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Redundancy is finally here. To say I am pleased is a understatement. I was originally offered this in 2011, but instead I was moved to another company into a role and team that I was not where I wanted to be. However I was expecting my redundancy to be my year. I was going to go off and travel and see all the places that I have dreaming about. But life is never what you expect. Having rheumatoid arthritis also meant that I am still not well enough to travel to those far away places.

My office was put at risk in January 2018. With a proposed end date of autumn 2018 when we all would have left. I was signed off in February 2017, and again this February 2018 until August 2018. When I had my first redundancy meeting, I was asked when I wanted to leave. And my honest answer was ‘as soon as possible’. A week later, I was offer the opportunity to leave under a ‘early release’ programme. Where I would have to waive my three months notice period. This was when it got messy with family and friends thoughts. But since the 1st February 2018, I stopped getting sick pay. So when my manager phoned with a figure which included my holiday payment from 2017 added. I thought long and hard about this with a few sleepless nights and I thought I do not want to go back there.

Back in 2011, I had previously worked when work had left our office and people had left. I do not mind leaving now and not experiencing that toxic environment. I am more than happy to concentrate on eating better, mindful of my mental health. Taking things slowly, I have enough money for a year not to work and an agreement with my husband that I will have to return in 2019. I have agreed to look for a part time job.

I hope to travel to a few places, but I am planning to start out by having a clear out in my house. Doing days out, I hope to explore some beaches around my area being the South East of the UK. I hope to be able to return to London and catch up with friends. And later in the summer, look to go abroad to Europe and hopefully beyond later on this year. This all depends on whether my health improves. I still can not leave my house independently. But fingers crossed this improves !