After ascertaining that the desperation wasn't because she didn't trust me to handle the work but because she knew how this would impact my commitments to family, farm and writing, I agreed. And panicked just a little because I wasn't sure what I'd committed to. It's been fifteen years (give or take) since I resigned my last away-from-home position and that wasn't office work. Sensing second thoughts, my SIL reassured me that I'd only have to "answer the phone and do a bit of invoicing." How hard could that be?
Harder than I thought, as it turned out, since invoicing started with deciphering handwriting on job cards along with the auto-electrical jargon and parts numbers. Phone-answering often involved chasing down (physically) mechanics and hauling them (physically) to a phone. Sort of.
But in the end, I thoroughly enjoyed my month working nine to five. These are my top five reasons why.
1. I knew there was an end date and Marg would be back to fix my mistakes. With a beautiful gift from Prague.
2. Knowing I had to be out the door at 8.25am meant I had to be organised and stick to a routine to get everything done. I was more organised, wasted less time, got things done more efficiently.
3. People. Talking to them, laughing with them, getting to know them. In real life. There's a lot to be said for that.
4. I now have copious notes that will assist my writing of small town fiction, and an enthusiasm to write something along those lines.
5. The commute also helped with my writing/plotting. Driving time = thinking time and for an hour each day by five days by four weeks my mind wandered down various fictional paths. It helped that my commute looked something like this (peaceful, huh?)
So tell me: what do you like best about your job, whether in the home or at the end of a commute?
Bron, those photos are gorgeous! No wonder you enjoyed your commute. One of the things I've liked about being an author is that there's no commute, but now I'm thinking that scheduled dreaming time is priceless.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to your small town fiction already!
You know, the driving time really was one of my favourite parts of this past month. If not for the price of petrol, I would jump in the car and go for dreaming drives more often!
DeleteLook at that canola! Truly sigh-worthy and I can see why you enjoyed your commute, Bron. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love being an author but I do miss that daily interaction with people in a 9-5 job -- especially with co-workers. You can't sit beside someone for 8 hours a day without getting to know them and getting a little caught up in each other's lives.
That canola...it goes on and on and on and on. Thousands and thousands of hectares. Beautiful.
DeleteMostly I think I'm cut out to be a hermit but I really did enjoy working with -- and getting to know -- these guys. I miss that daily interaction.
I like being able to do my job in my pajamas. Although that's probably not something I should admit out loud. But what the hell, it's 11.30 right now and I'm still in them so I might as well be out and proud!
ReplyDeleteHmm, maybe I need to get some day writing pajamas? Then I'll at least feel like I've made the effort to get out of my night ones?
Love the pics and I'm with Rach - small town fiction by Bron Jameson? Where can I pre-order??
Embarrassing when visitors catch you out but otherwise I'm very cool with working in comfort. In my house pyjamas are known as "Mum's work clothes." If only that made them tax deductible because I have quite a collection. :-)
DeleteFlattered by the pre-order request. Thank you!
Hi Bron! Hi LoveCats! Just swinging by from the deadline cave to welcome you to one of my favourite places on the web and to say I'm looking forward to reading your posts. And good on you, taking on the 9 to 5. I have to say I love working from home - the hours are really long, longer than paid work, but there's something about being able to set your own schedule. And I love going to work in my PJs!
ReplyDeleteI know how early you start work, Anna -- and how many hours you put in -- so pyjamas are definitely apropos. All the best with killing that deadline. The best thing: it means another Anna Campbell for us all to read. Score!
DeleteHi Bron, lovely to have you here! I must say I do love my writing job, I love the flexibility of being here for my family and not having to commute, but there is something to be said for regular human interaction. Writing can be a lonely job at times and I do miss that watercooler chatter!
ReplyDeleteYep, the water-cooler effect. That's it in a nutshell, Louisa. We do have Twitter and Facebook -- the social media water-coolers -- but they're not quite the same, are they?
DeleteHi Bron,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. What a timely post! I'm just looking at the possibility of giving up my part time job away from home and being here full time instead. There are pros and cons for both, aren't there? The thing I enjoy best about the job is the people - some lovely colleagues, and as you say, so nice to interact with 'real' people. I'm sure too, that the need to be on time contributes to me being organised. I have dreams of being organised when left to my own devices and sometimes I am, but a bit of structure is such a good thing.
Lovely to have you here, Bron!
You may notice that I didn't mention the cons, Annie, although in this case they were few. The biggest pro: that one-month end date.
DeleteAll the best with your decision-making, Annie. It is a big one.
Bron, that sounds challenging but fun at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I like the best in my current job is the flexibility it gives me around university. However, having said that I've currently been in my job for about 8 years so I'm looking forward to new jobs and adventures once I have my degree (in Political Science) at the end of this year.
I am wondering why I'm imagining lots of post it notes in your car from ideas that would have popped in during the commute or during the day though.
Ooh, Lyn, you are VERY close to the end of your studies and the adventures of a new career. How exciting!
DeleteLOL at the post-it notes. We had a driver in Hawaii who ran his hire-car business fro, the driver's seat. He *did* have the notes all stuck to his sun-visor and side window. I am not that good at multi-tasking but write a lot of notes when I stop. Sometimes I have to pull over the write something down before it's gone.
Hi Bronwyn
ReplyDeleteI have to drive only 10 mins to work and back not enough thinking time LOL and yes I love being able to talk to people and these days that is all I like about the job I have worked at the same place for 24 years although I have had a few different jobs I am now the cas office supervisor and I must say the pressure is on and wokr is not a joy anymore bring on retirement and then I will have so much more time to read :)
Have Fun
Helen
24 years. That is epic, Helen, and I hope that the retirement you so look forward to is not too far off. So you can enjoy many more books.
ReplyDeleteBron, I too can't wait for your small town story!
ReplyDeleteI gave up my part time job last year but really missed the interaction with other people so this year I've gone back as a day relief high school English teacher. It means that I get to choose when I work and how often, and when I am there I'm talking about my favourite subject - books! When I'm on deadline I can just spend my days writing too so I have the best of both worlds, I think :)
Hi Barb
DeleteIt really does sound as though you have the best of both worlds. How cool is that? (Love that your new job involves talking books -- that would be my dream job as well!)
Bron, I related to soooo much of your post! About 6 years ago, was in a similar situation with a friend needing an admin person to fill in when she went on holiday. It was all sorted but then the person who was going to fill in broke her leg! So at very short notice and with much arm twisting ('coz it was work I'd never done and I hadn't worked for years at that stage!) I filled in for the three weeks my friend was overseas. I enjoyed it! Now 6 years later, and I have a part-time position there. I look back on those three weeks with great fondness and a little shiver because now I realise how much I didn't know! LOL
ReplyDelete"Road-time" can be great for thinking! Actually, my favourite planning time for writing is as a pillion passenger - I think the motorcycle helmet might be my thinking cap!
I'm looking forward to that small-town story, too!
Wow...and SNAP! (Although I suspect that if I were asked to come on board with a part-time position, I would pass. Just too many other things happening.)
DeleteLOL at your thinking cap. Whenever I see a pillion passenger with helmet, I'll think of that and smile.
(Gosh, I'm going to have to get onto that small-town story.)
Hey, Bron.
ReplyDeleteI've got two part time jobs (not including the writing) so I love the variety, although getting Annual Leave from both at the same time can be tricky. One is for a research library, so always interesting, the other is church admin, so interesting in other ways! With the research, I get to write about heritage for blogs etc, and have even managed the odd romance-related blog post, so like Barb, can combine the interests. Pretty good!
Joanne, having a job relating to your interests is definitely the best. Yay. Commiserations on the problem of getting annual leave from both jobs at the same time. Hope the planets align and it can be managed..
ReplyDeleteWow Bron, what a wonderful sister-in-law you are! Sounds like you enjoyed the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI find the best thing about being a writer is the ability to work anywhere and at any time.