One man and his job

One of the best things about the kind of work I do is that I have a lot of time off. Being a musician, a day’s ‘booked’ work can often begin around 3 in the afternoon and finish around 9, and involve plenty of time off in between. Also working part-time in education means I’m home around 3pm most working days.

Add to that the long summer holidays and frequent half terms, and you’re probably beginning to think I have the perfect career.

But there is a problem. I’m not the best at time management as illustrated in my blog on a day off. When I’m busy I seem to manage my time perfectly. Things get done, admittedly at the last minute, but they do get done. The problem is when I have long periods of time and nothing much to do.

This week is half-term, and by the hand of a laughing fate-devil, the lovely Sarah had her’s last week so I have most of this week to use wisely alone. Today has gone perfectly: cycling, errands, trip to the farm shop, practice, cook lasagne, relax. The thing is, Sarah’s been home today so really I cheated. I just know that tomorrow isn’t going to go quite so efficiently. I’ve bought ‘The Sims’, it’s going to rain so no cycling, I’m cooking for one so no extravagent lasagne, and I’ve got a few good books waiting to be read. So that’s the writing on the wall then, I’ll be here tomorrow with nothing to show for my day.

I have a ‘to do’ list for this week, which includes in no particular order looking up places to visit in Norway, changing my Morgenstern’s profile, arranging some music for colleagues, washing the car, sorting out my ISA, tidying up, taking the contents of a rucksack to the clothing bank, hiring a car for Jersey, and about a million other things. How much will get done? I wouldn’t like to say, but it’ll probably be near to nothing.

Why don’t I get things done? Why haven’t I blogged for a week?

As an illustrative example, we have to look to space. Yesterday I watched Top Gear and was captivated by them trying to launch a Robin Reliant into space. Fantastic television. Very relaxing. So relaxing I could’t bring myself to come and write anything. Then this evening I’ve been stunned by the engenuity (possibly mixed with stupidity) of one British man’s idea of putting a giant, 20m ton sunshade into orbit to reverse global warming. So much so, it’s now an hour after I sat down to write something. Those British inventors with names like Bill and Bob working in leaky sheds in the North East are actually preventing me from doing anything!

Is anyone else as bad at using their free time? Is there some kind of award I can go and collect? Actually, forget that. I’d probably miss the ceremony because I was wasting away reading about an idea to put smurfs on trains, or put a big sombrero over the Arctic…