Monday, June 04, 2007

Melancholy...

The worst thing about travelling by train is all that time you have hanging about in which, well, a book or two, a tatty copy of Metro and the odd communicative loon sitting in the chair opposite aside, you just end up thinking, thinking, watching Selby go by and thinking a bit more. I am suffering from serious train travel melancholy at the moment. Too much time pondering on unpaid bills and useen kids and unborn babies* and places to live and not to live and generally tying myself in mental knots.


*The great news, amid all this pointless fretting, and that I've not yet
disemminated on 'ere, is that M and myself are with child (a look at our
respective waistlines would suggest that I'm carrying the infant). We will make a great mummy and daddy combo.
Lots of train travel, then. The bit between - the work - is quite good. Although I do get hit with a dreadful feeling of despair when I arrive in Leeds and join the lines of drones en route to the office. Still, it's only two days and it is paying some of the bills. I suppose the melancholy was bound to strike - a play over and done with, a short film over and done with, a stack of rewrites awaiting my attention. And all the usual feelings of doubt returning - why do I write? It's such a painful way to scratch part of a living - why are the highs so high and the lows so low? Life, at the moment, feels like a lot of hard graft for very little return. Hints, tips, messages of goodwill and suggestions of ways to earn a fortune on a postcard or in the comments box, please. Please.

Reading: Jack Rosenthal - By Jack Rosenthal

8 comments:

Stephen Newton said...

Congratulations! Although I do feel for the kittens about to be displaced in your affections.

We only really make time for introspection when we’re at our most vulnerable. Melancholy is a thinker's curse; it envelopes the mind and lifts you out of yourself.

Anonymous said...

I have no tips on making a fortune, but I do say congratulations on the news of a new addition to your family. The fact that you have had success in getting work performed and favourably noticed shows that the hard graft is paying off. Recently I have stopped reading a lot of blogs that I used to read, but (if this is any commendation) I still look to see your latest posts. That probably means nothing as I increasingly think I am insane.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the child news!

Sadly, I have no money making tips. Maybe those nice spammers might return and leave you an 'opportunity'?

Dave W said...

Thanks for the comments folks, they cheered me up no end. And good to know, Music Man, that you are going insane too. We should start a club. Don't worry about the cats, Stephen, we're relying on them to babysit while we go out drinking. We're middle class, now, so the Daily Mail won't mind.

David said...

Congrats on the baby Dave. And sounds like the play and short film went well too. But what's this about you being employed in an office again? Do tell ...

Dave W said...

Oh Clensy, you and your questions. Anyone'd think you're a journalist. Okay, gulp, don't tell anyone, right? I'm working for Opera North. Your dream job, probably!

David said...

Really - fantastic. Baritone or tenor?

Dave W said...

Well, a tenner would be nice. I am their website content editor.