Work's bothering me again Pauses in optimistic anticipation
Thursday, June 03, 2004
So my hyperactive, anarchist ex-PDS colleague Liam, who cunningly flew the coop a couple of years ago to pursue esoteric cultural studies in Sydney, blew back into town this week for a conference on said esoterica (he showed me the topic of his presentation, but in my profound ignorance of his entire field of academic expertise, I didn't understand a word of it). But we've chatted over the odd lunch, dinner and after-work pint this week. Naturally the subject of working in the Canberra public service, and in the Government's overseas development program in particular, came up once or twice. Those discussions, which occasionally hit a rabid fervour bordering on hysteria, reminded me of everything that I don't like about working for my current employer. I realise I'd managed to numb myself against the constant, buzzing anger that comes from working in an environment that tirelessly rejects innovation, disdains unconventional behaviour and marginalises anyone failing to conform with the traditional approaches (whatever they might be this week).
Not that I could remotely claim to be any of those things, certainly not with respect to my current job. I've never been passionate or ambitious enough to feel too stung by any perceived failure to climb to greasy pole here. But I have seen too many intelligent, enthusiastic and committed colleagues become embittered and fall by the wayside to doubt the poisonousness of the atmosphere.
I've got to make it through another two weeks to achieve a particular milestone that will make me feel happier about leaving. And then I think it's time to start taking another look around for a real career.
Fiona was interviewed for her own job this morning. While there is a reasonable level of certainty surrounding this process - she is the incumbent in a successful managerial spot, she essentially redesigned the job herself, she wrote its selection criteria and her boss is on the selection panel - she still feels the stress of having to compete or be out of a job. Stress tends to manifest itself as crippling muscle aches in her, and yesterday she was almost completely incapable of using one arm because it hurt so much. Today is probably not much better, but at least it's over now.
Jimbo went for an interview of sorts at Fi's old club last night, to try to secure himself some bar training and hopefully some casual work. Fi strongarmed him into a haircut to complement the occasion. It looks pretty good. He said the interview (basically just a chat with Fi's old workmate Mauro, who's a manager at the club) went quite well. So again, we're just waiting to see whether anything happens.
Nobody has bought our house yet, nor even offered to do so. It's still too early to panic, but we realise that we are getting close to the point where we will need to get in tenants to rent the place and help us pay off the mortgage on the new house.
But I remain reasonably optimistic that all these things will work out for the best.
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