|
|
It stinks to be in a job you're not in love with. I know it does! And it's worse to be stressed out, too, especially with that good ole IBS. That you're struggling with fibro too. Wow. You've got a full plate!
I know you're in a tough spot, and I know it's hard to be positive, but since you love sailing so much, maybe this new job will be just the ticket! A nice blend of what you're trained to do and what you love to do. The key, of course, is trying not to get so stressed you botch the big initial forcast! Make sure you're trying to remind yourself to relax as much as possible, and doing all the things you can to calm down. I don't know anything about meteorology, but I DO know that tension makes all job performance levels drop. (Not to mention what it will do to your tummy!)
If you want the truth, though, I really encourage people to find a way to do what they love to do. If you like to do crafty things, start making stuff on the weekends. Block out some time to do them! Make it a priority. Why? 'Cause you love it, so it will help relieve stress. I'm never more relaxed than when I'm in the kitchen making chocolate or sitting somewhere knitting. That's why I'm going to make them my jobs! Make yourself a little area to put your crafty stuff out. Even if you're just attaching one sequin a day, one stich of something, you'll feel loads better that you're using your creative outlets! I PROMISE!
I've recently discovered Ebay as a lovely way to sell merchandise (I'm a late Ebay bloomer!). There are lots of crafts people selling stuff there. And there are always little shops here and there that will take merchandise- even if it's only one or two things a month. It won't be much added income on such a small scale, but it could always build into something much more-- and you'll never know 'til you try, right!? And think- your own schedule!
Ok, enough selling the Follow Your Passion plan!
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Posts
