Dear Shelley

I had a really bad day yesterday and awoke this morning with a pessimistic feeling of doom regarding my job situation. I received the minutes of a meeting I had with my Line Manager which was carefully written in favour of the management, totally missing out a pertinent point I made which was the basis of the meeting. I think I am being distracted and affected by the unfairness of it all. Thirty years of service with consistent 'A's in my appraisals count for nothing now as does the fact that I continually reported to my Line Managers (eight over the period in question) since moving to this new building that it was affecting my illness which eventually caused the absence. I have still to see my Trade Union representative who was also at this meeting to see how I reply to this. It is all causing me great stress on top of everything. The point is that I am stuck with this Line Manager who is inexperienced and covering himself to the hilt.

Therefore I was ever so glad to get your reply and will certainly heed your advice. I have managers who want me to transfer to their commands but cannot take on any staff at the moment because of head counts etc. I will follow my gut as you say. I am going to speak to a manager today about a six month project she wants me to get involved in but it still doesn't solve anything long term. I have been praying, trying to be positive and happy- maybe I have been hoping for specifics as I could only see one solution- to be accepted by the Hardship Committee. The fact is that if I have passed the Hardship criteria there will hopefully be more than one option. My fear is that it will make no difference.

The problem for me is that I do not have any control. I need to see that although right is on my side it is making no difference.
I will therefore do as you say. I definitely need some peace. This has gone on for so long now and it's taking it's toll. I was laughing last week about the whole thing as it has become such a farce! It was great to laugh and I thought I had turned a corner and 'me' had returnred. I'm trying not to slip too far back.

I have people in my life (home and work)who are frustrated as they want to help to resolve this but also have no control other than to be supportive.

Shelley your advice is clear and very intuitive. I will put it all into practice as soon as I turn off this computer.

Thank you once again and sorry for the long post but I think typing this out has also been helpful.

Warmest regards and best wishes from Bonnie Scotland. Sun's just come out - think that can only be a good sign!

Tricia xx