A BUMPY START TO THE YEAR.
2017 began with me running around the Kentish countryside, in the middle of the night, dropping off bundles of newspapers to newsagents and petrol stations, seven days per week. It seemed like a good idea at the time, how wrong I was.
Having to sleep all day, just so that I could function with some degree of clarity at 2 am, had an enormous impact on my life. It meant that as I was getting home, Rhona was heading out of the door on her way to work. We managed to steal a couple of hours together as a family in the evening, before I had to head off to bed at 8 pm, just to “top up” on my sleep.
I became grumpy and irritable, unable to shake off the constant tiredness that I had been feeling. On paper it all looked like a superb idea, the money was OK and the hours appeared to be workable. The problem was finding time to do my day job. Getting Karta to school, running errands, doing housework, my freelance work and cooking meals all began to suffer. Opportunities were coming my way, and so I found myself having to make a decision. Do I continue, have some regular income and no life, or do I quit and concentrate my efforts on the search for a better solution?
I had time to re-evaluate. My thoughts went back to my original plans for this coming year, and how they had been put on hold as I skidded my way around the frozen lanes and back roads to the east of Canterbury. Developing my web & graphic design skills, improving my photographic skill set and ramping up my efforts as a stay-at-home parent are more likely to improve my life and the lives of my family. Being fulfilled in the work that I do is so important. It helps me to find my centre and ultimately makes me a better husband and father.
After making my mind up to move on from the night driving job, I’ve had issues with trying to extricate myself from the contract. Even though nothing was signed and I have been working as a self-employed contractor, I was told that I had to give a months notice?! Verbal agreements aren’t worth the paper they’re written on, someone once said that I think. They were only half right. It took a lot of wriggling, but it’s now looking like I’m out of it. Fingers crossed on that, but suffice to say; I won’t be entering into any contract with anyone without having the terms written down and signed by both parties.
So, onwards and upwards. As soon as I’m 100% sure that the night job is over, I’ll pour all of my energy into Full Gas Foto and Secret Agent Projects. I know I won’t ever make millions of pounds doing what I do, but as long as I got satisfaction and paid a decent fee for my efforts, I’ll be happy.
Until next time, adieu!