Ever Learning Dad

Digits.co.uk Images, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons I don't have an interesting (if I ever do) life update today so instead here's how I'd run this country's approach to the workforce. Or at least the policy standpoints I'd take if I was ever minded to become a politician! Work All people aged 23 - 60 would be required to work with a cap of 40 hours per week. The recommended maximum to employers from government would be 32 hours. Work would be banned on Sundays with the exception of emergency services, leisure facilities, cafes and restaurants. Pubs would also be closed and professional sport would be banned on Sundays. Employers breaching these conditions would be fined with money being diverted to the culture and leisure sector. On appointment, all employers would be required to pay the national living wage, which would be adjusted to meet current costs. Wages would increase as standard with the inflation rate ...

Monday morning and back to the office today. Half of me hates getting up so early on a Monday but the other half of me quite likes getting out the house and into the city. I also like seeing colleagues and there's usually a few in on a Monday so the chat is good. Got through some editing and posting, joined a couple of meetings, learned more about our soon-to-join Foundation Apprentice and picked up some more books on my lunch break! Drove to work also today. £8.50 for a peak time return on the train is just outrageous in my opinion. I can park for £6 all day in the city centre. That said, driving is fairly tedious and the standard of some folks on the road is appalling. Not sure if a lot of people have watched so much American TV, they now think we drive on the right hand side in this country. And just the lack of basic manners and behaviour is sad. After that, a basic night in front of the telly with some Still Game (again lol) and a good few pages of Stanley Tucci's book ...

Finally done with the painting! Yas! I didn't do much else to be honest and my brain is on autopilot. Watched the Rangers game for a wee break. 3-1 win at home to St. Johnstone. It was tedious after the third goal went in. Betty, as ever, had the right idea this morning.

Another day painting adding a second coat of primer to the whole kitchen. Set up nicely to finish the job tomorrow with the top coats. I must admit it looks so much fresher and brighter already just having the white walls so I’m a wee bit pleased! But I couldn’t face another full day in and headed out to spend some Christmas money in Waterstones. I picked up their book of the month, ‘The Anxious Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt, which examines the effects of digital and social media on young people. I’m a wee bit anxious to read it given I’m already worried about how hooked my own girls are on things like YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. I really wish I hadn’t let them on these things at such a young age; it’s a huge regret if I’m honest. I can’t see any benefit to them while the negatives are plenty. I take a bit of solace knowing I’m not unique as a parent and it’s as much down to societal pressure as it is to individual choices. I also got ‘LESS’ by Patrick Grant, which looks more at m...

It only took two months after the plastering was finished but I finally got round to painting the kitchen. It’s fresh plaster so needs the full two coats of primer and topcoat. I’ve also painted over the bright red wall in there too. Who paints their walls bright red!? Anyway, I made a start finally, spurred on by the fact I now have a holiday to pay for and funds can’t stretch to getting a professional decorator in. But man, I hate painting. It’s tedious beyond words. If it was just a case of whacking up a bit of matte topcoat, no bother. But it’s all the mundane bits beforehand; filling holes, cracks, smoothing them out, cleaning the wall, the aforementioned primer etc. and then waiting hours in between coats. Yawn. I shouldn’t moan. It was previously artex all over in a minging puke-y colour. Much better white and smooth. So that was my Friday. Well, I managed to progress on Resident Evil Village too! I think I’m getting close to the final boss. How exciting a life I live.

First full week back at work done. I’m so glad I switched to compressed hours last year. I cram my 35 hours into four days and get my Fridays off. This week was just about getting back into the swing of it. Had a few meetings, done some social media stuff and a bit of planning. All good. Went to see ‘A Real Pain’ last night, starring Jesse Eisenberg (also writer and director) and Kieran Culkin who deservedly picked up a Golden Globe for his role. It was a solid 4/5 movie. Beautiful cinematography around Poland with a lovely piano led soundtrack. The supporting cast was excellent and Eisenberg himself was great as the wound up David.