Reading jbooker's journal

Well, it's 16:46 (GMT+1) on Friday 27th November 2003. I'm waiting around in the office for a taxi to take me to the airport.

It's been a good week, and while I've been alone in the hotel room I've had time to think. Think about life, and getting organised.

In post 15875 I went a bit manic-depressive about things that I wanted to get done and probably won't get the chance. I also said please dont rate or reply until I'd finished building the list, which any of you who follow my journal may have noticed that I haven't done.

Thinking about things while I've been here, I've decided to throw that list away, and concentrate on the basics in life.

Of course, I'd still love to write all that software, and I'd definitely still enjoy having a wireless network set up in the house as a home entertainment/automation system.

But do I really need it? No.

Take, for example the Quality Management System I wanted to produce. Do I, personally need it? No. Will I personally make any real gain from producing it? Not really, I doubt any of my software would compete with commercial-level products enough to sell them. The idea came from the need for a system at work, or rather my perceived need for it, since the company seems to think it can manage with a paper-based system.

And so, I threw the list away. I've erased my to-do list in Outlook and synched the empty list to my PDA.

One thing at a time, I say. 'Don't bite off more than you can chew' my grandmother used to say (normally right before I choked on my dinner for eating to fast - but the analogy still stands :-))

So, my new priority in life is to sort out the house. Yes, I've mentioned before (in post 15458) that I consider myself to have a good lot in life, owning my own house, paying a mortgage, paying my taxes, paying the bills (wait a minute - good lot in life?) and coming and going as I please.

But that's just it - I've been lazy, and I've let things slip. The house hasn't had nearly enough rennovation done to it (okay so I decorated the downstairs toilet. Twice.) and it's because of that fact of pride and self-satisfaction. I've been so busy revelling in the fact that I own a house I've been too lazy to make it into a home.

Things are going to change. I'm going to do something for my life, as opposed for financial benefit. I'm doing it for myself.

So, when I get back this weekend, I'm going to make a start. I'm going to put that towel rail up in the downstairs toilet. I'm going to mend the folding door to the kitchen. I'm going to go in the attic and finish putting the flooring down. And if I have time, I might just smash up some of the furniture the previous owner left behind (note - last chance for the bar - see post 14641) and take it to the dump.

You just see if I don't!

- J

They will never forget you 'til somebody new comes along... - The Eagles, "New Kid in Town"