Rangy Manatee

Well. Cumberland was fun. Fantastic in fact. Reasons why:

1) My boss is lovely and says things like "I think it's a night to have a drink isn't it?" Well, who am I to say no?

2) The customers on the whole are lovely. The most satisfying thing is that I am able to talk to them. And because my first couple of shifts were none too busy, I could really talk to them. And every one has a story they start telling which, at least so far, is really interesting me. Most conversations are interrupted by me looking sideways and serving someone else a couple of pints, but it can't be all good. Tell you what though, there's nothing like listening to these (often quite lonely) people to make you realise that one's life is spent gathering stories and telling them. If I make it to 60 and I can't tell a good story, what's the fucking point? No one will listen to an old gadgie if his stories all tail off into confusion and his endings don't deliver. It also doesn't help when they all start with "I could have been..." Nowt like hearing that phrase to wake you up. It's a conversational kick in the shins - hurts like hell and makes you wanna throw narrative dust in their eyes (no idea where this metaphor's going. To hell probably).

3) The beer is ace.

So, I'm working in various distinct parts of the economy: service and entertainments (The Cumberland), the penis-relief arena at BT (or the PRA as they would have me say it) and just recently decided to add another to my list by doing a few shifts for Oxfam. What shall I call that one - non-profit, altruistic, soul-renewal? Middle class guilt? Yes, the middle class guilt sector of the economy. That sounds promising.