Having written this weeks blog post I wondered whether to post it or not. I'll warn you now that it flicks around and wanders off on random tangents more than normal and seems to be a bit more introspective than I normally aim for. However, I tend to write what flows from my fingers, with as little subsequent editing as possible, (shut up at the back) and as such it's hopefully more of an insight into me and where my minds at (or been) than a carefully composed and edited article. Either way, this weeks ramblings are below and I'm sure a more normal service will resume next week. It's been a funny old week, mainly because for the first time since before I left school I haven't got a job to go too. Granted it's by choice, I just couldn't do what was being asked of me in the time allocated any longer, and as far as I'm concerned there is more to life than working your tits off, whilst getting nowhere with it. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from work shy and I'm quite happy to work 24 hours a day if that's what's required. But, and it's a big but, there's got to be a point to it and it's got to be making things better, not just treading water whilst struggling to stay afloat. Here I am then, for the first time in 30 odd years, a man of leisure, or shall we say "man without portfolio". I've got a couple of irons warming gently in the fire so my leisure time hopefully won't be permanent (much as I would like it to be) but I can't see anything happening this side of the new year. It's not the best time of year to be sat at home (or the best time Covid restrictions wise) but I'm going to try and make the most of my time. There's project patio on the go, plus there's always plenty to do around the house and allotment, and if all else fails there's always running and playing out to occupy my time. So, what have I been up to with all my spare time this week? Well, for a starters it's taken most of the week to stop thinking about work. There's been that constant nagging feeling in the back of my mind that the phones about to ring, or that I need to be checking my E Mithers. I guess that's just years of ingrained learning, that my minds struggling to forget, or can't believe it doesn't need to be worrying about for the time being? I guess it will take a few weeks for it to slip away, just as it's taken a few weeks for my mind to stop constantly thinking about work when I've been running or cycling. It had got to the point where work was my preoccupying thought, no matter what I was doing, and since deciding that enough's enough, that's slowly slipped away back into my subconscious. I first noticed it when I was out on my bike a couple of weeks ago when I thought, "what can I think about now to pass the time". Followed rapidly by "That's weird, I've been constantly thinking about work recently"! And you know what, it's a lovely feeling to have got back. Just being able to let your mind wander again whilst subconsciously working the pedals, or listening to your rhythmic breathing whilst running. This is how life should be, the opportunity for quiet contemplation or daydreaming, not constant worry and stress. Our bodies are designed for running, manual labour and hard work in the outdoors. Not being constantly bombarded by telephone calls, e mails and the other stresses of modern life. You can't keep your brain active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which is what modern life seems to think we need. It's not surprising everyone's stressed out, angry and on edge all the time. I know I have been and it's time to do something about it, take a step back and slow down! I've been busy doing bits and bobs all week, putting my affairs back in order and throwing away the reams of paperwork and detritus that modern "paper free" working generates. And that's another downside that were all going to realise pretty quickly as we all start working from home more and more. You just can't get away from it. When you work from an office or site, you get to 5 O'clock, shut the door and works gone until you go back the next day. When your working from home, the pile of works still sat there looking at you as you eat your tea, the phones still ringing when your on leave, and the E mails are still arriving whilst your trying to do the ironing. And this is progress? How? I'm no fan of the union movement, in fact I think they shot themselves in the foot by going too far. But, they spent a lot of years campaigning and fighting for better working conditions, shorter hours and workers rights. Yet here we are, all willingly giving up those hard earned freedoms to work from home. Yes, we may have done away with the commute, but its at the expense of 24 hour availability, reduced overheads for companies and a massive reduction in social interaction for one of the the most sociable species on the planet. If you want my opinion (which you probably don't) we're heading for a fall and the only people benefiting from working from home is big business. Remember, when your sat shivering in your back bedroom office, because your now paying for the heating, or you've got RSI from trying to type on a laptop at your kitchen table, that this is what we wanted! Right, enough, lets get this back on track. No one wants to read the random ramblings of a mad man! As I was trying to say, before getting sidetracked, I've probably been busier this week than when I was at work, but at least I feel like I'm achieving something and I can sit down at the end of each day and say "I made this, or I did that, or look at what I achieved today" and that's a good thing in my book. In between a bit of running, a few bike miles and dodging the rain showers, I've made a bit of progress on project patio. The foundations that I laid at least 4 weeks ago have now finally got a few layers of bricks on them and I've started on the next walls of the raised beds. This has to be the first phase of works as I need somewhere to relocate all the soil that's going to be coming out of the next bit, so there is a method in my madness. I'm quite happy to admit that digging out the foundations at the start of the week was bloody hard work. The grounds absolutely sodden and digging into the heavy clay subsoil was an absolute nightmare. Even chopping it out with a pick and mattock was hard, and as for shoveling it, well, either I'm getting old, or I'm not as fit as I thought I was! As the keen eyed amongst you will no doubt have spotted my bricklaying skills are more "Generation game" standard than "Auf Wiedersehen Pet", so it's slow going, and I'm constantly trying not to do too much for fear of injuring myself. With my child's wrists (and ankles) it's a constant game of doing as much as I can without overdoing it. I know they're a weak point. If "The Emma" does up the jam jars I cant get them open again, and it's not unusual for me to be sat staring at my un-marmaladed toast when she gets in as I'm too feeble to open the jam jar! As I often say to new people up at the allotment, little and often is the key. You don't eat all the veg in one sitting, so you don't need to do all the digging in one session either! If you try and do too much its overwhelming and you end up hurt. I'll get there though, I've got time on my side for a few weeks now, so we should continue to see some progress. Of course what I really need is someone to do the hard work for me, whilst I supervise and pass on my skills and knowledge. Someone in their early 20's with time on their hands would be ideal. I keep on hinting, but it's not getting me anywhere, guess I'll have to just keep on doing my own graft! In totally unrelated news, I've noticed the abundance of Sloes on the bushes this year. I suspect that there's some old wives tale that will tell us it signifies the end of the world or some such. Whatever it signifies I've never seen such prolific fruiting.
Hopefully I'll get the time to get my thick gloves on and grab a couple of bagful's whilst I've still got the chance. Sloe Gin, sat in front of the fire is one of life's little pleasures on a cold winters day.
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
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