Six week review

I’ve been in my new role for 6 weeks. It’s been an amazing 6 weeks. After spending the first three weeks shadowing a wonderful colleague i flew solo in my 4th week. The work is amazing and very varied. Anything from issuing a parking permit to “Gateway sign ups”. These are part of an EU scheme where our country has to take 750 refugees each year from refugee camps across the world (i’d hate to have to be the person making the decision as to who gets to go and who has to stay). The person i signed up to a council house tenancy had been in the country just 18 hours. They’d come from a camp in Kenya after fleeing Ethiopia. They were 18 years old and knew no one here in the UK. When they left Kenya it was 40 degrees C here in the UK it was 12. It was really humbling to meet them and be the person giving them keys to a new and safe home. I hope never to be in their shoes.
The team i work with are fantastic. The day i got stuck in the lift proved what a good bunch they are. I even had the entire security team anxiously waiting outside the lift doors. Well i passed my review with flying colours. A long list of positives from my boss and no negatives. It’s funny how people have the perception that my job is hellish (I’ve not met anyone yet who hasn’t passed a negative comment on it), yet i love it. I love the work, the customers and the team. It’s also wonderful to be permanent. Embarrassingly i’m up for an award at work for staff member of the year. I thought it was an error at first, but no apparently not. Out of 1,100 employees i am one of eight nominees. I have an award ceremony on the 8th December, where the winner will be announced. I hate being the focus of attention so this will be quite hard. There will also be food.
I’d naively thought that as soon as i got work sorted my eating would magically fall in to place. It hasn’t. I had a harsh reality check when my uniform arrived. I’d ordered size 8 (uk) and it fell off me. I’ve re-ordered the smallest size but i’m not hopeful that it will fit. The uniform reminded me of how much weight i need to gain to be a normal size. Ouch.