Procrastination Gets Other Jobs Done

BIG JOB BREAKING OUT …

Ey up. 'The Bradshaws An’ All That' book has gone to press so it’s time to crack on with the next project, which is: edit my ‘Catchy Choruses and Daft Bits’ CD. Come on then Hawkins, finger out!

As usual at the start of a big project I apply following really useful old proverb which I made up myself. ‘Procrastination gets other jobs done’. It works like this.

1) First: I fire up the laptop. Then, just so as not to waste precious time later, I go and make a brew while it does its various whirrings and beepings. Brew in hand, I decide to make a list of other essential jobs that could fall by the wayside once I get stuck into this project. I find a pen and then spend 10 minutes cutting sheets of A4 paper into smaller pieces. I might only need one but doing a stack of them will save me time next time I want a small piece of paper. I make my list.

2) I take my list of other ‘essential’ jobs out to my car, where I notice how naked her windscreen looks without a tax disc. I go back in and get a Bradshaws sticker and put it in the empty space. Mmm. That looks cool so I put one in the rear window as well. Job well done. Her dignity is restored. I go to cross it off my essential jobs list but it wasn’t on anyway. Ah well, it would’ve needed doing sooner or later.

3) I drive to the local shop for a loaf. It’s 4 miles away so to make the most of the trip I sit outside for a bit thinking of other things I need. I can’t think of any so I get two nice sunflower and honey batards instead of one (I think 'batard' is foreign for 'loaf'). This I can have a quick and healthy sandwich later, not waste more time wondering what to eat, and still have enough bread left in case of visitors. As nobody actually knows where my secret writing den is, having a visitor isn’t very likely. But always say you never know.

4) As the local satellite doesn’t always turn up around here I decide that while I’m out I should find a phone signal - so I can make a few calls to let people know I won’t be making any calls today because I’ll be focussing on my priority project. Er, what was it now? As luck happens I find a good signal on the sea front and sit in the car watching the rain and doing some much needed blue sky thinking. A necessity in the creative world.

5) Thinking ahead I realise I will probably want a coffee when I get back (I don't do Welsh but I think that’s the translation). Anyway, I need to make some notes for this blog, so I kill two birds with one scone (and jam).

6) I get back and find my laptop wasn’t plugged in and has gone into a coma.
I’ll get cracking when it’s charged up. Blimey look at the time!