carminamasoliver

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #165

This week I’ve had a couple of work video calls and might get a new student all being well, though video calls aren’t usually part of the process. My trial lesson with a new student went well, but it’s not 100% confirmed to go ahead, and there might be an issue with days, so I’ll have to wait to see as it gets closer to March. Meanwhile, I’ve found some ways to get cheaper deals on food. I’ve…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #164

This week I didn’t have a great time at the job centre, and found it really stressful and unsupportive. It kept me up at night as even with the financial support on top of my existing work, I’m barely covering my basic needs, let alone saving the last £2000 for my training. I’m looking into ways to make my groceries cheaper like community shops, and found a bag of mystery groceries on ‘Too Good…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #163

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #162

This week has taken its toll on me emotionally, and now physically. I write this in bed, as I hope to rest and recuperate (whilst studying) as much as possible before Monday, when I will now be running my first solo Art Therapy group. Having spoken to my fellow trainee ahead of what was meant to be our first group on Monday, I was shocked to find out that they were terminating their placement. I…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #160

Since I last updated, I have had some proper time off, which was spent with friends and family. Although my alone-time was mainly spent studying, this really is my goal from now until June. Before the break I finally submitted my Arts Council application for the fourth time. I really hope that it is successful because I have the kind of determination that just will not stop, especially having…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #159

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #158

Last week I had my appointment with Universal Credit and I ended up crying again. The system is so broken. It felt more like an interrogation than support and is a humiliating process that I wouldn’t have put myself through had someone previously made it clearer that there wouldn’t be an expectation for me to find a full-time job whilst I am committed to the students I am tutoring and providing…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #157

Last weekend was way too busy for me, and left me feeling incredibly lacking in rest and recuperation. I went to the Koestler Arts exhibition, which was very moving, especially now working in a forensic context now. I was then confronted by my experience at a poetry event at Southwark Cathedral, where I saw a poet I used to know who has a known criminal history, which included victims within the…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #156

I’m on my way to tutor two students and I just want to curl up and cry. How can someone who is working for free in the NHS two days a week, paying to train at a university one day a week, and still working freelance, have to contend with such inadequate services when claiming Universal Credit? I am so stressed and demoralised by this process that doesn’t seem to understand that my self-employed…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #155

I write this on my way to a student on a bus where someone just checked the driver was going to the shown destination, which I’d just asked when getting on. It’s a journey that takes me 45 minutes each way, so for a one-hour lesson, I’m looking forward to ending. Usually I also then have to walk half an hour to another student, but it’s half-way home, so I hope I can continue in the new year with…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #154

Last weekend, I had nothing scheduled beyond my 9am Saturday lesson and the gym. I intended to study as much as possible, putting in a total of about five hours, which doesn’t feel good enough. I did also finish writing my latest piece for The Norwich Radical and have been scheduling in some time for admin so I can gradually work through my to-list yet still prioritise reading for my…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #153

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #152

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #151

Last weekend, I was due to go to Seven Sisters for a hike, but ended up with a much needed restful Sunday at home due to the windy weather conditions. I’m hoping we will eventually do the walk, but I’d rather go in sunnier weather, so happy to postpone until next year even. I did see The Last Dinner Party with a friend from university who introduced me to them, so we got to catch up too, which…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #150

I’ve been spending every spare moment this week either applying for funding grants, attempting getting on top of emails, and going through my new to-do lists on Trello. It’s kind of like going back to my spreadsheet method but you can automate actions, for example, when you tick something off, you can automatically add it to a different list or archive it. I didn’t realise this was veggie but it…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #149

This week I started my placement and feel overwhelmed about the amount of reading I have to do and the fact that I’ve only completed one reflective art-making session, as well as an ongoing anxiety about actually meeting the patients, clients, service-users or whatever I am meant to call the people I’m working with. However, the 200-page document I was sent on experiences of psychosis is so far…

[carminamasoliver]

Freelance Reflections #148

Last weekend I saw friend and artist Natalie Cooper at the open studios at The Paxton Centre after treating myself to lunch at the Chatsworth Bakehouse, and mooched about afterwards seeing more art, before walking back via Sydenham Wells Park to see the sunset. Cheese-free pizza! Sunday was the Forest Hill Stanza, which had both familiar and new faces and managed to put me in a good mood. Aside…