Hi everyone, I hope you’re doing well and if not I hope you’re taking care of yourself.

I come to you wishing that I could bottle my current feeling of being rested whilst also wanting to (not needing to) be productive. Yes this month is late but the time off i’ve had for easter has been so rejuvenating and I cannot express how whatever I end up doing, i’ll manage to build a life that is mostly not work to feel like this all the time.

Currently i’m holding down six jobs. Three paid (library assistant, book reviewer and exam invigilator – literally took me a minute to remember these lol) and three projects all within my PhD that officially has less than a year before I need to submit! So things are likely to only become more fractured and all over the place. When I can i’ll keep the newsletter updated, but know that I am going to start writing my thesis (even if my research isn’t completed yet) so there will no doubt be lots for me to say in the future.

Snow notwithstanding (lateness notwithstanding), spring is in the air and my overall mood and wellbeing – which is so linked to the weather – is finally improving!

💷 Finally I wanted to mention this amazing tool I found that has been my constant go-to through this process – a take home salary calculator: https://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php

I know so little about the complexities behind wages, and in the process of dealing with my debt and calculating how much I need each month, this website has been so helpful. It’s been very eye opening to realise what a wage is offering vs what will actually end up in your bank account each month.

Enjoy this short and sweet newletter with the finds below ❤

In solidarity – Karel (on behalf of the POC² team)

Discoveries ✨

📺 – Though I missed it live (I can never remember when the oscars is on) The Oscars 2023 was full of joy for some great winners!

📺 – I’ve started watching the TV series of “Tiny Beautiful Things” on the house of mouse (Disney+). Kathryn Hahn is great in it and her portrayal of a struggling person who is also a writer is what gave me the energy to finish this months blog post!

📙 – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13152194-tiny-beautiful-things – Speaking of which read the book. I read Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed a few years ago now and I loved it. Though I usually like my media to provide light escapism (life is hard enough already) this somehow got through my net. Its got sad moments yes but it is also wonderfully sincere and i’ve never forgotten it. Get it whereever books are sold, below is a picture of my copy, but also please check your local library for a copy first. Mine has one!

The POC² newsletter, The POC² Post 💌, is written by Karel Green. Find her published work + guest appearances on BBC radio here or follow her on Twitter @thisismeonline

Photo by Mark Olsen on Unsplash