Five Days of Unemployment

I skipped out of the Bastard Bank data centre at ten past five this afternoon, a spring in my step, the weight of the world off my shoulders, looking down the tree lined tram line into the future. Though I am going to miss the people - I met some great ones there. I'm not going to miss fogey radio over the loudspeaker, the previously monotonous work (which did get better after a bit) and the isolation of being just that little too far out of town.

It felt like bliss.

The other good thing to happen today - it appears I've got myself a contract, starting on Monday with a new consultancy. The paperwork is on it's way, but the job is there.

So what am I going to do with my time off? Slep in? Relax? Go away?

No such luck.For the next five days I want to achieve the following:

Finish editing that book.
Get on top of the Greek Travel page I've got on
Clean the flat
Put some crap on Ebay
Train for at least an hour a day
Have a massage on Saturday
Go go to Blarney's tenth birthday party (Blarney was born on 29 February - hence she's ten)
Have lunch with my old Tin Can, String and Whistle team
Have dinner with some mates
Dream group
Go to the consultancy Professional Development session.
Finish my current novel.
Read the book for book group next week.

That will do for a start.

So tomorrow morning, sleep in? No such luck. I'm off to Blarney's at the crack of dawn. One of the boys is in hospital with a virus (he will be fine, just has to stay in overnight, poor lamb). As luck has it, Blarney has a business commitment she has to make, Barney is staying at the hospital with Chance - so I'm off to take care of Lance and wait for the arrival of their grandfather, who's making a mercy dash from Tasmania to help out for a few days.

Tomorrow morning, I'm going to be looking after Lance for the morning, providing tubs of yogurt at regular intervals, pushing round trucks and reading books.

And being really honest, as much as I'd love a lie in, knowing I can help a friend feels good. If the shoe was on the other foot, I'm sure Blarney would do the same for me.

Well, at least it's something different - a change is as good as a holiday.

And this is a change with cat time attached - can't moan about that.

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