Well I can barely credit it being December now. It’s not so long ago I was still getting organised for my NZ South Island trip! There’s been quite a bit happen over the year I guess, but unfortunately it looks like I’m seeing the year out with out any supplementary work to assist me. I’ve stopped worrying about that for the moment as my experience has been that there’s rarely much work around between now & February. So rather than worrying about lack of income for the next two months I’m simply going to focus wholly and solely on new avenues for the Photography business. I’ve been chatting with some friends tossing ideas around and otherwise mentally preparing for round three which hopefully will see a better next year.
Archive for the ‘Goals’ Category
Lack Lustre…
2016 -
11.14
Fairly lack lustre day, struggled to emotionally keep my head above water. On days like this it’s hard to know if you’re better off trying too push through it, or sleep through it.
Breadcrumbs & Salt…
2016 -
11.02
Less than impressed today. Apparently my “overly generous” unemployment support has been reduced with a fine for “non compliance”, i.e. not logging onto an online course. Fine equals 10% of benefit. Hilarious.
Small Steps (Forward?)…
2016 -
10.21
I woke up around 04:00 and it seems Chemoux has been keeping guard of me overnight so at least I’ve been in good paws. Heading out to a friend’s house tonight, fixing up his PC and board gaming tomorrow before heading home. Hoping this will improve my mood.
On the positive side of life though I have managed to start getting down those short stories I indicated I was going to give a shot. Still on the first one, but at least I’m moving on them.
Community: A Group of People Living in the Same Place or having a Particular Characteristic in Common…
2016 -
10.18
It seems that more & more the only aspects of Commonality between all the members of Australian Communities come down to living in the same place and a shared fear of unemployment. It’s hard to feel part of a community with which my values are so disparate. A Community which values people so little, and money so much. Most people don’t ask for much, but this “Community” offers so little these days.
Cyberspace and the Gaseous State…
2016 -
10.13
It’s been a fairly disheartening day. I watched my tax return of a bit over two thousand evaporate into paying bills that have been building up. It took less than five minutes to vanish and produce nothing except reaching ground zero from underneath. It seems the only advance we’ve made from the Eighteenth Century is that we live longer to pay more & more bills.
Today feels like the expecting to win the battle against email spam: untenable.
Navigating Against the Odds…
2016 -
10.12
As best as I can tell the interview went well, but I’ve learned that I’m clearly not the best judge of such things these days, as you really can’t tell what’s going on behind the scenes. Often we are applying for jobs that are already decided for some internal candidate, and the business is just going through the motions. At least with this one I can be confident that there are not internal candidates waiting for the process to finish and then gain the roles in spite of good candidates being available externally.
Of course even if I’m successful gaining a position, the role isn’t guaranteed for several months. That in itself is not necessarily any different than being on contract, but it’s the financial climb up from the crevass of debt that opens up underneath me while I’m not generating an income via employment or the photography business that grinds on my soul.
It’s difficult to not feel it’s a losing battle. The empty promise of Australia as the “Lucky Country” as outlined by Donald Horne in 1964 hasn’t changed even 50 years later. We’re still a country that skids along on it’s arse being driven by mediocre and self centred individuals, i.e. Politicians & Business Leaders unwilling to tell the truth to the community and suck it dry every day even in “retirement”. Our community seems mostly undefended by Intellectuals and Entrepreneurs who could help us attain some nobility and caring in purpose and direction as a nation. We’re a nation that seems to follow blindly rather than a leader that leads and opens the way for others.
Regrouping Tactics…
2016 -
10.11
Bit of a weird day so far, I slept in and that’s always a bit disconcerting for me these days. I realise now that I can’t afford my sleep pattern to be messed up for more than a day or so.
I have decided to stay on the Anti-Depressants for another three to six months at this stage since I have a fair bit of financial pressure on me at the moment and thats one pressure I find difficult to deal with in the sense that without work, there’s nothing that can be done about it. It seems unwise to continue to tail off them just at the moment as after starting a reduction regime several things have happened concurrently requiring significant effort to deal with over extended periods. I was starting to become vulnerable to Depressive states again.
So after discussion with GP I’ve gone back to my previous maximum dose with the plan to review in 3 months time with a goal of reduction in six months if the financial situation is improving.
Kicking up the Dust…
2016 -
10.10
It’s turned out to be still a bit too windy today for more Macro shooting, so I’ve been working on a Spring Clean. It’s amazing how much I still have in boxes that I could get rid of and not notice. Apparently I’m a bit of a hoarder.
Unfortunately I can’t see any of it being of value to anyone else either. So going to the effort of trying to sell it would be a waste of time & resources. I suppose it’s good e-waste, but that’s not returning as much as it should. Either way it’s space back I can use.