Where Have I Been!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where can i possibly begin, as its been almost 8mths since i wrote anything on my blog, so you'd expect a lot of news and views, well i won't disappoint you hopefully.

Well i went away and done a course on being a Social Care Worker, their was know guarantee of a job at the end of the course, but if successful, you'd get an interview for a position and it would be ground level starting, as an assistant, i hadn't worked for 2 years so wasn't going to moan, you always have to start somewhere and the salary wasn't bad at all.

So it all began one wet & windy morning in January, off i went to my first interview, got their and there wasn't a seat left in the room, i was thirty minutes early as well, what time did these people get there or was it a sleeping bags job?

Got a call two days later from a woman who was running the course to say i'd been accepted and it would start the following week, would i like to take part, i was like the dog with two tails, just give me the time and place, i'll be their.

I sat in a classroom with fourteen complete strangers, i just took the biggest breath ever, this was it, what i'd been wanting to do and it's all starting now, yipee.

So for the next twelve weeks or so, our friendship and bond grew, laughter and tears would follow and hopefully a job at the end. The work was hard and it was like being back at school sometimes, coming home at night, then into the quiet of the room to study what we'd been given that day. The third week was just begining, when our tuitor told us we'd be going on placement for four weeks in residential homes within the Glasgow area, know point in letting fear get a hold of us, this is what it was all about and we were about to dip our toes in the water's of care.

I was very lucky indeed, i got a placement just a short walk from home, a few of my course mates, weren't just as lucky, a bit of travelling was involved for them. I went to visit my placement the week before i started, just to view the place, but to let them see me as well, couldn't have gone better, look forward to seeing you was the chat from the manager of the home.

Well my four weeks passed so quickly and i learned such an awful lot about caring and looking after elderly people, i just thought, if i don't get anything else out of life, at this interview let me be successful and get the job i want. On meeting some of the residents you could just sense their was an abundance of stories you'd hear and they'd all be part of your training, i wasn't to be disappointed in the least, from the gentleman, who at the age of eight years old, climed onto a viaduct bridge forty foot high and walked along to the other end, when i asked him why, he said, in those days when your mates ''dared'' you to do something, you daren't have said no, you'd never have got into the local gang, slightly different from todays culture i'd say, to the lady of one hundred and four years young, who shuffled her way along the corridor to the dining room in her ''Ugg Boots'', now thats style and class in any one's language and a proper lady too.

On the last day of my training in the home i felt a tinge of sadness on leaving them, but vowed to them, if i don't get the job, i'll be back to visit you all, my outlook had changed completely, they smiled and laughed, i shook all there hands and gave them all a hug.

The course only had three weeks left, the work was becoming intense and the studying got longer each night, it had to be worth it, i hadn't put this much effort into anything else work related in my life.

D-Day had arrived, good news William, you've passed the course and we look forward to seing you for the final interview, inside my head was a guy just bursting to get out and shout, ''ya beauty'', he didnt get out though, well not until i was up the road and safely behind closed doors, then he was let loose, nice feeling indeed, but still the final hurdle had to be cleared.

The interview was set for one forty five in the afternoon, i'd been up since six in the morning, showered, shaved, shoes brushed, suit un-wrapped from the cleaners polythene bags, god i'd hoped i wouldn't fall asleep in the chair, nobody does that, but their's always a first.

Did i ever need to panic, not a chance, homework was done and the answers stored in the head, time to set sail, forty minutes later, interview over, the three ladies who interviewed me said, we'll let you know by next week, the small one at the end winked, we'll chat soon William, didn't wait a week, two days later, i get the call, ''you've been successful and we'd like you to start''.

I'm now working as a Social Care Assistant in a residential home in Glasgow, looking after and helping the elderly, constantly learning from more senior staff, its just the most rewarding job you could possibly do, sure their's difficult times, what job doesn't have them, but the feeling of making a difference, even if its just for that one shift, leaves you feeling satisfied and proud.

Just a wee sad note from the course, the guy that sat next to me throughout it, passed away very suddenly only a week into his new job, he was such a kind and caring person, i knew he'd make the grade no problem, he had no family of his own, but had brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews, a few of us attended his funeral, we all knew him as a decent guy, to see his family distraught with their loss was such a shame, but for those kid's, i reckon he was the best uncle in the world to them, we'll always remember him, thats for sure.

Bringing you right up to date with the latest, i bumped into an old friend on FaceBook recently, they too had been dealt some terrible news lately, but the feeling of strength you get from them when chatting should be inspiring to all of us, they made me sit up and take a look at things from a different angle, i think its how we should all approach life in general, soak in as much information as possible, then decide for yourself what to use and what not to use, we'd all be a lot better for it.

I hope you've not been bored with my journey over the last few months, i still look in to see who's blogging and read the stories. lets hope i don't keep you waiting for another eight months.

Re-Hab (William)