the end of the middle of the beginning

There was a time, not so long ago, when I thought that my future lay in the wonderful world of IT. I was never really sure where exactly I was headed during let alone after my Multimedia and Telecommunications Engineering degree, and I thought I was happy enough to figure that bit out when the proper time came (read: two weeks after graduation). It turned out that despite having geeky tendencies and inklings of technology induced enjoyment, I discovered some time in fourth year that I wasn't cut out for that world after all.

What I never would have guessed was where I'd end up after scuttling backwards out of my degree. That was the wonderful world of hospitality. Yup, that's right, I'm one of those freaks that scored a second job waiting tables whilst studying and actually ended up enjoying it more than my office job and my course/s. Over the past few years I've rediscovered the joys (and tears) that dealing with all manner of the general public can bring, and I can't picture myself leaving this world.

So I came up with a plan. It sort of came to me in parts a year ago, when I wanted to join the Air Force Reserves as a part time cook, to get my kitchen skills up, get a heck of a lot fitter than I've ever been, and possibly get the chance to travel whilst being funded by taxpayers. I gave up on the Reserves idea for a job that was quicker to hire me, as I was particularly desperate for the money that immediate employment can bring, and the recruitment process (even for Reserves) is quite involved.

With a little more hospitality experience up my sleeve (including a proper taste of kitchen life), and a minor brush with truth, I came up with a better plan. This one came to me while I was recovering from surgery and thinking about what I was going to really do with my life. I've always had an idea in the back of my head to open up a little cafe or bar somewhere, but never really thought about it too long, because it always seemed like one of those faraway dreams. The new plan is to join the Air Force as a full time cook, save up some capital over four to six years, then convince a bank to lend me more dosh for a house and/or business.

It's all well and good to have a clear idea of what I want and a rudimentary grasp of what I need to do to get there, and as exciting as it is having figured out what I'm going to do with myself for the next few years, there's a bazillion steps between where I am now and getting to boot camp, even.

I thought that in the event I do make it as a Leading Airwoman, and then start establishing a little chunk of hospitality on my own, it could make for some interesting writing and/or reading. Heck, if I fail miserably, I could probably salvage a heap of this for my memoirs and make a few bucks selling my story to some crazy publisher.