Cold Mornings And Picky Solicitors (Part 1)

Writing Between Shifts

You know, I figured that with work my writing in this diary would dramatically diminish and I would constantly be depreciating the worth of my illustrious days on this wonderful earth. I also thought that I would get depressed as how the stresses of work usually hit you when you find out you finally have a job. When I was given the big nod I started doubting my ability to do the forthcoming job and days before I started work I kept thinking, “How long is this job going to last before I quit”.

Even though I knew it was going to be a great opportunity I had all negative thoughts in my head and it did play an important role to almost make me quit. However, my strong determination and drive on top of my shame to quit another job had me stick to it. I kept calculating exactly how much hours I would spend traveling, how much hours I would work away and how much hours I would have free before getting to sleep.

The most adamant dislike was the fact that I would have to get up at 6:00 a.m. and that I would only get a maximum of three hours free time before getting to sleep of a night. Taking some time out for a shower, something to eat and relaxing, it didn’t leave much time for this diary. That’s the reason that I thought my memoirs would suffer dramatically but that little anecdote couldn’t be further from the truth.

Because I have a limited time in which to write in these pages before I start getting tired I tend to write quicker and with more aspiring drive. My philosophy or intellectual depiction doesn’t suffer either as I always break out into little spurts of philosophy, just like this. Amazingly, my entries still range around the ten page mark of a work night and I feel that because I only have one chance a night to write in my diary the compacting of my thoughts could only be for the better.

Skipping The Catholic Club

Tonight I felt the need to turn down a night at the Catholic Club with everyone for the obligation that these pages tether upon me. It’s not too great a deal that I will be missing out on the Catholic Club tonight because I never really have felt comfortable there. Despite a group of us heading down I don’t think it will help me much, especially in the clothes I will be wearing.

When I wear upper-class clothing to the Catholic Club (Or most places for that matter) I rightly feel that all eyes are on me and it makes me uncomfortable. When I have my hair out it increases my self-conscious disability and it is most prevalent when I head to the Catholic Club, that’s why I dislike it. Maybe it’s the fact that I can only wear collared shirts in there meaning I can never look casual or how I really want to look to make myself feel comfortable.

Tonight I will try and diminish the chronology almost to a standstill point and if I have done it all in a couple of hours I will head out as a reward. Keith was disappointed that I couldn’t head out tonight to the Catholic Club but he asked me if I would attend Chevy’s and unable to resist I agreed. However, because Binh has taken the most of my weekend money I’ll probably have to get Keith to pay me in and I’ll pay for him the next time around.

A Freezing Morning

Chronology is first and foremost after the prologue to this epic tale of my last few days. Beginning with Wednesday, I am a bit rusty as to the actual time of waking up but I can be sure it was around 5:50 a.m. The morning was so cold as I threw off the blanket for a quick second. The waterbed was slightly warm keeping me subdued for the whole part of the night.

The cold thrush was uncomfortable as I took off the blanket so I tucked myself back under, turned on the heater and put it to my back so I could get accustomed to the freezing room. This had been one of the worse-off mornings when it came to freezing temperatures and it didn’t help how I was sleeping in the nude and had to quickly don some nippy clothes just to make the trip to the shower.

Tiptoeing to the bathroom with a towel in my hand I turned on the nozzles and stripped for the finer luxuries of hot water. Sitting on the bathroom floor I just relaxed as the stream of tepid water drizzled down my back. Heaven it was to immerse myself in such bliss but it soon had to be over and as I brushed my teeth and splashed on some body wash I jumped out of the shower.

When I wipe myself off and then walk to my room from the bathroom I always feel the sudden temperature drop. I also never towel myself down properly no matter how eagerly I scrub because it always feel like there are wet spots on my body that are highlighted by the wintry breezes as I walk to my room. Having a little bit of spare time left I donned my clothes for Wednesday, had something quick to eat and then at 7:10 a.m. I headed out that door.

Sleeping On The Train

The trip to the bus, to the train station or to work I can’t really remember but I do siphon out some more noted memories. On the train to work I usually get myself some sleep now but it was more vital on Wednesday as I didn’t get to sleep until 11:30 p.m. the night before. This of course was due to my obligations with these memoirs but sleeping on the train now as opposed to when I used to work at Ashfield or Martinson Engineering is a whole new dominion. In both areas I did get to sleep but sleeping on the train these days has a different air about it.

Maybe it’s due to the fact that I don’t feel I really need to sleep that is the difference. I haven’t reached the point like in my other jobs where I was tired every morning upon waking up and I kept thinking “Why do I have to go to work, wake up so early and do it all over again”. I’m sure that this way won’t come in too much of a hurry because I’m enjoying my job. Anyway, jumping off the train in the City I headed to work, collected the mail from downstairs and our day began.

The Go To Man

All I can really distinctly remember about Wednesday at work was how I was sent to the courts to do some more filing of documents and part of my lunch break. However, I might take this time to note that because Najla is still settling in she has been doing more of the incoming and outgoing mail as well as filing. I on the other hand have been coming to grips with filing and it seems like every single day in this week I have been called to run some sort of errand.

I’m the ‘Go To’ man now and as I have been there a week more than Najla and seem more confident in my duties I get stacks of extra work. For example, Jana or other Solicitors now hand me briefs to complete on the same day and I might add that I love deadlines. I think Wednesday was the day that Livia had me run down to ‘WorkCover Authority’ down the street to drop off a package.

Yep, it was Wednesday because I remember it being so chilly on the way down, it was also early in the morning. Najla I might add is coming along just fine except for the occasional stuffing up of the briefs because Thalia hasn’t had the time to teach her the ropes thoroughly. I commend Najla for sticking it out as I have done, it’s not an easy task to do so.

Lunch In Hyde Park

Trying to keep myself to an agenda for the day I started on brief updates, photocopying and the likes while Najla was busy with the mail. The day traveled quickly as I was sent on an errand and then as lunchtime came I took the midday slot. Heading out a couple of minutes late I bought myself some Sushi from Wynyard Station but I chose a small packet of different items. Making my way to the platforms at the train station I missed the next train heading around the City Circle to Museum so I just patiently waited.

However, time seemed to creep up and as I was hesitant and couldn’t wait too much longer I jumped onto the next train to Town Hall and from there I walked to my Hyde Park hideaway. Seating myself down at the evergreen I watched all the school kids run around as I patiently ate through my meal. What really defeats me is how I only get ten minutes to have my lunch despite having a whole hour to do it in.

It takes me fifteen minutes to get to the station and order my food. From there I head to catch a train which usually takes up to ten minutes and then five minutes to travel. Add another five minutes to find my spot in the park, ten minutes to consume my food and then the rest of that time to wait for a train and head back to work. Nevertheless, the train comes with five minutes left before my lunch is officially over so I always get to work at least three minutes late.

This same fate befell me on Wednesday after I had something to eat and then rushed to the station and then to work. There wasn’t a twitch of stress in me as I knew once I was at work no one would look down upon me because I was three minutes late, no one would even notice. Therefore, my work is a calm place and a great place to work, for more reason than just that lone suggestion.

Jana Likes It Her Way

There isn’t one day of work this week that hasn’t gone past without someone like Jana cracking at the soft shell of our learning in order to make it stronger in the future. Jana seems to come across as curt because she doesn’t beat around the bush with problems. Jana also likes things done her way and to exact detail so if something was wrong that we normally wouldn’t worry about, she would put her foot in.

For example, she explained to keep an eye on our sorting the filing because it wasn’t alphabetical but she failed to realize that other people put in files as well. In addition, Jana went to the extent of putting a little post it notice on the phone to highlight the button we push to transfer calls, as if we would forget. You can see what I mean by picky and attention to detail that dwells in the actions of Jana.

Najla seems to get a bit more flustered each time someone tries to correct what we have done or tries to tell us how to strictly go by their guides. Sometimes it feels that because we are the underlings of the business, if we make a suggestion that will make our jobs easier, it is usually gone unchecked. When we do find common ground with everyone at work and we consider ourselves independent in our administration role, that’s when we won’t have to ask opinions, we’ll just do what feels best.