gillpolack @ 2015-05-01T15:51:00
I've wondered for a while what would happen if everything happened. This has been coming a while. Last year, I had all the writing and editing, but piles of teaching was cancelled because Canberra was caught up in worries about government. The year before, I had teaching, but writing and editing were cancelled because publishers and editors did what publishers and editors do. I've had short work due on last week of term, but not (usually) on first week.
So... this week. Two new classes. An excursion for my Wednesday class (so extra hours, and many things going wrong, but not even close to the most things going wrong in an excursion or the worst things going wrong - this was not the week for breaking records - and the week was still only 14 hours teaching and prep and etc, all up). A rather nice migraine. More smoke, and the new (since last year) bus timetable so that I ended up having to breathe it and walk through it for swags of time (the bus timetable was so unpopular that they're changing again on 18 May) and I didn't get a day without smoke until today. Four short-piece deadlines, one short story deadline, the last of the Beast. I forget the rest. It would all have been straightforward (just busy) without the smoke, but with the smoke it was challenging. Today I hurt so much I wondered how long I could put off getting up out of bed. It's mostly residual ache from the week, and it will pass with much water and coffee and gentle exercise and sleep, sleep, sleep.
I have to mop up much today. I have invoices to send out for work complete, and have 2 more short pieces to write and one to web. The only thing I've done so far, though, is my finances. My finances are (not surprisingly) better than they've been for three years. I am not rich (no glamorous trips to exciting places) but I will be able to eat with friends when I get to Continuum and I will be able to use my heater this winter. In fact, once I'm paid for all this work (not yet) I will be fine for all the basics and some occasional luxuries right through until spring. I'll earn that money over the next few weeks.
My next nine weeks are going to be challenging, for it's more of everything on top of everything (but hopefully less smoke, for I spent a large chunk of yesterday sorting out how to have smaller swags of smoke to breathe) and I have a book to finish, to boot, but knowing there will be money in the bank makes it all worthwhile.
The problem with semi-freelance and low teaching pay rates is that I have to do a lot more work to achieve the same income. Still, when I achieve it, I may bask in the warmth of that heater. And today, I can work in my PJs and have a hot bath in a little, for it's a non-teaching day and I will catch up on *all* that back admin and life will be a joy and a delight. In the meantime, water and vitamin C are my best friends.
So... this week. Two new classes. An excursion for my Wednesday class (so extra hours, and many things going wrong, but not even close to the most things going wrong in an excursion or the worst things going wrong - this was not the week for breaking records - and the week was still only 14 hours teaching and prep and etc, all up). A rather nice migraine. More smoke, and the new (since last year) bus timetable so that I ended up having to breathe it and walk through it for swags of time (the bus timetable was so unpopular that they're changing again on 18 May) and I didn't get a day without smoke until today. Four short-piece deadlines, one short story deadline, the last of the Beast. I forget the rest. It would all have been straightforward (just busy) without the smoke, but with the smoke it was challenging. Today I hurt so much I wondered how long I could put off getting up out of bed. It's mostly residual ache from the week, and it will pass with much water and coffee and gentle exercise and sleep, sleep, sleep.
I have to mop up much today. I have invoices to send out for work complete, and have 2 more short pieces to write and one to web. The only thing I've done so far, though, is my finances. My finances are (not surprisingly) better than they've been for three years. I am not rich (no glamorous trips to exciting places) but I will be able to eat with friends when I get to Continuum and I will be able to use my heater this winter. In fact, once I'm paid for all this work (not yet) I will be fine for all the basics and some occasional luxuries right through until spring. I'll earn that money over the next few weeks.
My next nine weeks are going to be challenging, for it's more of everything on top of everything (but hopefully less smoke, for I spent a large chunk of yesterday sorting out how to have smaller swags of smoke to breathe) and I have a book to finish, to boot, but knowing there will be money in the bank makes it all worthwhile.
The problem with semi-freelance and low teaching pay rates is that I have to do a lot more work to achieve the same income. Still, when I achieve it, I may bask in the warmth of that heater. And today, I can work in my PJs and have a hot bath in a little, for it's a non-teaching day and I will catch up on *all* that back admin and life will be a joy and a delight. In the meantime, water and vitamin C are my best friends.
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