The Joys Of Being Self Employed

Things are going pretty smoothly for me at the moment...touch wood. This is a good saying for a builder as wood is pretty much everywhere I go! But to be honest I could say that this week has been pretty much perfect – work-wise.

I have been doing a series of little jobs, which are right up my street. There is nothing better than being paid for a days work, when the job only takes three or four hours. This week I have had three of these, so far. One more to go and then a day off... the joys of being self employed.

So on Monday I did a cat flap for one of my neighbours and fixed her outside tap. I was finished by 1.30pm and didn't feel in the least bit guilty. I did a good job, got paid a fair amount for a tradesman of my considerable skill and went home early to be with my kids. There was no stress, no having to go out and buy materials, no having to leave jobs unfinished and having to try and clean up at the end of the day. Done and dusted and there you go – easy!

Even my old office job couldn't offer me that. The mornings would be sorting through the pile of emails from the previous afternoon, then on to whatever project I was working on at the time, meetings (and a few more meetings), phone calls, interruptions and rushing out the door at 6pm worrying about what the next day would bring.

Then there were the morons you have to work with. Yes strong language, but believe me, these people hadn't a clue about the real world. Straight from “varsity” to the big bad world of high pressure work and they still thought they knew it all. I had 15 years under my belt, but it didn't count for much in their eyes.

Whatever happened to learning from your elders and betters? I have thought about getting an apprentice on one of these schemes where the Government pays for them. I might do it in a few years when I need to take it easier from time to time. Having someone young and fit who can swing a sledge hammer might be useful. But right now I am happy with few responsibilities and no more worries than making sure I have enough work to keep us housed, fed and holidayed.

Speaking of which – Euro Disney it is...you might remember Claire giving me a browbeating about this. She is convinced the kids will get something out of it, even at this age and so we have booked it for the summer...I have built enough time into the trip to visit some vineyards for wine tasting, so I am happy. Two days in hell might be worthwhile if I can spend three days inebriated...