Musing on Life (and Ali Pasha Saves the Day)

I'm sorry I've not posted much this week, but I've been quite busy and tired.

With the second anniversary of being taken into hospital (for the uninitiated I spent three weeks in the Acute Care Unit and a further three on the renal ward), and six months after my (involuntary) medical dismissal from work, I've been taking stock.  It's at times like that those you resalize where your true friends are.  The Wife was magnificent and demonstrated over a number of months a strength that some who know her didn't think she had; our families rallied around, and I had visits from all parts of the country; old friends were prepared to do the same.  In contrast, throughout my time in hospital and in the two months that followed not a single person from work came to see me.  My managers made all the Right Noises and went by the book, but when it came down to it fired me.

This has taught me something about the balance between home and work life.  I have come across more gestures of spontaneous generosity in one year of writing this blog than in my 20-year professional career.  Isn't that sad?

What of now?  Well the the research service and on-line bookselling is beginning to take off.  I've recently started doing some voluntary work in a local charity shop.  Honestly, I'm beginning to feel as tired in the evenings as when I was holding down a full-time job.

This week has been further complicated by the fact that the wife is taking longer to bounce back than we expected from what was supposed to be a simple out-patient procedure.

I was going to lighten the load by telling you about teapots and how reading about Ali Pasha has cheered me up, but I think I've written enough for the moment.  They'll be in the next exiting episode...