Over the Rainbow

There’s a side to my life that I haven’t really talked about here before.  I’m not sure why, but it’s probably because I tend not to take pictures when I’m doing it and this blog is all about the picture.

I spend about 5 hours a week working for the vicar of our parish church.  I take the children to Sunday School at the church most Sundays and because of that I knew he was looking for someone to do a bit of administrative work for him.

Before I had children I was a PA (personal assistant or secretary) by trade and, when I think back to it now, I think I was probably quite a good one.  I really enjoy organising people, especially when it’s in a one to one situation.  I’m good at planning and setting things up and I’m incredibly nosy and controlling – all qualities that a good PA needs.  I can also type at some ridiculous speed (I can’t remember my wpm but I can type as fast as you speak with a 99% accuracy rate.  Yes, I am being smug.  It’s not much of a skill in the grand scheme of things, but I’m bloody good at it).

When I realised the vicar was looking for someone it seemed like too good an opportunity for me to pass up.  I was right and it has been a total win-win situation.  I got to dust off my somewhat rusty secretarial skills (unused for nearly 5 years) in a very friendly and non-aggressive environment.  He got his inbox and filing system sorted out for free.

I’m not sure which of us it was that suggested, one Thursday morning in the church office, that the church would benefit from a Brownie pack but I somehow ended up volunteering to look into it.

It turns out that our area is awash with Brownie packs but that Rainbow packs (junior Brownies – aged 5-7) are few and far between around here and the District Commissioner for our area would far rather have a Rainbow pack set up.

Not only have I looked into it, but now I’ve volunteered to run the pack.

I’m trying to see it as another string to my bow but I am mildly panicked about the amount of time it will take and the sheer amount of information that I have to soak up.  On top of planning what we’ll do each week, I’ll have to be in control of a fair amount of data, I need to appoint a treasurer, set up a bank account, keep on top of volunteers (once I’ve found some), do risk assessments, complete health & safety and first aid training, learn about small girls (because obviously I don’t know about them) and complete various courses finally leading to a Girl Guiding UK Leadership Qualification.

I will essentially become a manager of people.

Something I never thought I’d be.

I’m just a PA, after all.

I’m simultaneously excited and terrified.

And yes, I’ll keep you posted.

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