Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Jack of all trades...

...Master of none. That's me, evidently. Plus I learnt today that I'm not pigeonholeable. And people like to pigeonhole. Hence, I can't get a job.

Panic is starting to set in, with me facing my very own economic crisis, with little likelihood of a bailout. Perhaps I could be nationalised? I don't think I'd mind that...

Anyway, that's enough of my woes. I want to avoid writing too much about being unable to find a job, but it's obviously occupying most of my waking thoughts at the moment...

I'm hoping to gain inspiration for a new career from the things I'm doing to occupy my time. I'm thinking of trying to compile crosswords - does anyone know if there's money in that...? How about wordsearch...?

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

G'day? Good evening!

I'm just back from an evening at the theatre. Mum had bought tickets to Circus Oz - she was going to take Thomas, forgetting that she'd be away, so I got to go instead.

I'm not normally such a circus fan - when you've seen one juggler, acrobat, tight-rope walker, etc... However, this was a good twist on the classics, with a lot of comedy thrown in. The funny stuff was interspersed with some truly breathtaking acts. The jugglers juggled a lot very quickly, the acrobats were incredibly athletic and graceful (and STRONG!) and the tight-rope walker... Well, he was an old man, desperate for the loo and out of toilet paper. That's the kind of show it was. Add in a contortionist in a small tank of water, some tumbling red kangaroos and an unusual (but excellent) orchestra, and you hopefully get the picture that this was no ordinary circus.

They're in Woking for the rest of the week, so catch them if you can - it's well worth it.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Well, I was getting bored with my view anyway...

I arrived home today to the sound of chainsaws and chippers. The tree behind my flat was being felled. (Felled sounds too grand for such a little tree, but I couldn't think of the correct term...)

Considering how difficult it is to get the council to cut back trees that are blocking pavements, or getting rid of weeds that are blocking drains and destroying tarmac, this little tree must have been a real menace to society. Perhaps the borough has exceeded its leaf quota this year.

I don't have a proper picture of the tree itself, but here is the area to the right of the tree. You can just see a few of its bare branches on the left edge of the picture.



And this is the Crouch Oak. It's to the left of the ex-tree.















So, just imagine the area in between these two pictures, imagine a nice little tree with very bright green leaves, and now imagine it gone.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Is it that time already?

I've now been off work for 6 full months. SIX MONTHS!!

I'm not quite sure how I've managed to get away with it, or how the time has gone so quickly. Now and again I think I should have used the time more wisely (tidying up, or something) but mostly I think what a lovely break it's been. Despite feeling a bit anxious now about getting another job (or, rather, not getting another job), I'm still enjoying the overriding sense of being free!

Interestingly, I haven't been ill once since I finished work - not even a cold. I've had little niggly under-the-weather days, mostly through lack of sleep, but they've been few and far between. As an employed person I would get a nasty cold at least 3 or 4 times a year. Of course, I'm tempting fate now and will be coughing and sneezing like a good 'un any day!

I wish I had something inciteful to impart after all this time of soul-searching and navel-gazing. But I haven't. Mainly because I haven't searched my soul or gazed at my navel very much. I've done nothing at all about finding myself, either because I'm not lost, or I'm still counting to 100. In fact, if anything, I've confirmed things that I already knew about myself: the reason I don't get things done is not because I don't have time, it's because I don't really want to do them; I can get bored very easily when I'm doing things, but I can do nothing for hours and not get bored; I hate routine and long-term predictability, but I like to plan ahead.

I realise I'm rambling. I half expected to be struck by something profound whilse writing this post and reflecting on the last half year of freedom. But I can't be that deep when all it comes down to is the fact that I'd rather not have to work for a living. And I know I'm not alone there, but am really lucky to have had the chance to take this much time out from real life. Any time now I really ought to get back in the rat race...

Monday, September 01, 2008

White (no sugar) thanks

I have a bit of an aversion to coloured toilet paper. I won't give it house room. My toilet paper has to be white. I could probably just about live with a cream-ish colour (but not if it's too yellow) if I had to. If there was some kind of shortage. Or green, funnily enough. But definitely not pink. Or blue.

Oh, but don't let that put you off inviting me to your house for tea. If you have non-white toilet paper (probably because you'd run out and that was all they had at the corner shop), I won't mind one bit. I'll probably just wait 'til I get home, to be on the safe side. So I won't have that second cup of tea, thank you anyway.