There was a time not so long ago, not very long ago at all, when I went through what can only be described as a ‘barren patch.’ I’m not quite sure what was wrong with me really. It was the summer after Uni; endless days of nothing in particular, staring at a computer at a desk in the front room. Some days I’d fill out some more pointless application forms, always holding the belief that I could easily get that job, so I waited for a phone call that never came, still sat in front of that computer. Sometimes I’d watch a bit of Rick Stein on the TV, building up a culinary knowledge that was seldom exercised. Everything was a bit pointless really, nothing happened; job applications seemed futile. The only solace I got were ridiculous lie ins, a fortnightly sum of £91 in my bank account for doing nothing, and going out.
Despite the everyday monotony of sitting in front of daytime TV, and waiting for the phone to ring, I looked forward to things with candid optimism, with the belief that now was the time to be something, since University days were over. Technically I also got paid around £6 for playing Civilization IV all day, which was good. Nice to think my taxes now go to similarly lazy people like me then. But it wasn’t like I wasn’t searching for a job – I did way more than I had to so I could claim my benefits. The basic rules of that are you have to search for a job in three different ways in a week. But looking in the job section of the paper could count – no wonder some people spend a long time on the dole! If that counted then I had a tally of around 30 ways to search for a job. I seldom had interviews – two in three months, but I sent away a hell of a lot of application forms. In one day I phoned three job agencies, sent away four applications, and went to an interview at the local pub, in the end nothing happened. I guess you could say that’s a barren patch.
It lasted for months on end. I guess that’s why I got my (good) degree…
I haven’t read this book, but I probably should have during this time. I’m not sure it’s still in print, but you can check out the author, Patrick Thorne at your leisure.
