Just home from a lovely day out.

Today was our Book Club Day.

I was invited to join my good friend Jasmine’s book club. A club she started with a few of her girlfriends whom she has worked with or connected over interests. The book we discussed today was Radical Candor by Kim Scott and admittedly, I felt initially awkward as I didn’t – couldn’t – finish the book and had to resort to the cheat sheets.

I wrote about why in my post Struggling Through Books.

Luckily though, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t finish the book! However, we did have an intense and thought provoking discussion.

What I loved was that every woman there had a great personal story or insight to share about the value and benefit of compassionate conversations at work, and to come from a position of genuine caring and wanting to be open to learning about others regardless of whether you’re doing this in a personal or work situation. We discussed in depth how our work environments and the culture of our workplaces simply don’t allow this to happen.

I got a couple things out of the conversation today.

Firstly, we talked about having to redefine work – and the type of work we do. No longer do we need to classify ourselves as having full-time or part-time or contract work. One member talked about the value she gained from job sharing and it made me, momentarily, think that “hey, this isn’t such a bad idea!”

I know job sharing has been around for many years but it seemed to be mainly for women who were coming back from maternity leave; or those who were close to retiring. I don’t think that is the case any longer. After COVID, I wonder if job sharing will be more popular?

That way, a couple of people can do elements of the one job. It helps those who want to be employed on a part-time basis but also the employer who needs the job filled.

The second thing we talked about was rather than taking full, part or contract work and to look into something like Werkling (on demand talent). Thanks Jasmine for that tip!

My ears pricked up with that concept. After all, this is exactly what is of interest to me because it means I can pick and choose the type of projects I can work on.

• If people need someone to design and build a community – I can do that!
• If an organisation needs to show people how to use digital tools and platforms for their professional development – I can do that!
• If a business wants to design and develop a cohort program – I can do that!
• If they want me to just write articles, create videos, show their employees to blog or vlog – hell, I can do that too!

That way, I don’t have to go trawling through online job sites for locked in contracts. I can basically pick and choose the types of PROJECTS I can work on with the added benefit of working with different companies in a short period of time. I think this type of working would suit some people (like me).

Bootcuts

After the book club, I hopped back into the car and zipped out to Chadstone (it’s our biggest shopping centre in all of Australia and I place I usually try and stay away from as much as possible). I wanted to get out there to buy some new jeans as I needed a pair of bootcuts.

The jeans I have are all over 10 years old and those low cut types.

As a 50+ year old woman, I’m forever pulling them up to try and contain the muffin top but to no avail. In the end, I had to admit defeat. The low cuts just aren’t for me anymore – let’s be frank, they never were. I have seen women wearing these ultra high rise pants but they too, are extreme on the other side.

I needed a happy medium. A normal pair that sit on the waist and that just pull me in.

I found them with a pair of Wrangler boot cut jeans. They don’t have much stretch in them and they’re that old fashioned stiff looking material that holds everything in and would probably last forever. They also sit at my waist thankfully. The older I’m getting, the more I’m realising that I simply need to wear classic pieces that stand the test of time, comfortable and…well, me.

Speaking of me…look what I found!!!!

I bought this the moment I saw it and I’m looking forward to wearing it – with EVERYTHING. This is going to be a wardrobe staple for me.

I love tweed.

I love houndstooth.

I love waistcoats. I mean check out how Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish (Two Men in Kilts) go to this Stewart Christie Store in Edinburgh. When I first saw this episode, I was salivating. Hot, hot, hot.

What’s not to love? It just oozes style, sophistication and confidence.

I recently resurrected one of my father’s Harris tweed jackets that he bought in Belfast in the early 60s and I love wearing it.

If you’ve ever watched the brilliant show Pennyworth – you’ll know the type of fashion I love. Think of skivvies with jackets, tweeds, satins and velvets…and I’m talking about the men’s fashions.

Bubble Tea

After buying my waistcoat and boot cut jeans, I spotted people drinking these Asian teas and thought it was high time to get out of my comfort zone and try one.

It was the weirdest taste sensation and unlikely I’ll be buying these again because the jelly bits felt like I was chewing on a lumpy oyster. Here’s the tweet thread.

I must have looked weird as the only 52 year old woman sitting in the food court with a Hello Kitty tea cup slurping loudly trying to suck the black tea flavoured jelly balls in my drink.

I had an overly stimulated day so I finished the drink off, jumped into my car and drove home to the soundtrack of Blue Danube on ABC Classic FM (because let’s face it, I’m at that age).

Time for a little nap before I chat with my French friend Emma for our weekly French conversation catch up.

What a wonderful day!

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com