Truth be told I'm feeling a bit knackered and more than a bit down. It's not the nonsense with T.Aldous that's getting me down really, that's all very sad but at some stage he's going to let go and get on with the rest of his life. It's the others that bother me: I really don't think they realise, or want to realise, how vulnerable they and this service really are. Some of them are living in a cloud cuckoo land, imaging they can carry on with a 1960s delivery model on the grounds that they are librarians and have the protection of the 1964 Library Act. And some of the others are just too damned ignorant to realise the effects of their actions and inactions. And I'm not sure that I care enough to try and manoeuvre people into situations where they will be playing to their strengths. Besides, who died and made me God?
In my other self I've been writing a blog about library developments. It's got links to stuff I think are useful and/or interesting and commentaries on pieces of work I'm doing, all the type of stuff you'd expect from "a professional blog." I've been telling myself it's a way of keeping tabs with the various strands of work going on at the moment and making notes for future reference, and perhaps something for me to use as a "look, I can do stuff!" flag for future employment. Thinking about it, though, I can't help suspecting it's really just an effort to put enough positive spin onto my work to persuade me it's worth getting up out of bed and getting out to the office.
15 comments:
I'm sorry to hear that you're in the dumps. I think the world of the public servant is changing rather too quickly for some and maybe I'm in that camp too. But I still want to get up and go to work, if only to prove the buggers wrong.
I was talking to someone close to me today who lives with uncertainty about his job and has just discovered that one thing he feared isn't going to happen. Other things could. I know how difficult it is and I'm the worst for crumpling under uncertainty but the fact is that we are all at the mercy of fate - or whatever and something really bad could happen - like someone dying - any time so it does seem silly to waste the days fretting about what may happen. Forgive me if this seems a load of cods wallop. At this stage in my life it makes sense
BTW when did we stop steeping our whites in Rickets blue(not unlike your backdrop).
Kevin - if you put half the creativity, energy and focus into your day job as you do on your blogs, you're doing a fine job.
Wish I could be more help
I'm so glad I don't work in a bureaucracy any more. It's enough to drive one (this one) to drink. You sound so glum, Kevin, I don't know what best to say. Um, how about watching/listening to Billy Connelly? He makes me laugh my guts out. :D
You and me both, Kev.
What was it Charles Leadbetter said about "sleepwalking to disaster"?
Been there, felt exactly the same, worn myself out - all ended badly as expected.
But I'm still glad I didn't cave in.
And will you accept a motherly hug?
(Apologies for long replies!)
Madame DeF: Ta. Our problem is that they've resisted change for so long that when it comes, as it will, it'll be catastrophic (probably in both senses). And unfortunately I've proved the buggers wrong so often and so long ago there's no great novelty in it any more.
Pat: uncertainty's the one constant I've had in my working life - I'm a very useful person to have around but so useful as to be made part of the mainstream operation. I've been made redundant a few too many times for comfort, but the upside is that I've had a few jobs created specifically for me. This lot have had a cloistered existance for far too long.
You make sense, have no fear. There've been a few too many instances where fate's forced the perspective lately, both personally and organisationally.
Last time I saw Reckitt's Blue in the shops was in the late sixties. I had to catalogue seven assorted boxes of the stuff, plus showcards, when I worked in a museum in the eighties.
Macy: ta luv.
eyeball: and ta to you, too.
Chris: God, yes. And what was the response of The Profession? Every six months they have a windy and inconsequential whingefest about "the future of the profession." The same windy and inconsequential whingefest they have every time. None of which reflects the high quality of what people actually are doing in the nation's libraries.
Kaz: there is a grim inevitability to these things isn't there? Glad you didn't cave in.
Pat: I think I might. Thank you.
ha! I'm going back to school tomorrow and try and set a budget so that we can maintain enough teaching staff to deliver something approaching an education. There won't be enough, as usual, and it will be 'my' fault when there's not enough resources to go round. What they don't realise it's either that or make someone redundant. I'm so looking forward to it!
!!
I'm so sorry Kevin, how rude of me to just come on here and start ranting!
*slinks off in shame*
I can't do motherly hugs, but I can offer sororal soothings. Take care.
Madame D's thing isn't in my dic. but I think its sisterly.
Pull yourself together man, there's a war on and every man fit enough to stamp the front cover of a book is needed in the trenches.
When you're done stamping, meet me at O'Donnells, me and T. Aldous that is.
It can be very difficult when you can see the big picture when others around you can't. I hope you are able to stay positive about it all.
zlggl: no worries, rant away! I know precisely what you're talking about. We'll soon be hearing a lot about all the investment there's been/is going to be in education and we both know that it's cock and spin.
I do apologise to the rest of you. This is very atypical behaviour: I am known for being Mrs. Musgrove's little sunbeam.
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