Nothing

I didn't head to the library today. My local one was closed and I didn't fancy the walk to the centre of Harrow. Needless to say, my mother's endless requests prevented me from doing any writing whatsoever. Perhaps tomorrow will be better. I think this is my shortest ever post.

Day 2

Today I’m in Rayners lane library, finishing off my blog entries. Let’s put it this way, I now long for the halcyon, relatively noise free, day at Gayton Library. There are far more problems with Rayners lane Library. First, down to an incredibly bad bit of planning half of what used to be the study area is now designated as a children’s library. There may be a flimsy wall and doors between us, but I could still hear them shrieking and whooping. Not the kids fault, but bloody annoying all the same. Then there’s been someone who decided to have a long conversation about the poor mark she got on her essay that she didn’t feel she deserved. Quite frankly, I think she did deserve it if only because she talks loudly to people on her mobile phone in libraries. After all, when I got a call (from the agency, offering me interviews at jobs that had a sales aspect. When will they learn? That said, I’d rather they mentioned things to me than not). Then there’s the scary Asian guy, who picked up a newspaper, and, unbelievably loudly turned, no flung, each page open as if he was trying to cause maximum annoyance. This was clearly part of his two pronged aural assault because he combined it with the sort of heavy breathing that would put Darth Vader to shame (two Darth mentions in as many post. I’m a hack). Of course, the thing I found most disturbing about him was the fact that he spent a good few minutes, as he started reading the paper; he sat in his seat, rocking his upper body back and forth in the manner of a complete loon. Libraries are truly scary places. I’ll give Gayton one more go tomorrow (Rayners Lane’s closed on Wednesdays), but I’m starting to think this whole library thing might not work out as well as I could have hoped. I definitely, so far, prefer Gayton. For one it’s simply a nicer environment. Secondly they don’t mind you having a drink whilst you work. In fact, given the presence of a hot drinks station they clearly encourage it. Rayners Lane, backwards thinking as ever, have signs across the library that completely forbid food and/or drink.

Plus, whilst I have been writing, I still haven’t actually properly started my screenplay. I think that maybe I don’t enjoy having to tediously set up the formatting etc. Maybe I’ll give all that a go when I get home. Anyway, that’s where I have to head right now because my battery is once more, about to die. There are plug sockets by the desk at Gayton, so I should be able to use it off the mains. Failing that I’ll probably borrow my sister’s battery (she has the same laptop, so it should work). I should really get myself a spare battery for just this sort of occasion. Perhaps once one crops up on eBay that I can actually afford and finishes at a time when I can actually be at my computer for the close of the auction, and not finished at 10.44pm on Friday night when any sane person is bound to be out down the pub.

Unemployed again. Occupationally, but hopefully not cerebrally.

Right now I’m sitting in Gayton Library attempting to write. It’s not exactly going well owing to the fact that some people are so bloody inconsiderate. First a mother let her children loose on the study area where they decided that it would be a great idea to play games, the sister occasionally yelling “Jump” to ensure that her younger brother took the correct course of action. They left, but were replaced by a slightly more annoying girl who decided that it would be a great idea to carry on with a phone conversation in what I think must be Polish. So far my wonderful experiment of trying to get some aggravation free time to write during the day in the library isn’t going all that well.

Ah good. They’ve all fucked off. Now maybe I’ll get a bit of peace.

Of course, you may ask, what am I doing in a library in the middle of the working day? Unfortunately my temping job at the school in Heston finally came to an end. I had hoped that it would last another three weeks (which it would have done had the girl who was returning to the position after maternity leave managed to get the Head’s PA position for which she had applied), but then I hadn’t expected it to last quite as long as it did, so I at least have to be thankful for the work I’ve managed to get.

It’s actually been the most pleasant experience of work that I’ve ever had. Sure the work was pretty dull, tedious and, forgive me for sounding a touch self important, a little beneath me.

(FFS the kids are back and now they’re banging on a computer’s keyboard for, seemingly, no reason. You’d think that their mother would exert some sort of control over them. Could she not, at least, exhibit some kind of consideration for the other users of the study area who, just like me, probably just want to have a little peace and quiet? Now the boy is providing a commentary to his inane computer game antics. This is seriously annoying. )

Where was I? Ah yes, work. Yes, the job itself may not have been particularly intellectually taxing (it was actually fairly mindless, save for my brief stints on reception which were merely terrifying) and the journey, which sometimes lasted as much as 1hour and 15minutes, was a hellish odyssey though a slow crawl through heavy traffic, but the school itself was a really nice place to be. It took me a couple of weeks to get relaxed. After all I’d been used to working in an environment where people were constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for me to make a mistake for which I could be gratuitously chastised. Did there people not realises that, by putting me under so much more pressure than was absolutely necessary, they were making my life far more difficult and setting me up to fail. Do they not realise that the very act of observing someone changes their behaviour? Idiots. Bu the school was nothing like this. Everybody just let you get on with things, and if you did cock up, your failure was met only with a laugh, a smile and comment along the lines of, “Oh well, not to worry.” Under those kind of circumstances do you think I ever made the same mistake twice? Of course not. Not like in the gulag that was my last work place. Working at that place was only one step removed from working for the evil empire in star wars. I probably wasn’t far off having Darth Vader force choke me for my minor slip ups.

It’s nice to finally have a nice experience of work. I was beginning to think that jobs were simply meant to be unpleasant and torturous. This has at least restored my faith in work and human nature a little. The kids are still little shits though. I like working in a school, but I’m not altogether sure about teaching at the moment. I’m not exactly certain that I’m confident enough to stand up in front of a class of children, all of whom are just waiting to pounce on me should I show the slightest weakness. Actually, put like that it sounds a little like my last job, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be that bad. Still, if I can make it in to the course through clearing I’ll definitely go. It’ll allow me to add another string to my bow and give me a steady, guaranteed income for the 9 months of training. Plus, should I move away, I’ll have some peace and quiet for writing. On that subject, I’m also considering a journalism course, but since that’ll actually cost money, I’m not so sure about it. I know that, ultimately, I’d love to be a writer, but I’m not entirely sure, at this point, that journalism is the right route to take. Still, at lest not having a job at the moment is giving me time to decide. Having a little time to write also helps.

Well, my battery is showing that I only have about 10 minutes left (though it’s frequently wrong. At 0% I often manage to get another 15-20 minutes and today I’ll probably eek a little more time out of it owing to the fact that I’ve switched off my Wi-Fi), so it’s almost time to pack up and go.

Has working at the library been a good idea? Will I manage to finish the first draft of my film if I keep working here over the next few weeks (or for however long it is that I remain unemployed)? Well, firstly I’m probably going to give Rayners Lane library a try tomorrow. Rayners Lane is certainly closer (I only walked here today because I had to pay in a cheque and Harrow has my closest HSBC Bank) and I’m hoping it’ll be a fair bit quieter too (though I’m actually getting used to the small children’s constant chatter that seems to be rapidly turning in to an argument). I’m certainly going to have to get used to typing again too since the fingers on my left hand are now starting to really ache. Could I cope with this for the whole day? Actually it wouldn’t be so bad. At Rayners Lane I could certainly do a morning stint, head home to recharge (my laptop with electricity and me with lunch) and then come back in the afternoon to continue working for a couple of hours. Actually that doesn’t sound so bad. Plus I won’t have to worry about an alarm clock since my agency seems intent on calling me a little after 8.30 every morning so as to as me inane questions like, as they did this morning, “Are you still available for work?”. Of course I bloody well am. What kind of a stupid question is that? And why did it need to be asked at 8.34am?

So, in conclusion, coming to the library to write is definitely a good idea. I’ll actually get a sense of achievement from having actually, ahem, achieved something worthwhile. Plus it’ll get me out of the house for much of the day and thus prevent me from incurring large does of moaning from Mum. Finally it’ll keep me in the habit of working (even if it’s for no money), which can only be a good thing. Oh, and if I do decide to occasionally come to Gayton Library it’ll provide me with the exercise I so clearly need. It would be nice to be a touch more svelte. At least then I’d feel better, look better, and feel like I had a touch more to offer to any prospective girlfriend/casual shag.

I’ve just noticed that the mother actually left her two annoying brats up here alone whilst she left the library. That’s terribly irresponsible behaviour. Then again it’s probably to be expected from .someone who clearly lacks any kind of consideration/

Ok, let’s see how this lasts for, but I’m going to give this routine a go.

1. Wake up at around 9.30-10am. Exercise (weights and sit-ups) and have breakfast.

2. Head to the library and write until my battery runs out (or until I get hungry if I’m actually allowed to plug my laptop in).

3. Go back for lunch and recharge my battery (If necessary).

4. Head back to the library until it’s time to go home for dinner.

5. Do some miles on my exercise bike whilst watching a Film/TV show in my laptop. I’m really glad I bought a laptop now. Worth every penny.

Well, at least I can give it a go for the week and see if it works out. Maybe at the end of it I’ll have a finished screenplay and a healthy body. Worst case scenario I’ll feel a little healthier through walking and I’ll have got away from mum for the day.

Right. 1% battery life. Time to go. Shame, I actually wanted to stay longer. I think this working at the library thing may actually work out. Now for the long walk back home.