Saturday 3 September 2016

Thinking the unthinkable


Ahoy there! Welcome on board!

I don't very often wake up with a slight feeling of dread, but this morning my head was full of anxiety about whether or not I have made something as safe as it could be, and I am running and re-running a series of 'worst case scenarios' in my imagination which involve all components of a recently built structure failing at once.

My reason tells me that this is highly unlikely, but if even the smallest fragment of doubt remains, then that is enough to ruin my weekend. I usually operate on the belt and braces principle, but I settled for belt only in this case. Oh well, I will go back on Monday and stare at it until I come up with the right conclusion. Staring at photos only makes things worse - contrary to popular myth, the camera lies, and lies often.

The first thing I saw from the kitchen window was a Peregrine Falcon, flying low overhead with what looked like a Blackbird in its talons. In my current anxious state of mind, this image took on an aspect of grim portent, and I fought hard to bring reason back into the picture.

I just looked out of the other window, and saw the father of a young friend (or ex-friend - she has been helping to spread malicious rumours about me) walking along with a large flag tied to his back, advertising a local market. This is a step up from his previous job, which was walking along carrying a large wooden placard advertising the same market.

I admire him and what he does. What he does best is to ignore the embarrassment he causes to his children by not working as the accountant he is qualified to be, earning just enough money to keep going without any of the mental stress that I am experiencing right now, but - sadly - not quite enough to be able to eat as well as pay council tax bills.

I thought I had organised a reasonably stress-free existence, but then the words of the foreman on the job of yesterday came back to me when I questioned whether or not a certain procedure was necessary.

"Whatever you think best, Tom."

It is what is known as covering one's arse in front of witnesses.


11 comments:

  1. Some folk are belt and braces folk, some are not. I think if you are one of them then you have to suffer the accompanying anxiety.

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    1. The consequences of anything going wrong are, in this case, more terrible than I want to imagine. I will have to wait until next week for reassurance.

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    2. Woke up to a large earthquake this morning which are rare as hen's teeth here. Born with a lifelong anxiety disorder (I always characterized it as being prepared for all eventualities), I feel your pain. I think I've worried my life away.

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  2. Good morning Tom. I hope you're anxious for nothing after all. I despise that feeling of dread and impending doom...being quite familiar with it because of my OCD.

    I'm sure everything will work out fine.

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    1. Yes, I think this feeling is a hangover in disguise, because I feel fine in every other respect.

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  3. If it goes belly up, will anyone be injured (like the blackbird). That's worth the worry. The hell with the rest.

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    1. That's the only thing I worried about - injuring three generations of anyone's family would be bad enough, let alone my cient's.

      I feel better and reasured about it now.

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  4. What fills me with dread right now is the worry that the gal on the boat is going to lose her dainty slippers to the waves.

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  5. I can remember cutting and installing big mullioned windows and wondering if the builders would tie them in correctly. I don't think any have fallen out yet.

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    1. Mullions usually hold themselves up, but I know the feeling.

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