Kathryn McMullen:
CLASS OF 1981
Summerland Secondary High SchoolClass of 1981
Summerland, BC
Vancouver Vocational CollegeClass of 1986
Vancouver, BC
Trout Creek Elementary SchoolClass of 1976
Summerland, BC
Kathryn's Story
Life
In 1983 I moved to Vancouver to start a course at the Vancouver Community College on personal computers. Of course the irony of that was - after I finished the course - offices weren't hiring beginners but wanted people with experience. I found that really stupid as computers were just becoming a common thing in business offices, and everyone was just learning how to use them. Maybe I was just too honest and should have told them I did have more than three months experience with office pcs. Anyway, I went for the next three years without a steady job until in the spring of 1986, when I took a course again at VCC on Long Term Care and became a care aide. I was working after I finished that course, but it wasn't until 1987 that I got a permanent position at the Yaletown House Sociey intermidiate care facility. Fast forward to 2004!
By January 2004 I was suffering from burn-out. Seventeen years at a very physically and mentally exhaustive job had finally taken it's toll on me, and I wasn't getting any younger. As my doctor's pointed out to me, as I was 40 and on several different types of medication for my epilepsy and other health problems, long term care just wasn't the best thing for me. I applied for Long Term Disability and was granted that in July of 2004 for two year. This past March that grant was extended and I am now on LTD until 2028!
So with all this time on my hands I've been trying to make the best of it and do things I've always wanted to do. Last summer I spent three weeks travelling about Ireland and Scotland. Fiftee...Expand for more
nth century Bunratty Castle and it's nineteenth century Folk Park in County Clare, beautiful Glenveigh National Park in County Donegal and visiting my grandfather's rural home village of Derryoghil in County Tyrone were my favourite places in Ireland and N. Ireland. I also was able to spend an afternnoon at the Publc Records Office in Belfast doing research on my family roots and found out more interesting information on the McMullens of Derryoghill.
The historical Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Mary Queen of Scots 'hunting lodge' of Falkland Palace in the lovely village of Falkland, County Angus and it's beautiful gardens and 16th century tennis court, majestic Glamis Castle in County Angus and it's beautiful gardens, and the haunting and haunted ruins of Melrose Abbey in Melrose, Scottish Borders, were my favourite places in Scotland. But all in all the whole trip was fantastic.
The buffet that was offered to visitors at the Glamis Castle cafe, prepared by chefs hired by the Earl of Strathmore, was the best meal I had on the whole trip. The Irish and the Scottish like heavy meals and all the restaurants I went to offered only these. I found the Irish and Scottish people very friendly and the hostels I stayed at very nice. I even met some Canadians on my trip. I truly hope to visit these places again some day, and also see places I didn't have time to visit. My next plan is to visit England and in particular the West Midlands along the Welsh border, and the Cotswolds of the Thames Valley. There is so much to see than just London.
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