So decided I would add a new post, only to find I could not remember where or how.......
Well for the past 14.5 years I have worked in expatriate tax, first with Arthur Andersen, and then with Deloitte. As the UK tax filing deadline is 31 January for the past several years, the run up to Christmas has been very stressful, trying to pull a lovely Christmas out of the bag (I love Christmas!) while working frantically in the build up to the hell that is January. As I approach the end of my last January, I thought I would make a few notes about my memory of it all. January is working long days, going to the office in the dark, coming home in the dark, waking in the night worrying about work that I still need to do, eating take aways in the office, and at least once each season making a home-cooked meal with vegetables to cheer up the team and raise morale. The evening meals, take-away or home cooked have built up great memories of laughter and friendships which have helped to relieve the stress. There have always been a core of people who I thought 'if he/she leaves I will resign' and I know that for some of the staff that has been their thought about me when it has been tough. I have loved working with great professional colleagues who care deeply about the quality of their work, and the relationships they have with their clients. I have been inspired by Paul Gravett who I saw come in as a graduate and is now a director, bucking to make partner, Claire Morrow - who should just be bottled and passed out when people need cheering up, and whose competitive spirit has enlivened many a busy season. Dan Doe, the joker in the pack, with the softest heart, and a desire to work within the system and never seek special favours, Steve Macleod - practical joker, teller of my kind of jokes, and good guy who really should be a writer. Matt Thames, whose love for his wife and family has always been so clear, and his desire to do good work for the right reasons, are impressive. I have worked with partners with a wealth of knowledge and great loyalty to their staff, and Mark Williams and Drew Buckle will hold a special place in my memory. Too many good people to name them all, and I have had the privilege of meeting colleagues from all round the world, at training sessions and as they have come on secondment to our office. Life has been very good for me in these years, a blessing for which I am and always have been very grateful. I have said so very many time 'If I have to work, then how grateful I am to have this environment, these people to work with and this work to do'.
So in five months I will leave for a complete change of direction. I have been training as a massage therapist and will be working from home a couple of days a week to supplement my pension. I am excited for the challenge and really hope I can make it work. I have learned full body Swedish massage, Indian Head Massage and Hot Stone techniques. I have been pracitising on colleagues and friends, and am now ready to start earning some money!! The training and set up costs have been just over £2000, so I have some way to go to even break even, and in 150 days I will make a proper start.
Becky has set up a website for me http://www.wix.com/kathrynwitts/massage#!treatments - be patient it takes a minute or two to load.
Enough for now - the next post will be about family and the two weddings we have this year : ) Happy times x
