WFH

Posted on 2007/09/21 23:17:20 (September 2007).

[Thursday 20th September]
I decided to work from home today, a decision which was driven by feeling generally a bit down in the dumps. I'm not exactly sure what is at the root of my recent malaise, it seems to have been hanging around since I got back from Scotland, so I suppose it is partly just post-holiday blues. I think in particular having seen the way people lived on Islay - a place which to me is a kind of paradise, but is at the same time able to support real practical communities - the reality of coming back to all the hustle and bustle of London has actually been a bit of a shock.

Not, I feel it important to stress, that I particularly dislike London, or my job, but I guess it is at times like this when one is prompted to wonder what it is all about. A job in software engineering is such a virtual thing - I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels a sort of envy when I see people doing a job which is real and has a tangible result at the end of it - the sorts of things you're exposed to when you go to visit somewhere a bit more rural and in touch with nature. Of course, I'm realistic about this, I'm sure there's a certain amount of the grass being always greener - after a couple of weeks of working in any kind of manual job I'd be complaining about the pay and the hardships involved and so on... but still, I am working for what is arguably one of the best companies to be working for in my industry at the moment, and yet still somehow I am not 100% satisfied.

So anyway, today I worked at home, and made a start on a new project which is all my own idea (although thoroughly endorsed by my manager, I should add), and although quite closely related to the other work I've done so far in my current job, is taking it off at a slightly different tangent. I suppose this change of scenery, pace, and routine was probably very good for my state of mind longer term, although within today I couldn't quite seem to break out of that shroud of gloom.

In the evening I made tacos, filled with vegetarian chilli. I wiled away the evening watching TV shows I'd recorded again, and was glad of the mindless distraction from my current existential crisis.

Don't know whether you remember me John.. I used to comment a bit when you were still in Japan, but still like to poke my shnozz round the door of the Le Maison occasionally.. Anyway.. Hmm.. Manual Job eh John?
Let me enlighten you oh weary one..
I'm an Electrician for my sins on constuction sites..
You can't do the job fast enough.. No-one gives a toss about the next man.. It's all about lies, deceipt, false timescales and unacheivable deadlines.. You haven't got enough time to do a decent standard of work anymore.. The pay is shite considering the responsibility we've got of potentially frying some poor git or burning the place down.. The luxury toilet facilities are usualy a plastic portaloo with a stench that would turn a plate of lindenburger cheese bright green and sour.. and most of the blokes come to work 3 parts pissed or spaced out on dope..
Maybe you should stay where you are Johhny boy and be bloody gratefull.. All the best mate.. Jerry, Northants

Posted by Jerry at 2007/09/22 01:47:29.

Yes Jerry, I do remember you!

...and yes you're quite right - as I wrote above, I'm sure that after two weeks of doing any other job I'd be wanting to go back to what I know best.

Still though, I have that desire to stand back and look at something solid, like a house, or a barrel of spirit destined to be whisky one day, and think "I made that".

Posted by John at 2007/09/22 10:40:43.

The fact is that no job that doesn't come out of a passion is a good job.
My friend Matteo is crazy about what he does (computer graphics and web development), but that's what he always liked to do... Times like these happen, I am sure that it will get better!

Posted by Lox at 2007/09/22 11:03:40.

I totally agree with you Lox

Posted by Jerry at 2007/09/23 01:39:16.

Why don't you and Chie invest in a little house that you could do up?.. I'm available for "on-line" construction advice

Posted by Jerry at 2007/09/23 01:43:20.

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