freelancers' watercooler: anyone else feel like they don't have a "proper" job?

[hatwoman]

I feel in need of a multiple water cooler rant...please join in

summer holidays: juggling and muddling, falling behind, not doing anything properly. I'm so ready for term to start...can't believe it's another week

dh's climbing trip and my deadlines: just as the school holidays ends and I should be able to back to normal routine (working full day Mon and Thur, school hours the other days) dh is going off climbing for a week. I have two deadines in 3 weeks' time, one of which involves standing up infront of a load of people and talking about the work I've been doing over the summmer

wishing I had a proper job: oh I know all the pluses but I just want an office and colleagues and working hours and child care.

please talk to me and tell me I'm not alone

I work 9am - 3pm - with -MN coffee breaks. I try to be really strict about it and ignore any domestic stuff that is going on i.e. if the washing machine finishes etc. I've found this is the only way i can concentrate fully ... all or nothing. Once the lines get blurred i'm buggered.

No set hours here - I do a bit if I wake up before DSs, then a bit after breakfast while they are getting ready for school, then some in the morning after school drop-off depending on where DS3 is (childminder, out for a walk with MIL etc), two solid hours after lunch while DS3 sleeps, bits after school pick up between reading with DS1 / DS2, helping with homework etc, then maybe half hour or so in the evening or more. It's very, very bitty most days. I spend £9.25 per week on childcare at the mo. (one morning for DS3 with lovely childminder). I do want to see if she'll have him two mornings though now.

Any correspondance / job applications etc. i do in the evenings sometimes.

Good morning everyone! Is it too early for a coffee break? I've got DS3 all day today so not a big work day but I can do bits and as always have a good two-hour session when he naps.

Morning, kettle is on.

My DC started school this week. I find it impossible to concentrate when he is here and I am hoping to work during school hours starting next week. My OH is very supportive, but he just doesn't understand how difficult it is to get into the flow of something complicated with a 4 yo in the same room. I can get organised and respond to emails but nothing that requires serious thought.

I am so happy not to pay nursery fees any more and am trying to work around school hours and term time. Finances will dictate if I need to get a job.

Off to dentist in a while.

Morning! I'm here for another 10 mins then will start working at 10am. TheHare, I think I'll be doing what you do when DD starts school next year and working solid from 9 to 3. I like routine and am not very efficient working in bits and pieces of times (unless I really have to of course).

Agree Bssh, I'm gonna go with TheHare's approach from next week.

Argh, you see, this is why I need to have the stress of knowing I'll be picking DD up in a few hours rather than at the end of the day: it's 10.45 and I'm still on Mumsnet indulging at leisure because I keep thinking "Oh I've got until 5.30pm to get my day's work finished before I pick up DD" so I dither.

Okay, logging off now.

morning everyone. I shouldn't really be here. it's amazing how the morning disappears sometimes. dropped dd off at school, went for a run with the dog (dog needs to be walked so might as well run - multi-tasking), got doverted by cows, bumped into old neighbour, chatted for 10 minutes, called at post office to pick up a delivery, came home, showered, had something to eat, made coffee, quick look at fb, printed out something I need to read for a 12 o'clock phone meeting. and here I am. I was meant to run for half an hour and be at my desk by 10. hugely optimistic. printer's stopped now so I should skidaddle

Morning everyone - Chaotic morning here - forgot DSs stuff for his cycling proficiency (trip back to school) and am babysitting the foster dog for the day (very elderly neighbours - we have him when they have to do stuff) - having four dogs in the house is quite distracting .

I am really trying to stick to my 9-3 ideal - but there seems alot to catch up on this week as someone else mentioned. Hopefully i'll be back on my roll by Mon - Fri next week...

at being doverted by cows. not sure if it's a good thing or not.

OK, can you lot explain something to me. why is it that when something - like a deadline or a meeting - gets changed, your whole mindset changes? Even if it makes not one scrap of difference to the total volume of work you have and the overall/long-term deadlines are just as pressing as they were before the cancellation - in fact possibly more so because you're thinking, oh good I can read up on x,y,z before the meeting rather than whinging it, you still think, oh I can pop the kettle on again, see how mn is, maybe even stick some washing in the washing machine. gawd I drive myself mad.

I have to leave the house at 3.15 to pick up DS2 from school.

I reckon 2.15 - 3.15 is my most productive hour in the day.... and there is a general trend of e-mails to clients, with finished work attached, being sent at 3.14 p.m.

I also work school time. Dh drops off and I tend to tidy kitchen/ put laundry in etc between 8.00 - 8.30 and get to my desk about 8.45.

Oh God I am tired! A friend came over last night because both our DHs are away - somehow (!) managed to drink far too much on a school night and then the baby was up half the night. Mind you, think my client has had too much too - she began her last email to me "Dear Ian" (I am not called Ian). She is wondering when I might manage to return a chapter that afaik she hasn't yet sent me.
Think I might just go back to bed and start again tomorrow :)

Been to dentist with a and have an abscess.

Urgh to drinking and then babies waking up in the night.

Last hour before pick up is also productive for me. Frustration too, cos I never have enough time to finish. Why is it that something that would take 10 mins more, takes 40 mins when you have to recap and restart? I over prepare and often do far better when I wing it - something a craft ex-boss taught me.

I need to get better at things being good enough. If deadlines extend I don't need revise and make absolutely perfect. If people have paid for 5 days I need to consider what is in it for me to do more.

I'm in spreadsheet hell at the moment. It's funny what you say Tryionloving because I said to DH today that I wish I could pick up the DSs from school when I reach a natural break in my work because as 3pm looms I'm always panicking thinking 'I just need to finish this bit, do this email, save this spreadsheet' etc and I am always late to get them!

BeckyBL, I sent you a PM, did you see it?
Eurgh @ spreadsheets :)

Oh my goodness, once I finally logged off Mumsnet at 11am today I downloaded a programme called Freedom which disables the Internet for a specified period of time (your choice how long) and the only way to disable it is to restart your PC which frankly is a faff. Internet surfing is my number one distraction from work. Well it worked! I accomplished so much work in those Internet-free hours (I set it to 4.5 hours) and even managed to work on a personal project too. My work is computer based but not web-dependent so it worked well for me.

I'm going to set it again tomorrow but this time at 9 am.

I'm working on my main spreadsheet - 300 rows, 22 columns - every number matters and the whole lot is formula driven database at the moment.
Planning what to say when I present it week after next to a VERY reluctant audience is my next task

Oooh no I didn't bigbadbarry I'm not sure where the PMs go? I'll have a look.

Found it, I've replied :)

Bssh that is hardcore discipline. I close all tabs except those related to work. I find once I actually get started, I can stay engaged.

I have an upcoming job that involves completing an excel spreadsheet that is about 80 pages long. I would prefer to devise my own rather than completing a template. I think I will leave this to last.

Blimey Tyrionloving that's a big spreadsheet. What do you do, if you don't mind me asking? I love Excel and I love spreadsheets but 80 pages might defeat me.

80 pages
yikes - how on earth you you debug that?!?!?

I have been for an interview for a proper job.

Don't do it.
THe real world is full of fools!