progess report october 2009
This month’s report comes from a Ryanair return flight from Stockholm Skavsta (Nyköping) to London Stansted. It has already been a three hour drive from my holiday cottage to the airport and now a two hour flight. From Stansted I’ll have a train journey followed by a longish tube journey to Ealing Broadway and then a bus. All in all a full day’s travel and ample opportunity to wirte the monthly report.
As is usual at this time of year, because it’s my birthday month, it’s a time for change. A time for letting go of the past and embracing the future. One of my main concerns has been my future career and wondering if I will take up full time work as web or software developer. For about two years has this been pondered and pursued but never to a point where I can actually make the leap. Which leads me to conclude that I value my current lifestyle too much to simply abandon it in order to get a better job and work full time. I’ve decided to have one last stab at the software path before waving it goodbye.
So for now my plan is to just develop what I’ve got at least for a little while longer, perhaps another two years. So that I can prepare my jump from my current situation to the new one whatever that may be. In the meantime then I will have more classes to teach, more wheels to build and web sites to create. Better to jump when you’re really sure rather than hope for the best. For a young person that might be a suitable strategy but for me at age 41 I think I ought to be more cautious.
Riding a minimum of a 100 miles a week
This continues as normal and I imagine will continue through the winter. My rear tyre was down to the red and may even have gone on for longer. But I can’t risk getting punctures. Money is tight but not that tight.
Meditation
Much the same as usual. Seems to be quite regular and consistent. Not sure about the next step at all so I’ll just leave it like this for now.
My own yoga practice
At the beginning of October I took on a new regular yoga class which is supposed to be an intermediate level class. But so far it hasn’t been like that at all. Rather than feel like a chore it has actually inspired me to teach and to do yoga in general. I’m even considering taking on even more classes but who knows what will happen to my own practice. It’s chugging along and I’m happy with that for the time being.
Keeping in touch with friends
Spending time with clients isn’t a social life but that’s all I’ve had this month. I hope to redress the balance in November. I’ve also realised that I need to plan this a bit more or it’s not going to happen. A bit like everything else.
The wheel log
I have pretty much reached capacity with my wheels but the orders keep rolling in. I’m about a dozen wheels behind in the log and there is at least a dozen in the queue. I have also built and repaired wheels that have not been entered into the log. Add to this the forthcoming shop and you start to wonder about the reasons behind the wheel log.
De-cluttering my life
Very soon this may be becoming a necessity rather than a goal or pipe dream. As I will be starting my wheel shop I will need to store wheels that I’ve built as well as parts for others. I need to create more space. It really is hard to stop stuff coming in. We are all clutter magnets.
Relaxing & goalless activities
In October I took on a new yoga class which takes place on Wednesdays. It is also at exactly the some time as the one I teach on Tuesdays. What does this mean? It means that my week falls into three pairs of days that are quite similar. Leaving one day out on its own. That day is Saturday. So I have decided to dedicate Saturdays to be a day of reflection and rest. A time to step back from the day to day and take the long view on life. Think about the big decisions while taking a walk along the canal. And the mandatory nap of course.
Being a self-employed person I tend to flick between working and playing. Sometimes my days are structured and sometimes quite haphazard. The work always gets done but since it comes in at an unexpected rate, the amount of hours of forthcoming work is also unexpected, not to mention the income. Only the yoga classes are regular. But now, with a more structured week I can divide the work and play more effectively. Which is just a roundabout way of saying that I will relax and be goalless on Saturdays.
IT Training
As I was saying in my last report, I’m going to have one last crack at programming C. I’ve found a short 10-week course at City University. Just one evening a week. It starts at the end of January 2010. So I think I need to decide quickly before the places are booked up. The course is long enough to give me a good foundation in the language but short enough in case I decide to quit. But it will help me to decide.
I’ve also gone back to the book, “Learn C on the Mac” and found that I actually understand a bit more than I did the first time. I have been enjoying it and that is the main thing. If that part is gone then I won’t do it any more. Life is too short to focus on a career or a job purely for the money. Being absorbed and enjoying what you do is the most important thing.