Occupation: Student
It’s a lovely Summer Sunday outside, and here I am typing away in my musty (don’t get Bex started on that one) bedroom: why is that? In the words of a 1980’s TV program, “Why don’t you go outside and do something less boring instead”? Although TV, not the PC, was the evil interior monster then.
I must feel guilty for not doing this blog for so long, and it’s the last thing I want to do after a days “work” on the placement (which involves a musty room and a computer too). Also, I don’t think my blogs would have been too interesting, “Today I did a bit more work with database x/program y/person z….” so I’ve confirmed my own belief that life tends to stagnate when “working 9 to 5”. It’s not like “learning for a living”, which is how I would describe my years at university so far, probably the best of my life. In fact the learning that the job entails (vb.net/asp.net)is the best part of the job! I think what this is leading to is this: I’m not someone who’s going to University “so I can then….”, I’m someone who’s going to University.
Is work important, or isn’t it? I think it depends on what you mean by important. When I think about my Dad, there’s not much I remember about him, but I don’t know anything about what he did for work, other than where he actually did work. It’s like, other than the fact that you do work and provide for the family, what you do at work isn’t important outside work: and outside work is where you live. I don’t know if the same can be said for politicians and the like, but I think this compartmentalizing of work and non-work life is natural (although this doesn’t mean that you should have a “work” face and “work” standards, and a different face and standards at other times: this overly compartmentalized brain is one of the methods which allowed many Nazi concentration camp commandants to kill mercilessly at “work” and enjoy a happy family life at “home”). I think the Greeks had the right idea, sitting around and debating life all day. It’s a shame they had to (what other way would there be?) use slaves to allow themselves to be able to do it. Perhaps the truly happy man is truly as Jesus said, not toiling and seeking after money and food, but relying on God to provide for him, as he is "working" for (or serving) him, after all. Of course, that beats even the Greeks way of life, but who knows how to serve God the way God wants? That’s another blog entirely.
Becky’s belly is getting big, there’s a photo of it below. Compare it with the one in an earlier blog (May 11th). Nearly half way there! It’s funny - Joni is convinced it’s (it is an it, isn’t…it? Until we know) going to be a boy. She says (quite often, just having grasped the Male/Female concept) “Mummy a girl, Daddy a boy, Joni a girl…baby a boy!” I’m not fussed either way, honestly. I did want a boy (before Joni) but Joni’s such a beautiful, inspiring, intelligent and loving little thing that I really wouldn’t mind another girl at all.
I’m actually suffering as I sit here: today I ran 9.3 Miles, a record for me, and I feel like the life-force has been drained from my body. The Great North Run is four weeks today, so I had to run something like the above mileage to give myself confidence for the day. I’m confident of one thing: I’ll need a week in bed afterwards!!! More sugary tea please….I am chuffed at today’s run though, at 1hour 40mins I think I’ll run the GNR in about 2Hrs15, as long as it’s not too hilly (I don’t think it is).
There’s some photos below which I took on Saturday, when we went to the “Lord Stones” on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, on an escarpment which affords some spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. In the photo of Bex and Joni watching the remote-controlled glider (lots of them there, and real gliders too), you can see to the left of Becky’s head the locally famous landmark, Roseberry Topping.
Oh! Almost forgot - how could I? We've booked tickets to see one of our favourite bands, the newly reformed Pixies, at Manchesters Carling Apollo. Got them off e-bay, £72 the pair, and good seats too (we have to go for seats with Bex being pregnant). The concert is actually the day before our Third anniversary, so we've booked a nice hotel (a best western for £43 from here!) too; any ideas for a romantic day in Manchester anyone? ("yes, first of all head out of Manchester.... " ;-)
I must feel guilty for not doing this blog for so long, and it’s the last thing I want to do after a days “work” on the placement (which involves a musty room and a computer too). Also, I don’t think my blogs would have been too interesting, “Today I did a bit more work with database x/program y/person z….” so I’ve confirmed my own belief that life tends to stagnate when “working 9 to 5”. It’s not like “learning for a living”, which is how I would describe my years at university so far, probably the best of my life. In fact the learning that the job entails (vb.net/asp.net)is the best part of the job! I think what this is leading to is this: I’m not someone who’s going to University “so I can then….”, I’m someone who’s going to University.
Is work important, or isn’t it? I think it depends on what you mean by important. When I think about my Dad, there’s not much I remember about him, but I don’t know anything about what he did for work, other than where he actually did work. It’s like, other than the fact that you do work and provide for the family, what you do at work isn’t important outside work: and outside work is where you live. I don’t know if the same can be said for politicians and the like, but I think this compartmentalizing of work and non-work life is natural (although this doesn’t mean that you should have a “work” face and “work” standards, and a different face and standards at other times: this overly compartmentalized brain is one of the methods which allowed many Nazi concentration camp commandants to kill mercilessly at “work” and enjoy a happy family life at “home”). I think the Greeks had the right idea, sitting around and debating life all day. It’s a shame they had to (what other way would there be?) use slaves to allow themselves to be able to do it. Perhaps the truly happy man is truly as Jesus said, not toiling and seeking after money and food, but relying on God to provide for him, as he is "working" for (or serving) him, after all. Of course, that beats even the Greeks way of life, but who knows how to serve God the way God wants? That’s another blog entirely.
Becky’s belly is getting big, there’s a photo of it below. Compare it with the one in an earlier blog (May 11th). Nearly half way there! It’s funny - Joni is convinced it’s (it is an it, isn’t…it? Until we know) going to be a boy. She says (quite often, just having grasped the Male/Female concept) “Mummy a girl, Daddy a boy, Joni a girl…baby a boy!” I’m not fussed either way, honestly. I did want a boy (before Joni) but Joni’s such a beautiful, inspiring, intelligent and loving little thing that I really wouldn’t mind another girl at all.
I’m actually suffering as I sit here: today I ran 9.3 Miles, a record for me, and I feel like the life-force has been drained from my body. The Great North Run is four weeks today, so I had to run something like the above mileage to give myself confidence for the day. I’m confident of one thing: I’ll need a week in bed afterwards!!! More sugary tea please….I am chuffed at today’s run though, at 1hour 40mins I think I’ll run the GNR in about 2Hrs15, as long as it’s not too hilly (I don’t think it is).
There’s some photos below which I took on Saturday, when we went to the “Lord Stones” on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, on an escarpment which affords some spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. In the photo of Bex and Joni watching the remote-controlled glider (lots of them there, and real gliders too), you can see to the left of Becky’s head the locally famous landmark, Roseberry Topping.
Oh! Almost forgot - how could I? We've booked tickets to see one of our favourite bands, the newly reformed Pixies, at Manchesters Carling Apollo. Got them off e-bay, £72 the pair, and good seats too (we have to go for seats with Bex being pregnant). The concert is actually the day before our Third anniversary, so we've booked a nice hotel (a best western for £43 from here!) too; any ideas for a romantic day in Manchester anyone? ("yes, first of all head out of Manchester.... " ;-)
posted by John Doran-Armstrong at 3:35 PM
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