My Pesky Day Job

My school books are shelved again

The past month, I have been muddling along a bit with my quest and this blog. The main reason for that was that the final exams of my course were getting closer and closer and I needed to study if I wanted a chance of passing.

I am a writer, I have after all written three books, but the truth of it is that I don’t earn enough money with my writing to be able to pay the rent and get food on the table. To be able to do that I have what is called a ‘pesky day job’. I am however lucky enough that my pesky day job is something I like doing and am even willing to study for to educate myself further in my field. It’s not too easy to find a job in my field at the moment, so for the last seven months I have had a work placement job, which gave me some all important experience, even though it was only three days a week.

I had my exams last Wednesday and this morning I sorted out my schoolbooks and notes and put them away on a bookshelf. Now that I didn’t have to study, anymore I could see some nice time ahead relaxing and doing things for the quest – especially since my work placement ends in three weeks, after which I would have loads of time to look into Radbod’s life and travel to places he has been to.

Then a friend told me about the opportunity for another work placement job. One in my own hometown, with only a 10-minute bicycle ride as commute. If they chose me, it would be a great opportunity for me to gain some more experience, while at the same time continuing my quest as this placement was also only three days a week. I applied, assuming the job wouldn’t start until September, giving me a nice two months off.

I had the job interview last Thursday morning and in the afternoon, I got a call that the job was mine. Obviously, I was happy I got it. Then I heard that the job starts on the 1st of July. Ouch! That would mean no holiday and no lots of travelling for my quest… <sigh>

Of course, I will take the job. I have to, as it is important that I gain more experience. And as my Oxford English Dictionary tells me, as quest is, ‘a long and arduous search for something’. This means my new job is just a little thing that will make my quest more difficult, just like a real quest should be. If it all went smoothly, it wouldn’t be a quest.

Now what will this entail for my quest and my blog? I have thought about it for a bit and have concluded that I will still travel in search of Radbod. My trips will just have to be a bit shorter, but I am sure they are still going to be interesting and fun. In any case, I have the feeling that my quest in search for my saintly ancestor has only just begun, so keep watching this space.

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