Portfolio Career - Bank Holiday Weekends

What a lovely weekend, and absolutely no further towards a Portfolio Career. I've spent the last three days with Claire and the kids and we've had a great time. A Bank Holiday weekend is about recharging and reaffirming what is important, and what all this is about in the first place.

I have been desperately trying to get Claire's birthday present ready in the evenings and this has been a mini project. It has taken so much longer than I first expected, but if you knew what it was then you wouldn't be surprised. But, the fact that I have been 'working' in the evenings made me think that this is the type of thing that I am aspiring to.

I have enjoyed the birthday present preparation because I really want Claire to enjoy it, and for it to be just right when she opens it. This can therefore be compared to a task that I love that I am doing for money instead of giving joy.

I can work around the kids when they are at school, or in bed, and still be there for those good times in between. Those good times that unfortunately are so seldom in my current existence.

I really enjoyed yesterday because we all went into Manchester, and spent three to four hours there not really doing anything. We went to see a photography exhibition, Dorothy Bohm, but that was it. We decided to buy some lunch in M&S and eat it on a bench watching the world go by us, and then later we had a coffee and watched a different world go by.

It felt like such a lazy day, even though it wasn't due to the walking, and we were all together sharing the experiences for the whole time. It made me think of how England has changed in my lifetime. I have written about this before, but I still think we are quite lucky to have this coffee bar culture in England. It has come from the continent, and the idea of relaxing in public is a concept that I have always loved from earlier holidays. Now we can enjoy this without having to travel first.

I love watching people walk past, real characters, and making up stories about them. My curiosity about their personal circumstances, asking questions to myself about why they are wearing that particular hat, or where they are rushing off to. I could do it all day long, and if it wasn't for Claire then I probably would have. I think Dylan has started to get the bug as well, a young man walked past with a big Victorian beard, and he all of a sudden jumped up, laughing and pointing. Very funny.

So really, this is the part of my balanced portfolio of life that I am trying to increase. Surely this can be achieved. If as well, I can accompany it with work that I love, and the ability to help others, then jackpot.

I'll know I've made it when I have a box at St.Marys, and we are all there enjoying lunch before the match.

Anyway, I have digressed a little in this entry, but this is due to the incredible length of time it is taking to edit the book. I am going to have to up my effort, and start working in the evenings as well, in order to get it finished to a point where I can finally start getting it out there.

So, as always, I will keep you up-to-date with my lack of progress as well as my progress, and hopefully I can start to report more of the latter very shortly.