I have to admit that 2022 has been a bit of a struggle for me. It is 10:30 pm on New Year’s Eve, and I am tucked up in bed with my hound. She won’t stay in the bed all night. She likes to curly up for an hour or so while I read or write. And before I turn the light out, she goes to her bed. I felt a reflection on 2022 would do me good before I drift off to sleep and welcome in 2023.
Start of the year
In 2021 I started a business with a dear friend whom I had met online at networking events. We got on well, shared the same interests, and so, Content College was born. And we had great plans for the year to grow our membership. We had so much fun planning our masterclasses, courses, and interviews.
I was still at Edventure, delivering the government Kickstart programme, which I loved. But this contract was only until September, so both Michelle and I were hoping that by that time, Content College would be able to replace the income from Edventure.
We had got a dog during the pandemic in 2020, so I was not able to head off to Europe as a tour guide. But Dan would continue guiding in the UK.
Engaging Women
Just before any election, local or national, Rosie Eliot calls an ‘Engaging Women’ meeting. The idea is to encourage more women into politics. I have been going to these events for years, but merely out of interest. Rosie got some speakers together to share their political roles and journies into politics. We heard from town, district, and county councillors and they were all really interesting.
Linda Oliver happened to sit at my table, and as the event wound down, I got chatting with her. She was a Conservative County Councillor but was stepping down due to family commitments and she encouraged me to stand at the May elections. I was intrigued, but not really interested.
But, after mulling it around in my head, speaking with friends and spending a lot of time reading about the role, I rang Linda back a couple of weeks later. And before I knew it, I had a boatload of leaflets with my face on them.
Campaigning
I had never campaigned before. I had no idea what to do. But the support I got from the Somerset office was invaluable. Door-knocking petrified me. But, I just had to get on with it if I stood a chance of winning. I had the most wonderful support from across the border in Wiltshire and from the offices of MPs in the South West. It really was overwhelming to have all this help from complete strangers.
But it all paid off as I got elected to the seat of Somerset County Councillor for Frome North. I was in shock, but really excited to learn about the role and get stuck in.
Walking away
The first 6 months of the role were incredibly intense. I had training sessions online almost every day (and some days more than one). Plus the meetings I needed to attend as part of my responsibilities at the council – parish council meetings, Frome Town Council meetings, Full County Council meetings, Adult and Social Care Scrutiny committee, and Member Development. And to learn about other departments, it was important to attend all the other committee and scrutiny meetings. Some are in-person in Taunton (which can be a 2-hour drive if the traffic is heavy) but most are online. Thankfully.
My role at Edventure was winding down, but I had quite a lot going on even though I had reduced hours. Dan was away on tour, and we have a very needy dog. My friend was struggling with life and came to spend the summer with us. And I was trying to keep my head above water with Content College.
I was just not coping. Something had to give. And so I made the very sad decision to walk away from Content College. I cried a lot. I had been so excited about the opportunities and the community Michelle and I were building, but I was killing myself.
And the summer began…
It was an incredibly hot summer and sadly did not get much time to spend in the garden. I look out of the window and see a neglected garden, which makes me very sad. But I am making 2023 the year of my garden. I am not very good at it, but I love it, and that is all that matters – to me at least.
My Australian friend Dannie spent a few days with us in Frome. We spent 3 nights in a camper van, which was a bit of a disaster. Dannie had sadly lost her boyfriend to a heart attack and was not in the very best place emotionally. We spent too many hours in the van and not much time exploring or enjoying places. By the time she left for London for the last leg of her travels, I feared our 20-year friendship was in trouble. I am worried that is still the case, so I am going to work on this relationship as much as I can in 2023.
Blog challenge
At the beginning of 2022, I set a challenge to write a blog a day. 365 blogs in a year seemed like a tough ask, and I was completely up for it. I was even a couple of months ahead of myself in the first quarter, but after I was elected into my councillor role, my life went a bit crazy and the blog dropped lower on the to-do list.
I also started a councillor blog, so at least these blog posts counted towards my challenge. But, as things stand now, just before midnight, I am just under 100 blogs short. That sounds like a real failure. But when I look at it another way, I wrote 265 blogs in 2022. And that sounds pretty impressive – does it not?
I am disappointed I did not achieve my goal, but I am giving myself until the end of March to get 365 blogs onto my website. And will then commit to one blog a week. That sounds so much more achievable.
Celebrate Southern Africa
Since 2016 (excluding the pandemic) I have run an annual market for Southern African businesses. I started out in Frome but moved across the border into Trowbridge in Wiltshire. I was thrilled to get sponsorship from Brand South Africa this year. But I was just too busy to spend as much time on the market as I had done in the past. I was able to hand most of it over to Monica Dowling (who also has a stall at the market on the day) and I paid a lady in South Africa to help with the admin.
This brand needs some serious evaluation and assessment. I need to make some decisions for 2023 which may be quite difficult.
TEDxFrome
I was contacted by a university student in London who is running her first TEDx event. She asked me about my team and how I recruited and managed it. She was shocked to hear that my team was me. I did have volunteers during the online TED series we did during the pandemic. But they seemed to vanish once I started planning the in-person event. I did have someone coach the speakers, and help with the odd tweet, but other than that, it was just me making the decisions, planning, and pulling it all together.
It’s a bit odd, but I don’t feel it was such a huge achievement. It felt so easy. I almost feel embarrassed when people congratulate me on the TEDxFrome event because it really was not difficult.
But, it was amazing to be part of the TED movement, and that makes me incredibly proud.
Lonely
I will admit I am lonely. I know friends’ behaviors have changed since the pandemic, but I feel quite isolated and alone. It may be because I look busy. Maybe people don’t think I have time for friendships. I have spent a lot of energy on others, picking up the pieces and being ‘a shoulder’. My tank is empty and I feel drained. And I don’t have friends who can be my ‘shoulder’ when I need it.
Don’t get me wrong – I love my life. But in 2022 I have had to struggle alone, which has not been great.
Finding my purpose
I am lost when it comes to jobs and/or a career. Being a councillor does not pay the bills. We get expenses, and so, unless retired or wealthy, most councillors have to have a job too. I have no idea what I am going to do in 2023 for money. The problem is that I have too many interests, and too many things I am only able to do sort-of. And I don’t have much expertise. I get bored really easily. And so, I am frustrated and feel completely useless when it comes to finding a job.
Over the last couple of months, I have applied to a few things and was sadly not given the job. I am either ‘over-qualified’ (I have two degrees and loads of certified training) or ‘not skilled enough’ according to the job specification.
I am reading a lot of personal development books, signing up for courses, and scanning the internet. But often this makes me feel even less capable.
My verdict
Overall, I have loved 2022. I got elected, and our bank accounts have something in them after the incredibly lean years of the pandemic. And, as always, I have laughed a lot. I have met some amazing colleagues at the Somerset council. And I have crocheted loads of blankets for charity, started painting on glass, and begun a baking project (more about that in 2023).
2023 is a year of new opportunities. I have a lot of projects to complete and I want to be the very best councillor I can be, and find the job I was born to do. Fingers crossed.
Happy New Year!
thanks for info.