Hey, how you doing?

It's been over a month since I last blogged, and I know some people are getting a bit antsy, barely containing their desire to bang on my door, shouting "WE NEED SOMETHING TO READ!"

I had my one year anniversary of my first full-time job at the start of this month.
It happened at the grand old age of 24, not because I have commitment issues with working for any one company too long, but due to the fact that, until two years ago, I was surfing on the wave of educational one-upmanship that dictated my work patterns. I could only work full time during holidays, which gave way to part-time hours during term time.

I had a hard time adapting to full-time work for the first few months. My year as a freelancer was much like my uni years in that I would work late hours, travel a lot and spend a lot of time in bed.
When regular, unrelenting work and commuting took over, I thought I would make myself stressed with the monotony of it all. I'd never had an ID card, an oyster card, a lunch hour or a commute, but a year down the line I've found it passable, and going to work on a Monday isn't a chore or something to dread, It's the beginning of a new week where i get to enjoy working with the great people around me, and letting any stress of the day wash over me when I clock out.

I get reminded of how lucky I am to even have work when I meet with friends who are struggling to get full-time permanent work and have to rely on part-time, temporary or project work. That's not to say I don't sometimes miss being freelance; chasing work and getting the satisfaction at the end of a week of a job well done, ready to move onto the next project. But at least in the rat race I know how much I'm getting paid each month.

Love is a many splendid thing

Recently there's been something funny going on...

Over the last year or two, I've noticed that a large amount of my friends, both christian and non-christian, are getting engaged, married and starting to have kids.
It's hard not to sound envious when talking about the couples, and when most weekends this year are taken up with engagement parties, weddings, stag parties, and even the odd hen party, there is the odd occasion when I find myself thinking of that old maxim usually applied to women in this situation, "Always the bridesmaid and never the bride".

photo by Photo Forrester

Of course, I haven't been cast in the role of bridesmaid for any of these occasions, but I got to wondering why there is such a distinctive difference between a woman who doesn't get married (Spinster) and a man who does likewise (Bachelor). Why one is associated with an unhealthy obsession with cats and the other conjures up images of expensive suits, an excellent knowledge of wine and a reckless abandon with women's hearts, is a mystery. The origins of the "bachelor" degree and its relationship with bachelor status is equally as puzzling.

Last year I found out how expensive having a friend who is getting married is. I know they're dishing out thousands for the wedding, but being involved or even just attending is bound to cost a few pennies for everyone involved. I worked out that last year, attending a wedding worked out to be about £100 for accommodation, travel, wedding gift and dry cleaning. This price rose if I was invited to the stag do, and again for a hen do (it happens!). The average wedding last year cost me £150-£200, with this year looking to follow a similar pattern! It comes part and parcel with having friends from all over the country.

But at the end of the day, my friends are inviting me to be present at a pivotal part of their lives; and you can't put a price on the warmth of friendship. Especially if that friendship involves a hog roast.

It'll be a sad day if I ever have to turn down a wedding invitation.