Tonight was one of those nights that reminds me why freelancing is not for the fainthearted. I got a call at 5.30pm, in the middle of cooking dinner, from a new client who asked if I could do an urgent job. How urgent? I asked, one eye on the pasta boiling over on the stove. Tomorrow, they replied. I laughed. How novel.Only it's not. Still, I did the job. Like I always do. Because that's what you have to do if you're going to have a freelance career.
I'm not complaining. As with every job, I learned something. If only how prevalent use of the word 'trialling' has become in the corporate world. And hopefully they'll think of me next time - preferably before 5.30pm.
It was just another day that made me grateful for being a Night Owl. I know that a Lark might have got up early to fit it in, but how would you know when to get up? I thought the job might take two hours. It took longer. Had I been the Lark, I'd have been trying to finish it up whilst getting Mr6 in his school uniform, Mr3 to eat his Weetbix and me out of my pyjamas before the school run. When you're an Owl, you can just keep on going until the job is done.
What a hoot.
And you found the time and energy to write a blog post too. Hats off to you! Sleep is for the weak.
ReplyDeleteT-wit T-woo. I'm usually an owl but if I'm going to have any chance of October 1st, need to be larking about for a bit. It was quite peaceful really at that time. It took me quite a while to get used to the old freelance think I must admit. First big commission I got he was asleep in his moses basket at my feet, then I got irate because people were calling me when I was changing nappies, now I just shut block out the noise. Could never go back to a 9-5 now (might regret saying that!!). Glad you got it done and dusted. Even if it was pulling teeth.
ReplyDeleteAnother night owl here (or should that be turkey?)
ReplyDeleteI was up until 1am last night trying to make up for two days lost laying in bed (almost) dying with the plague. Another one of the joys of freelance - there's no temp to cover you when you're ill.
I'm with you - stay up until the job is done. I can never sleep properly if I know I have to get up early anyway.
Yes im another night owl who has two night owl children and two um, day owl children.
ReplyDeleteHoot, hoot! Night owl here. Guess when I went to bed last night? 1.30am. I know. That's very naughty of me, because now I'm tired, and I would have given anything to sleep in this morning. It's a little too late, and I'm trying not to do that too often.
ReplyDeleteWell done on getting it done though! Hope next time you're given more advance warning!
"No" really isn't in the freelance vocab is it? I'd take the nightowl option - at least you're running on adrenaline to get it finished, whereas I'm dopey first thing in the morning and extremely doping early in the day. Well done!
ReplyDeleteA day in the life of a freelancer. The same thing happens to me a lot but I always try to take the job because you never know when the next one will come along and I like to help people if I can.
ReplyDeleteWanted to check out your blog after you left a comment on mine. I lived in a pink fibro house in NZ - we called it the Pink Palace to try to put a positive spin on it.
Great to meet you out here in the blogosphere and keep on blogging, you've got a great spot here and I think you are ready for guest posts:)