December 2nd, 2005
It’s a good thing I work from home…
Being freelance, I get to work at home. This means that, contrary to popular belief, I actually get up every morning at the same time, generally quite early, and start work. I don’t stay in bed until the afternoon only to roll out from under the duvet just to watch Ricki Lake. I will own up to occasionally skiving off for an afternoon cuppa to watch Countdown (am still undecided on how I feel about Des Lynam) but generally working from home requires more discipline than being a 9-5er. That said, it has innumerable positives and lots of people tend to envy you for it. On miserable days like today, it’s ideal but mostly I like it because of the flexibiity and the fact that Disco Fred (right) is not on his own all day.
At this time of the year, I’m acutely aware that there is no Christmas party looming for me being a floating, unfettered freelancer. It’s one of those tiny procedural things us freelancers miss out on because we don’t work in a communal environment. Well, ok, there’s another seasonal thing I’m fond of - impromptu pints after work in the sunshine during the Summer.
I don’t miss commuting, waiting on buses, not finding a parking space, crappy over-priced sandwiches, spending half a lunch hour waiting on food, getting up when it’s really dark, working through lunch hour (ok, I still do this), creepy bosses, red tape, forced team-building exercises, projects you hate, finding work clothes to wear every day, owning said horrible work wear, irritating buffoons as workmates, constant bitching about work practices/a superior/your entire career.
Two other things I never have to deal with are Bullshit Bingo which drives In Fact, Ah mad and worrying that something I wear will make me appear less intelligent. Christ, sometimes I don’t even get out of my trackie bottoms if I’m really busy. Based on that article, I must make a point of prancing about the house in a skimpy top and hot pants while still feeling intelligent and competent at what I do.
Ah yes indeed. Working at home rocks. I just wish I had my own water cooler for me and Fred to hang around at…
December 2nd, 2005 at 4:10 pm
I totally agree with you but I’m partial to Judge Judy instead of countdown. So why don’t us freelancers organise our own christmas party and celbrate all that it has to offer - I’m game - anyone else?
December 2nd, 2005 at 4:50 pm
I work from home too, and, likewise, mostly in my pajamas. I actually have daytime and nighttime pajamas. Ultra-casual office garb isn’t the only benefit; there’s unmetered snacking, smoking at your desk. You can drink too, or drop acid or do a sudoku if you like. Never watch daytime teevee though. There’s a time and a place for Countdown, people, and it’s called being dead….
December 2nd, 2005 at 5:42 pm
John - Aha! Now I can admit when I said ‘trackie bottoms’, I really meant ‘pajamas’.
I’m going to have to rethink daytime TV. A quiz came on after Countdown today and I was horrified to discover it’s presented by Noel Edmonds…
That Girl - I’m up for the Chrimbo freelance bash, and like John says, we can hit the tequila at 2pm from the comfort of our own home desks.
December 2nd, 2005 at 7:18 pm
I’m with you on this, Sinead. I love working from home in Pennsylvania, but discipline is required. One other thing: Have you noticed how it doesn’t matter if it’s the weekend or not? People working from home lose the concept of the weekend …and we don’t get that horrid sinking feeling that occurs on a Sunday evening because you know Monday morning and your desk is just hours away.
December 2nd, 2005 at 7:31 pm
Damian, I forget weekends, bank holidays mean nothing and you don’t get paid when you’re sick. And I forget to eat, stop for breaks (and get out of my pjs sometimes) and finish before it gets late sometimes.
Another plus though, is if you happen to have a hangover and you know that *strictly* speaking you should get up and start working, but in reality you can snooze a bit longer.
December 5th, 2005 at 4:56 pm
I reckon I’m technically unemployable at this stage…the thoughts of that grid lock and slavering on make up at 7am in the morning to get to a desk makes me heav!
Ok, crimbo drinks party for the self employed it is (shite that sounds like a sad fund raiser!) dates anyone? I must post this on my own blog in a min but I have an ipod rant coming upon me first.
December 6th, 2005 at 9:40 pm
that’s a cutie of a dog i must say
December 7th, 2005 at 7:09 am
“I must make a point of prancing about the house in a skimpy top and hot pants”
OK, now we need pictures of that… You can’t do that and not provide pics. Didn’t you read the bloggers manual?
Geeks can’t deal with this pressure!
December 7th, 2005 at 1:12 pm
Mish - he’s also crafty as a fox, a serial beggar and likes to watch nature programmes on TV.
Kevin - It pains me to say that I think my hotpants-wearing days may be over…