Tuesday 17 January 2017

What are you going to be when you grow up.

Hello. I watched the first episode of Tina and Bobby on itv catch up last night, and was hoping for something similar to the Cilla story set in the 1960's. Sheridan Smith played a very credible Cilla Black, she seems to be able to turn her acting skills into any character she takes on.

Michelle Keegan plays Tina, wife of Bobby Moore, Lorne MacFadyen plays Bobby. I must say, I was a bit disappointed. Michelle left her role of Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street a while back to explore different roles and establish herself as a versatile actress. I didn't see the drama set in the army in which she played a squadie, 'Our Girl', I think it was called. Re inventing yourself each time you take on a different role must take quite a lot of effort, some can do it, but sometimes a little bit of the previous character is always there in the background.

I was hoping to see a brand new Michelle Keegan, giving it her all, and taking on a whole new personality. In the first episode I saw Tina Coronation Street, playing Tina the Footballers Wife. The script wasn't particularly enthralling either, the scenes were too short to encompass deep emotions, not allowing the actors to showcase their full potential. The producers/directors were in too much of a hurry to fit everything into the first episode. It didn't have me on the edge of my seat, and I am not chomping at the bit to see what comes next. I will watch, but only to see if the acting improves.

Anyway, that's bye the bye. It got me thinking about the different roles we all find ourselves in throughout our lives. When you think about it, we have to adapt to our circumstances, we have to keep up with whatever changes present themselves to us. Ok, so we don't have to switch from one character to another like actors do, there are longer periods of time in between our different roles. Quite often our roles do overlap, and for those expert multi taskers it shouldn't be too much of a problem when with practice they can jiggle two or three roles at the same time.

For years I defined myself as being a lorry driver, a woman working in a male dominated environment, I adapted to that role. Now that is in the past, I have a new role which I have created for myself. Yes, I harp back sometimes, the memories never go away, but we are all acting on a big stage or on a film set. We all have a role to play in the grand scheme of things. Finding the right pace on how fast we move on in life is all down to us as individual actors.

Michelle must have asked herself at some point if she wants a fairly secure job for life, by staying in Coronation Street, in the same way that say, a person working at the steelworks might want to work in the same place until retirement. Michelle chose to make changes and take a different direction, to explore new opportunities.

I was happy to stay in transport because of the variety, I had to adapt very quickly to driving all types of vehicles and deliver all kinds of loads, and work for lots of different companies. It gave me a buzz. Then the buzz died and I moved on.

Right some questions for you. Are you where you want to be, honestly? Can you see yourself doing something else? Will you be able to adapt? Will you be taking on new roles? Or would you like to stay where you are? There might be another role for me yet, something else might come my way. That's the exciting part of life, it evolves, new situations, never know what's around the corner.

I'll leave you with that thought. Bugsy has eaten overnight, and this morning. He seems a bit better. I have a WI frugal talk to do tonight, need to get my props ready for that.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

35 comments:

  1. Saw your question " what do you want to be when you grow up" first thought - when's that?

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  2. Getting there Ilona, getting there. I have faith I'll get there.

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  3. I don't remember being very ambitious when I was younger but eventually found my niche working for a couple of national charities through temping or full time. I have to be completely honest that as soon as I met my hubs I just wanted to be a wife and us have a family together. And yes, right now we are ALL where we want to be, even though it took a while to get here. My, and those of the family, ambitions are to be as self-sufficient as we can in the years to come, get our b and b business up and running and enjoy the life we have begun to create for ourselves. I hope you, Ilona, continue to have an interesting and varied life which you enjoy.

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  4. My DH and I are about to enter a new phase. He retires in 2 1/2 months. We plan to sell our house and move to the country, grow more of our own food and get a couple more critters and maybe chickens! It will be a lot of work and Lord knows, we are not getting any younger but we are excited and scared. It will be my last chance to be an old hippie
    Joyce

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    1. Sounds like a plan, Joyce. go for it.

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    2. Tony and I are in the process of doing exactly that. Exciting but scary isn't it. x

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  5. I've never chased the big money in my working life - too much stress and would prefer to live on less and be happy without worrying about the responsibility. Some have to travel 2 hours or more to get to the workplace as they cannot afford to live nearer their job and I feel sorry for them (personally I'd rather change job than do that, not my idea of fun spending all that time on buses/trains/tubes etc, life is too short). I'd be interested to hear what your 'props' are for the WI talk; perhaps you were thinking of taking your repaired boots and drumming up some orders! (Joke). Amanda

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    1. Hi. My props are the things I make out of recycled materials, and some cuttings about me from newspapers and magazines. Anything to illustrate the talk. I wasn't thinking of taking the boots, but that could be quite amusing if I actually wore them.

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  6. Good news about Bugsy! JanF

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  7. I am not in the career what i wanted to be while I was growing up.
    By the way, what is the WI frugal talk? will you write about that soon?

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    1. Hi. A talk to a Womens Institute group, about my brilliant life on a pension. A bit like a speaking version of this blog.

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  8. Interesting topic.
    When I was about 15 all I wanted to do was be a nurse but I had to wait until I was 18 so I took an office job which led me to meet a very nice man when I had just turned 16 so we went steady and got married on my 20th birthday and a year later my son was born followed by a daughter 3 years later, we saved and started buying our own house and I was very, very happy all thoughts of nursing had gone I was a mother and a wife which was fine. After nearly 29 years of happy marriage my world was turned upside down for my dear husband suddenly died at the age of 52 so I had to make a new like for myself which after a few years I did but I had to see my daughter thru a nasty divorce first. She also had a baby which had to be cared for. We brought Dean up together for the first few years then she met somebody else and got married and a little girl was born. So life was not all I had planned but it has made me a stronger person and more interesting to know I am sure. I have never wanted to remarry and look on my life in three parts, single, happily married and now single again. I am now in my late 70s and facing a major operation but hopefully the next stage will be just has good as the last, I have lots more crafty things I want to do and continue my making cards gfor the charity I have worked in during the last 25+ years. Life is good.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your story, Hazel. Good luck with the operation.

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    2. Thank you Ilona. I am a WI member and would have you has a speaker any Day if you lived nearer to me. I am sure they will enjoy it.
      Hazel c uk

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    3. Yes Hazel, thanks for sharing. X

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    4. Hazel, that was lovely for me to read your story. I was married for 24 yrs to my lovely husband who died fairly suddenly 2 years ago at 59. Me and my two 15 yr old girls have adapted to this traumatic change in our lives. A friend said to me that it will make us all stronger and I think it has. I now part own a forestry company, I bring up my children, take care of my dog and try to live life as I always did with my lovely husband. When I read about Ilonas zest for life it gives me huge encouragement. When you love the countryside, nature and have a dog as a companion on a long walk, you cannot help but feel OK! Thank you for your story and thank you ilona for sustaining me o a daily basis with your enthusiasm for a simple, fulfilling life.

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    5. Hi, glad to have helped and hope life continues to be good to you. Having children keeps us going if not for us definitely for them. If I can be of any help any time please contact me. I live very close to Heathrow Airport.
      Best wishes,
      Hazel

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    6. Thank you "Frugal in Bucks". Where in Buckingham do you live' just curious.
      Enjoy the day,
      Hazel

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    7. Thanks Hazel. That is kind. I live in Wales but occasionally venture over tge bridge!

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  9. I will be 71 next month and still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! My life didn't turn out anything like the way I planned, but neither did my career field (journalism aka "the media). I'm glad not to be a part of it anymore. I try to be a happy, positive person, and most of the time, I succeed! My family is my greatest joy and turned out far better than I would ever have believed. My glass is AT LEAST half full, and always is.

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  10. I have managed to do what I want but not all at the same time, I am with the aging hippy; I have kept chickens, recycled water, composted and grown vegetables, but one after another as there is not enough room in my garden for them all at the same time. My ideal future would be to sell my house and buy another, maybe cheaper, with a lot bigger alotment size garden and fully retire. I would like to stop being employed at 60. I was always a single parent and feel I achieved raising an independant adult who contributes well to the world and is a nice chap.

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    1. My hubby and I are in the process of doing exactly that. In order for him to retire we need to sell this house and buy a cheaper smaller one. Oh blimey though, it is so hard to get rid of things that you have loved for so many years....... but I can and will do it.

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    2. Cherie, follow your dream, you never know what's round the corner. That little cottage is waiting for you, go find it.

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    3. Whats Lincoln like? We are looking everywhere.

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  11. Well, that's the question isn't it, Ilona? I just turned 68. Finally done working and my years as a caregiver are done too. All of a sudden, I have all this time in my day.
    Joan, Michigan

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    1. Make the most of it Joan, I'm not far behind you in years. For me, 68 will be no different to being 67. I aim to carry on enjoying my life.

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  12. Ilona firstly i am glad bugsy has eaten. I am not where i want to be in life i am nearly 65 and life has not turned out like i wanted, lost my wife to cancer when we had so many plans for the future, i find i am a lot stronger than i used to be all the scars of life make you that way, thank you for such an interesting blog which i look forward to every night, your adventures and life are very interesting.x

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    1. Thank you Ray. Take comfort in your memories. You still have a lot of living to do, and in time the scars will heal. Lots of love.

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  13. Well life has the habit of moving me off course and I never thought that 18 years after starting a family I would still be a housewife. My son has severe learning disabilities which means I need to be here for him and am glad to do so. However, whilst he has been been at school I gained an honours degree in History and am currently studying for an MA. I left school without any qualifications so I am chuffed with myself. One day I think I will go into teaching. Is it too late at 43?

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    1. Well done Deborah it could nit have been easy. I am sure you will not be to old fir teaching, I personally think an older teacher is better for youngsters for you know what Luce is all about and gave a lot if experience.
      Good luck to you and your son.
      Hazel c uk

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    2. You should be extremely chuffed with yourself. That is a fantastic achievement. I have friends who have started a whole new profession in their 50s. Go for it and good luck!

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  14. When I finished school I wanted to go to college and do a degree in textiles. My father refused to even hear of it, a degree in "sewing" was a total waste of time, I was academic as well and he wanted me to do a "proper" degree. So I did biochemistry, which was boring, then got a job in biochemistry eventually, and gave it up with a sigh of relief when I started having the kids. While I was a student though I had a holiday job at the local fabric shop, then I ran it for a bit while I looked for a "proper" job, I made all my own clothes and for my friends, both knitting and sewing. When I was at home with the kids I went to craft clubs, taught myself (blessed internet!) to spin and weave, joined local; arts groups etc. see where it's all leading? I'm now teaching crafts and textiles. I find the lack of a textiles degree a handicap though so guess what? Soon going back to college. I'm 58. So the degree in sewing would have been a waste of time, eh Dad? I wasted twenty years of my life being a biochemist.

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  15. I was a window dresser in a big department store for many years. It was my dream job, very creative, worked with fab people, store had a great social side. It was family run and they cared about the staff. Then it got taken over, and became all about staff cutbacks and cut price sales, our creativity was no longer required and as well as dressing windows to plans we had to help with "store moves", moving heavy furniture and shop fixtures, often late into the evenings. I was always used to working shifts but once I hit my mid fifties it was getting too much. I have arthritis in my hands quite badly and could no longer do the lifting etc. and I found it difficult having constant changes of management and so on. I made the decision to leave and have been retired for two years. I'd like another job, part time, but being realistic, there is not a lot going in my area for older women. I've had a few "blips" of depression and feeling like I'm losing my way, but generally am on track, getting used to living in a tight budget and making the most of my freedom. I have no family at all, but keep busy with voluntary jobs, art and a bit of budget travel. Love your inspirational ideas Ilona, and enjoy reading everyone's stories. There is certainly life after work!! I think a lot of jobs have changed beyond all recognition nowadays, when I see people in shops having to work longer and longer hours, Boxing Day etc I am so glad to be out of it all. I had 18 years of Christmas in retail and it does sour you of it, customers are so demanding and grumpy, whatever happened to the proper spirit of Christmas eh.

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  16. Another good post.
    I retired two years ago and as a single 64year old with three grown up children knowing what paths they want to achieve, I still don't know what I want, but that's nothing new I've always seemed to drift along perhaps I should give it more consideration before I get too old.
    JaneC

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  17. I'm 47, got very average results in school, enough for most jobs, not enough for uni, didn't really have a path, knew I liked medical and office work, so trained as a med sec and administrator, then went into 15 years working in education at uni level admin in medical health depts., started doing projects at the uni, then in charities, now I am a falls prevention ambassador for age uk a volunteer and have just accepted a 3 year post as administrator to a charity project to get hard to reach people back into work or to be work ready. I like to have meaning behind what I do, and have direct client experience and know that in a small way you have made a difference. at the uni I was paid a lot more to go in each day and do references and photocopying all day every day, it was mindnumbing. I asked for extra and different work and looked at very strangely for that there. So came out and worked my socks off for a charity for a year unpaid. Again too that didn't feel right, I could see people taking advantage and I after a while I felt a bit taken advantage of, also my family finances were suffering, so the job has to be paid in some way. By and by I'm finding out what I like to do by discounting things along the way. I love part time work preferably every day too. I have been a good mum to two lovely children and have a brill partner of 27 years and still going strong. my next phase is to move from this house which is a mid terrace after 25 years to a detached bungalow or cottage of some kind to separate myself from neighbours dogs etc, so when I come home from my job there is peace and tranquillity hopefully that would be the icing on the cake. Julie T

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