h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sounds like you spoke to someove very sensible there Sol.

That is good Sol, nice to get some reassurance

I had to cave in and tell work at the end of last week as they were threatening to sendme to Gaway for extended periods. I am *so* glad I did though - my boss is being wonderful about the whole thing. She has told me that I shouldn't be doing too mch and mustn't get stressed. She said I could either come in late and leave on time or come in on time and leave a bit early because the tiredness is really wiping me out. I said I was a bit worried that by telling them I would end up not getting the interesting jobs where we would learn something and would end up doing team admin or something and she has assured me that won't happen - she won't tell anyone higher up until I'm ready to and said she would protect me from having to fly if I'm not ready for it (and forbade me from any travel before 12 weeks anyway).

She advised me that I could have time off for all antenatal appts and care and didn't have to book it on my timesheet as holiday and that this was in law. And said that as long as she was in a job she would protect my position in the redundancy rounds (she'd do this for all her staff but I think she wanted to reassure me that I wasn't expendable now).

All round she's been brilliant, and I don't feel like I have to pretend too much at work - plus if something goes wrong there will be less to explain.


Have got a scan booked for 1st September - it seems like *such* a long time away - five weeks! Apparently it should already be about 9mm long now and have a heartbeat

Good on your boss Kelli Those are very reasuring things to hear I'm sure.

Hear, hear

Sounds like a wonderful boss.

You couldnt send her to Royal Mail could you Kelli?

Why, you got some news to share Fb?

It is *very* reassuring to know I don't have to 'manage' my manager over this

Oh, and *such* a difference from my previous boss! Very glad the re-org came in time for this...

!

I meant just in terms of a boss actually being nice and thoughtful!

in an interested and supportive way

Kelli, your boss sounds like a gem...

Actually, now that they (sort of) know and the spectre of travel isn't looming, won't this lower your stress level from the get-go? Hope so!

SC

She is being great but is in a really difficult position. The higher-ups want us in Galway from monday, until the end of november! She has done things so that I don't have to be there until the end of my first trimester (actually a pity because I'm going to miss lots of interesting stuff) as she really thinks I shouldn't travel until then, but will probably have to be out there for the whole of the second trimester.

I'm a bit scared about this to be honest, what if something goes wrong? I'm really going to miss being with j at this time too.

Gah. Am feeling a bit tearful right now.

First a big congratulations on your lovely news. And big

No wonder you are feeling tearful at the thought of being away from home at this time.

When the time comes you can always enlist the help of your midwife, she may be able to find a medical reason that means you can't fly during this time. Like an extreme case of nesting . Mine was really great at spotting when things were getting too much for me and helping me out with some time off. She booked me on an extra long course of antenatal classes on a Friday afternoon to help me get some rest towards the end of my pregnancy when I was feeling huge and really tired. My boss had been extremely obstructive-I was the first pregnant lady work had encountered and they didn't play by the rules. At first I was made to take holiday time off for appointments. But my midwife soon sorted that out.
The best advice she gave me was to enjoy my pregnancy. It really is the most wonderful time. Oh dear I've made myself all cluck cluck again

we just had an all-hands meeting where the underlying message was that they are going to flog us for the next 8 months or so, to get a project in, then outsource our jobs to india. This *is* going to happen, I'm going to lose my job while I'm on maternity leave with not much possibility of getting another at anywhere near the same levels of pay afterwards. Wanted to come back p/t but I can't see any employer being happy to take someone on with a small baby on a part-time basis unless they were already a member of staff.

f~~kbo??oc$$shit^u^ts

Oh Kelli, what a worry for you. Rasing children is so expensive, and now to have your future income potential affected like this.

I'm not familiar with the cost of child care in the UK, but in my area it is so expensive that many mothers spend so much on it that it is hardly worth working.

My sister-in-law works exclusively from home now. Not because of having small chiildren, but as a lifestyle choice and because she is painfully shy and has a hard time with office politics. Anyway, with your skills, I would think you could design a job like that for yourself.

Here. That's sparkling grape juice, by the way, not the real thing.

Kelli, so sorry to hear!

And they're shipping your lot over to Galway to break the news to Ireland, maybe? Where are *their* jobs going?

Keep your chin up, you're going to come out of this okay -- both of you!

SC

Kelli I am so incensed on your behalf. How miserable for you. .

Oh, this is all so unfair on you and J! I'm shocked at your bosses, shocked, I tell you!

Hoping and wishing for lovely things for you, and J, and little one.

Thanks for the group outrage! The upshot of this is that everyone is far less amenable to being shipped out and messed about generally. I've refused to spend the whole of october over there and have cut back some other dates too.

We went through our finances at the weekend and came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be the end of he world if I do get made redundant - we can manage financially but it does mean that J won't be able to consider getting a (less well paid) job more locally We won't be able to finance my parents to move nearer to us either, but that will be less pressing if I don't have to work.

Ugh.

We told his parents at the weekend. They seemed very pleased at the news. His mum's first comment was 'I must tell my brother!' and I had to ask her not to until after we've had our first scan...

*sigh* Feeling a bit teary and blue today. Have just realised that it is our first anniversary this weekend. Don't think we are doing anything to celebrate, and I'm not going to be able to drink any of the that we got for the wedding that we set aside for anniversaries Don't get me wrong - I'm delighted to be pregnant, I just wish I didn't feel so tired or that I could have a drink to celebrate our anniversary. I'm sure J will have one.

*sigh*

Why don't you save the champagne to toast the birth of the baby? And you could celebrate your anniversary with some sinful dessert you normally don't have. Treat yourself.