Sunday 15 November 2009

Life

I've been thinking. Actually I've been thinking a lot...about life. I guess when your about to do something truly life changing, it makes you think. This year I will be forty two and for the past 24 years I've worked a full time job. Next month I'll leave my current job after 3 years. My previous job I did for 11. The depressing thing is that for 14 years of my labours there will be exactly nothing to show other than the money earned. Zero. No product, nothing tangible to look at or point to. What a waste of 14 years. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that most people's jobs now consist of pretty much the same thing, and result in a similar outcome. I think this is one of the main reasons i want to go and live in France. Not to live in France but the opportunity for a change of life. It would be nice to finish the day and point to something achieved that day; something created. Don't get me wrong I know nothing lasts; houses fall down, jewellery gets discarded or melted down, clocks get binned. At least however there is something to show even for a short period. I also think its something deeply rooted in the human psyche; the need to create. My father worked hard all his life till the day he died at 55. The most precious things for me are the memories and the things he made. The memories I try to keep alive by telling my children stories about him, but after 20 years since his death it seems like a lifetime ago. But each time I go out into the shed after work and make something with one of the tools he made and stamped NQ, I do think he would be pleased with that.

4 comments:

  1. In the too little time I got to know your father; he was man of patient precision, with an eye for detail and the skills to fabricate his imaginings. I could be describing you; you are his legacy.

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  2. 'Better to have have loved and lost than never to have loved at all'...Well that's what came to mind when I read this post Or, 'nothing lost, nothing gained, nothing ventured'.... well...I have just been drinking a couple of glases of 'affordable' red wine!

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  3. Thanks Alan. I'd forgotten that you met my Dad, but then I guess we've known each other since we were kids really. By way of formal introductions; Alison meet Alan...Alan, meet Alison. Alan is my oldest and best friend. If he can come over in the summer we'll christen our new kitchen and share a glass of that "affordable" red or maybe even something home made!

    Cheers.

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  4. The apple never falls far from the tree dearest

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