Office Blues

[mountainm]

On my way to work I drive past the most spectacular sight. A field full of bright red poppies with sprays of yellow flowers bursting around them like a multitude of little red boats on a foamy speckled sea.

They sit in a gently sloping field nestling into woodland on two sides. The trees watch protectively over the meadow - reaching over it with their bows, shielding it from harm. A good variety of Birch, Ash, Oak and Sycamore grow here. Several Hawthorne have escaped their previous lives as hedgerows and are making a good go of it as fully fledged trees themselves. The woods beckon me in with promises of adventure.

A red kite sometimes flies overhead, swooping down low over the road searching for easy meat - road kill. It follows me for a few yards then drops down behind the hedgerows.

For a brief, blissful moment I forget about work, the office, deadlines - and I revel in the spectacle.

Back to reality

This all flies past at 50mph. Invariably I am running late. The view meets my eye as I round a long sweeping corner and for a moment, just a moment - it takes my breath away. The temptation to pull over and just sit amongst the poppies is great but there is nowhere to stop.

Fortunate really - as I probably wouldn't want to leave in a hurry.

Anyhow - back to the office tomorrow.

 

[Harvestman]

It helps for a moment though doesn't it? On my way into work this morning I found 2 Broad Leaved Helleborines (primitive orchid) not yet in flower. Then a quick wander around the grounds (I was early) turned up 8 common spotted orchids and 4 Bee orchids.

Then I sat at a desk for 8 hours.

 

[mountainm]

It helps for a moment though doesn't it? On my way into work this morning I found 2 Broad Leaved Helleborines (primitive orchid) not yet in flower. Then a quick wander around the grounds (I was early) turned up 8 common spotted orchids and 4 Bee orchids.

Then I sat at a desk for 8 hours.

It makes the fall back to reality feel so much more painful though. The rebel inside me is screaming "bugger it, pull over, call in sick, explore, live a little!". Then Mr practical kicks in with the usual gumpf about paying the mortgage and feeding the family, responsibilities......

I've just realised I'm turning into Reggie Perrin....

 

[Shewie]

I have a place near work like that too Mike, I sometimes nip out for an hour and have a wonder about and see what's going on.

 

[Tengu]

Quit bitching. You have a job.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Hahahaha, feeling subtle tonight Tengu?

 

[mountainm]

Quit bitching. You have a job.

LOL, indeed I do.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Try cycling or walking to work instead of driving, you can then revel in it for a bit longer.

 

[The Big Lebowski]

That’s one of the most descriptive posts I've read for a while... I can almost see it.

One of the more difficult aspects of this pastime/hobby/way of life for some is dealing with the yearning. I physically miss the outdoors, when I'm indoors.

If its any consolation, I'm typing this form an ISO1000 cleanroom, space suit and no natural light, the constant drone of fans and about as man-made/sterile as you get.
Its nearly time for the Friday fry-up, so not all bad!

al.

 

[John Fenna]

Try cycling or walking to work instead of driving, you can then revel in it for a bit longer.

I look up ,past my computer, to a view of the woods, about 50' from where I sit (I do not notice the B road between us unless a car goes past) OR I look out of my workroom window over my sewing machine to a view of my garden and the trees in the hedge, the busy bird feeder, my apple trees and the woods beyond (next doors garden is largely hidden by my Hawthorn and mixed hardwoods hedge) OR I have to paddle a river leading a group/teaching skills OR I have to get out in the woods/shore/hills to evaluate kit for my magazine columns....
OR
I am doing a stint for Mencap and like today I will have to drive through the glorious West Wales scenery to spend 4 hours supporting one of the guys in his job stacking shelves in Tescos.
I hate Tescos at the best of times.
BUT
the job brings me in needed cash
AND
The bloke I support gets a huge amount from his job - which is the main reason I do the suppport work in the first place rather than some ersy job that might pay better.... and the work is not all Tescos - yesterday I spent the PM supporting the same guy weeding his garden.

If you are fed up with an office job then move onto the caring/support industry - you will earn peanuts but get great job satisfaction, know that you realy are making a difference to someones life, the work is varied (I have even had to take guys for walks through the local wildlife park!) and there are always vacancies at a Care Organisation near you!
Find a job you like and you will never work again...just get paid to do something you like doing
Money is not everything
Rather than work to make a rich man richer, work to make your life and other folks lives richer!

 

[RonW]

I know how that feels like, Mike.
In my motorcycleridingdays I used to pass a spot that was just magical at the right time of day.... which was every morning in spring and autumn. During these seazons the sun would rise above a hill, just between a bunch of beechtrees which had an opening in the middle, flanked by a few large poplars. And you can guess where the sun rose... right in the middle! Add a bit of early morning fog that would gather in the depression between the hill and the trees and you have a picture right from a fairytale.

After passing it a few times, I just stopped, parked my bike at the side of the road and sat there.... just watching and undergoing it.... Offcourse I was late that day. When my manager asked me way I told him.... He was too baffled to even get angry....

 

[Retired Member southey]

I work for a pair of demanding taskmasters, they would have you believe that I wipe there behinds for them, the views are not always great, and the works sometimes stinks, but the rewards are fantastic!

 

[Bushwhacker]

I look up ,past my computer, to a view of the woods, about 50' from where I sit (I do not notice the B road between us unless a car goes past) OR I look out of my workroom window over my sewing machine to a view of my garden and the trees in the hedge, the busy bird feeder, my apple trees and the woods beyond (next doors garden is largely hidden by my Hawthorn and mixed hardwoods hedge) OR I have to paddle a river leading a group/teaching skills OR I have to get out in the woods/shore/hills to evaluate kit for my magazine columns....
OR
I am doing a stint for Mencap and like today I will have to drive through the glorious West Wales scenery to spend 4 hours supporting one of the guys in his job stacking shelves in Tescos.
I hate Tescos at the best of times.
BUT
the job brings me in needed cash
AND
The bloke I support gets a huge amount from his job - which is the main reason I do the suppport work in the first place rather than some ersy job that might pay better.... and the work is not all Tescos - yesterday I spent the PM supporting the same guy weeding his garden.

If you are fed up with an office job then move onto the caring/support industry - you will earn peanuts but get great job satisfaction, know that you realy are making a difference to someones life, the work is varied (I have even had to take guys for walks through the local wildlife park!) and there are always vacancies at a Care Organisation near you!
Find a job you like and you will never work again...just get paid to do something you like doing
Money is not everything
Rather than work to make a rich man richer, work to make your life and other folks lives richer!

I live in a secluded wood cabin surrounded by woodland, farmland and meadows, no streetlights, traffic or immediate neighbours so the short time I'm at work (37 hours), whilst being a bit of downer, is tolerable.
My bike ride in is, for the most part, through quiet country lanes too and it does give me a mindset of not having to rush everywhere and to take it easy.
My job, I suppose, does go some way into making a difference to millions, whole countries even, especially the developing ones even though I rarely see the results (just four walls and no windows in my office ) and yes I am really just making a rich man richer, but then I've got maintenance to pay for and the boy will need more things as he gets bigger!

Saying that, I think I would enjoy doing the care work that you do, my mother does something similar and she loves it.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

I've been lucky & never had to (chose to ?) work in an office but I feel for those that do!

 

[mountainm]

Find a job you like and you will never work again...just get paid to do something you like doing
Money is not everything
Rather than work to make a rich man richer, work to make your life and other folks lives richer!

This job was my my hobby once, but in making it my job it ruined my hobby. I am trapped here a prisoner of my own financial commitments.

 

[mountainm]

Today I parked up - My phone camera doesn't do it justice

 

[Retired Member southey]

That is a beautiful place matey!

 

[outdoorpaddy]

I am sitting trying to learn AS level french
it is absolutely pouring with rain
the exam is in approximately 3 hours
****ting it

 

[Tengu]

Good luck!

Being in educations far more fun than being in work!

(says she who is horrified at the idea of learning another language...And mercifuly never going to)

 

[Retired Member southey]

I am sitting trying to learn AS level french
it is absolutely pouring with rain
the exam is in approximately 3 hours
****ting it

is that a haiku?