Running the gauntlet of New Street

On Friday I had the pleasure of walking up New Street. Nothing unusual I hear you cry…. but have you done this recently? If you go from one end to the other it is scary just how many people will accost you with clipboards…  The second lot on Friday were from Unicef - so I felt ok to stop. But after giving them my address, email, phone number and god knows what else I felt an unease about how many people have my details… So then I  managed to avoid the ladies with the soap powder survey (what?), the ‘have you ever taken a stress test’ bunch, and a couple of others who I didn’t stick around long enough to hear what they were saying…. I did buy a Big Issue though - I don’t mind that but I do wonder how all these people with clipboards are acceptable on the streets of Brum when those of us who want to promote cultural events in the city are discouraged by the cost of a license… 

Out of Office Replies

Is it just me - or does the whole world seem to have more time off than me? There are some very serious offenders - people who always seem to have their “I’m on annual leave until’ message on when I email them. Some people send them out even when you haven’t emailed them! And then there are those whose return date seems like a lifetime away - how do they manage it?Yes I’m freelance now - but I’ve have decent jobs with proper holiday entitlements - but I’m sure I’ve never managed to have my out of on as much as some… Am I missing something?As we approach Easter and my family will have two weeks off and I might only get 4 days - I’m feeling grumpy about having enough holiday… Do these people actually have holiday - or are they just showing off? 

mac

Tonight I had a choir rehearsal at mac. Nothing unusual about that - but I got accosted going into the rehearsal by someone asking me when I was next going to blog… So here it is.I love mac. I have worked in the cafe, the bar, on box office, on the main switchboard, as a steward, as a clarinet tutor, for 4 of its resident companies and been a long time performer/rehearser (?) there. I have spent many a happy hour there. I’m going to miss it while it is being refurbished. One thing I will miss is the way that while walking through mac you can almost guarantee that you will bump into someone you know. Tonight was no exception and it was nice to briefly catch up with Nick Booth and Graeme Rose… I look forward to seeing the new mac in 18 months time! 

Jubilee Debt Campaign

I had a fascinating meeting yesterday with the nice people from Jubilee Debt Campaign. JDC is the organisation that came out of the ‘human chain’ that was formed when the G7 was in Birmingham in May 1998. It’s all about getting the UK government to change their policy on debt (you can read all about it on their site). They are staging a large event this May (18th) at the ICC  to mark the 10 year anniversary of the original human chain and have asked me to help with some local music during the day in Centenary Square.It is really lovely to be working with people with such belief in their cause. The project should be really special as its inspires support from local community groups, all the faith groups and civic leaders.We are looking to do an ‘action’ at the end of the day with all the delegates from the conference in the ICC and the public in the square…  We have a few ideas - but if anyone wants to make a suggestion - let me know!

Work Life Balance

I won the BYPY award last year and one of my ‘themes’ was Work Life Balance. I came at it from the point of view of that is why I love living in Brum. Birmingham is big enough for you to have good career prospects and an exciting working life. On the other hand it is small enough so that you don’t have to live too far away from the action (the train from my house takes just five minutes into Moor Street). There is lots to do here: good theatres and arts, restaurants and music venues but also good schools and neighbourhoods for bringing up your kids.I still believe all of that.  But am I doing what I need to do to get a good work life balance?I now work from home - which works well. I don’t commute home at 5pm - so I cook the dinner instead. I get to raid the fridge too much - but I also get to potter round the house at lunchtime if the work is getting all too much for me (instead of finding myself in town wondering around the shops without a purpose). But do I take lunch breaks ever? Rarely. But more now I work from home…  Anyway - the point of all this is that I’m not sure I really do have a balance? What is a balance anyway - when the work you do is your passion. Absolutely - my children, family and friends are more important than any work or mission I might find myself on. But my work and music  are an important part of who I am so without them my family and friends wouldn’t get the whole of me… Therein lies the problem. When I worked more recently in an organisation where people (most often) worked to earn a living and quite often hated their day job - work life balance was very clear. The would have kids and go part time, or just be sure to work only the hours they were paid for and go home and forget work until the next day. I just don’t have that division in my life. If I go to a concert - I’m checking out the production or looking out for new music I might want to programme. My hubby and I went out to see Basement Jaxx recently and I spent a good part of the evening getting cross at the awful customer service (not because we were affected - but because it was a venue I want to do work in!). If I have family or friends to stay from outside the city. I turn into the tourist board and start taking them to places in Brum that I think they’ll be surprised an delighted by. Of course - I’m enjoying this - but I do end up relating it to work. On the other side - I became a school governor 8 years ago for work reasons to find out how governing bodies work - as I worked with so many schools and I wanted to understand the system better. Eight years on my eldest daughter has now started at that school as it is an amazing place and so some work based research has turned out to benefit my family. Not for the last time I’m sure… So maybe there is a balance - not necessarily all in time and working hours - but maybe something much deeper. I work because it seems that is who I am. In turn the work I do and the learning and pleasure it gives me makes me a better mum (fingers crossed) and means I can bring so much more back to my life at home.The key thing that I try to keep check on is - how much we communicate at home. Am I there when they need me? Do I realise if they need me? Most of the time I think I have a handle on this stuff and I always care about it more than my latest work worries.I guess we will see in time! Happy Mother’s Day folks!