Time

Recently, because its the school holidays and I no longer have to do the timetabling because I'm moving jobs, I have been able to get round to things I have wanted to do but haven't had time for. It's not much of a life when you are too busy to do anything fun. Or worse, to do nice things but not be able to enjoy them because you are thinking about work constantly.

My Dad always said that time is one of the most important things in life - as well as health and family and friends of course. He said that the point of working hard and earning money is to buy yourself time to do what you really want to do. The things that I have been doing are trivial but have brought me a lot of pleasure. For example I have been making nice home-cooked dinners. The house is tidy and I have been sorting out DVDs, cookery books, clearing out my bathroom - so satisfying. I have been doing lots of reading and catching up with a few friends for coffees and lunches, and spending time with Grandma. I have been endlessly amused by the cats' antics. I have booked a couple of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and some trips to the theatre for the Autumn. I hope I don't sound smug or self-satisfied - I don't mean to make it sound as if all in my life is perfection! I still need to take more exercise and get fitter - my wrists, knees and ankles are very stiff and sore - and I still worry about things and feel grumpy sometimes. However whatever contentment I feel just now is due to the luxury of having time - and although I will be going back to work soon I want to keep a better balance of work and home time.