Work Avoidance

I am guilty of 'work avoidance' according to Debrah. Not in relation to our business here in France, but for my London job, which I am going to let go for a lot of complicated reasons, but mostly because they need someone more hands on more often and I need to be in France more than England these days to look after my guests in the suites.

'Work Avoidance' means thinking of, and doing, fairly mundane jobs, that could in all fairness wait for a bit, instead of knuckling down and doing the jobs that you don't want to face up to but which other people in a snowy and colder and much more time pressured location are champing at the bit for you get to them as a matter of urgency - i.e., my London job

So, although I got up at 7am and started tweaking the financial forecasts that were much anticipated in old London town, I easily got distracted by a breakfast tray prepared by Debrah and then needing to prepare breakfast for our guests and then needing to pop out to the market for some supplies and then going over to Bob's workshop to get a replacement battery for my watch and then going upstairs to help Denis get connected to the internet via his new livebox and then talking to Gary, who dropped by whilst I was with Denis, about his new business idea.

As it happens I sent off all the revised forecasts to those that needed them in London (standby for a torrent of further questions, I think) and still managed to fit in all my work avoidance jobs as well. I'm not the only one engaged in this practice though - Debrah warned me that she had to do some work whilst she was here this week. Has she looked at it? - no.

During this morning's avoidance we dropped into the Musee de Fine Arts to have a look at the current exhibition which was billed as a bit risque. A talented artist no doubt, obsessed with sex - definitely - art or pornography?, a good question. Entertaining it was. Technically brilliant it was. Enjoyable or inspiring? - I'm not so sure it was either for me - there is a very fine line between art and pornography and for me this just crept into the art category, but only just. The important thing though is that people are able to see it and make up their own minds about it.

Bob wouldn't let me pay for putting a new battery in my watch, which is fabulous as a friend but rubbish as a businessman. Why do people insist on giving away their time for free? - I was more than happy to pay for the battery and I don't understand his logic - yes, we are friends, but this is his living. I felt slightly better after advising him to buy his Stansted Express tickets on the plane, rather than on the train, because of a Ryanair discount - he and his partner, Catharine, are going to London for a long weekend starting on Saturday.

Having gone through the trauma of trying to get my 'livebox' connected some two years ago, I was more than happy to help Denis get over that hurdle with the benefit of my experience of these things. Hell, it took me about two months and the assistance of a french speaking Irish lady to make my connection work - and it still has it's moments - so. naturally, I didn't promise the world. It turned out that I did all that I could do - I set the livebox up and and I got Denis' Mac to talk to the livebox. Everything was set for a rapid and immediate internet connection other than somebody at France Telecom getting the correct paperwork and getting off their 'cul' to connect Denis' phone number to a broadband connection. About 7 days, I reckon, for that to happen - and only because we are in the middle of town! - otherwise about two months.

I keep my fingers crossed and pray to the god of internet connection, not to mention electricity, on a nightly basis.

It's good to have faith in these dark times.