Graff-iti Worth Reading: Not Resting On My Laurels On Six Month Sabbatical

To date it has been 4 months since I took the monumental decision to take time off work to principally volunteer my services to work in the Charitable Events Industry.

I have no regrets over my decision especially as I am learning a great deal from my internship (funny to use that term considering that I am as old as Moses) at a charity called DM Thomas Foundation for Young People. It is a grants charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged and vulnerable young people and children transform their lives across the UK and Europe. Their website if anybody is interested in finding more about the organisation is: http://dmthomasfoundation.org/

For me there was always the imminent danger that my sabbatical could turn out in one of two ways. First as above that I find stimulating work giving me insight and valuable experience in the business of events fundraising. The second alternative that I feared, was that I did not secure any suitable position and that my time spent would be watching the Jeremy Kyle show and feasting on KFC. The only benefit after 26 weeks would be that I would be a distinguished expert on dysfunctional families who love to appear on daytime TV and possessing an elephantine backside which Kim Kardashian would be envy of. Thankfully, the latter did not materialise although I did come awfully close on occasions.

In fact the time away from the NHS has also given me the opportunity to attend the gym on a regular basis, take up a new sport in the form of squash and increase my competence on the culinary front. It's highly unlikely that I will star on Masterchef anytime soon but I can whip up a mean meat casserole if so desired. With me eating far more healthily than before combined with my spin cycling, squash and Zumba classes I have been able to shed a few pounds along the way. I confess going to Weight Watchers has also helped enormously in not becoming the size of Milton Keynes.

Overall, it has been a positive endeavour taking time off from paid employment to join the voluntary sector. Apart from not having much money thus restricting my normal routine binge on drugs, sex and rocknroll I would recommend it to anyone who has the inclination to learn something new and has the wherewithal to finance it.