One of Life's Little Reminders

I normally abhor triteness, even when it happens in real life. I do not believe in fate for the same reason that I do not believe that God sits up there magically plotting a destiny for all of us, so that our only response to misfortune can be "God must have a reason". (Aged 15, a song that made a great impression on me was Chris Rea's "Tell Me There's A Heaven", and if you know my family's history, you'll know why his line "That every painful crack of bone, is a step along the way..." still makes me wince 15 years later.)

Wow, this post took a heavier turn that I expected. It began as follows. I was making my way home atop my trusty two-wheeled steed after a remarkably awful day at work. No amount of thinking "It could be worse" made an impact.

Until I saw the man dressed as an enormous pair of testicles (I swear I am not making this up) outside the Newcastle Centre for Sport, promoting the importance of men checking their bits for testicular cancer.

Like I said, I don't believe in cosmic coincidences. But I do believe you can take a lesson from your life's experiences.

Even if the lesson is just that no matter how bad your job is, it's still better than being dressed as a giant pair of testicles.

Self-Identification

I'm currently using my writing skills to write up my annual newsletter to my family. Since my family keeps growing, this is something of a major enterprise, requiring racking of brains, and not a few stamps. (I have no grandparents left, but my aunts and uncles are grandparents.)

So instead, here's an article I read recently. I think I have found out what I am. (Which may not be news to anyone who knows me.)

Caring For Your Introvert

Personal Development

There's not really a whole lot I can say right now. No exciting rides, no new dives. (I bought some new bike panniers from Edinburgh Bike Coop and saw 'Chronicle', which was fun.)

At some point I'm going to have a meeting with my manager at which I think we're going to talk about "personal development". I rather wish they would call it "professional development" instead.

Because, let's be honest, I really doubt my employer is interested in my development as a person. If so, they'd be enrolling me in meditation classes, encouraging me to stop work often so I could do the exercises that might cure the back pain I've had for years, and enabling me to finish work at 5pm every night so I could have an actual personal life, and not be so knackered I drag myself to the gym, drag myself home, fall asleep before I can do anything in the house, and spend my weekends trying to frantically catch up on all the things I haven't done during the week. Lather, rinse, repeat.

No, the best thing my employer can do for my personal development is do something about my workload, and then get out of the way. I'm going to have that conversation with my manager, maybe not phrased in that way, and then we'll see where things go.

Onward.

Back Again

I should really kick this blog post off with a better title, but I'm coming up blank. Normally I mentally write the title first, then think up the post to match.

Anyway, yeah, I'm back. I went missing due to Christmas, then the need to interview for my own job. Our team is losing two posts, so we all had to reinterview.

I cannot say it was the most fun Christmas I have ever had. Although it was good to see the family again.

But I'm still working (I kept my job), still cycling (thank goodness for mild winters), and soon I'll be back diving.

Watch this space...