My Leap of Faith ; When Work Dried Up for Writer Sally Watkin, She Was Forced to Look Outside Her Comfort Zone. So She Took On a Job As a Carer - and Had One of the Most Fulfilling Experiences of Her Life Illustration Kari Moden/Peppercookies [Eire Region]

Summary

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J anuary 2009 marked the start of my own personal recession. I've spent the past two decades (my entire adult life) writing for a living - work that, as a single mother, I can fit neatly around bringing up my two children. When I moved from the city to the countryside four years ago, I was able to continue doing the job I love by working via the internet. So it was a shock when my regular work on a parenting website dried up after Christmas. Many companies have made cutbacks in the recession, and I'm one of the casualties.

I tried not to panic and told myself something would turn up. But when it didn't, I realised it was time to look outside my comfort zone and consider other options. I was dismayed to find, however, that unless you're a qualified professional, there's little on offer apart from minimum-wage jobs such as shop work. During a quiet spell a year or so ago, I spent a day working in a restaurant, chopping vegetables and serving customers. I didn't mind the work, but the minimum wage pay was appalling.

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My Leap of Faith ; When Work Dried Up for Writer Sally Watkin, She Was Forced to Look Outside Her Comfort Zone. So She Took On a Job As a Carer - and Had One of the Most Fulfilling Experiences of Her Life Illustration Kari Moden/Peppercookies [Eire Region]

Then a friend from London rang to say that she needed someone to help look after her elderly mother, who lived alone in a village near my home. Her mother wanted to employ someone who could spend a few hours with her, three days a week (a group of devoted friends and neighbours had the rest of the time covered).

The prospect of doing something completel...

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