Work and play

Dear Diary,

I'll have to be quick, because I have a deadline for the Chinese firm looming any second. My old computer, already second hand when I first got it, is crawling, sometimes taking between 3-7 seconds to edit a single word. It just hangs a lot of the time with a '(Not Responding)' message until it sorts its life out again. I've nearly finished the assignment, but it's taken me two days so far, what with one thing or another, and I have yet to check it.

I'm also flat broke (again), so I need the money. I'm hoping my boss is satisfied with the work I've done.

Being in that... place tonight, though relatively quiet, was not fun. This little 17 year old brat keeps giving me orders (one of many). I long to say to them, "Look. I first started working in fast food in 1996, that's 26 years ago, a decade before you were born. So you... don't... get to tell me... what to do." They are not my boss or anything, but they act like it. It irks me, very much.

Tomorrow I was supposed to be elsewhere, at some do or another. I have decided to cancel it, because a good friend at work is lonely on his day off. He's invited me round for a Chinese (food, not work) and a drink. I accepted, as in truth, there is nothing more important than friendship. He's a rough diamond, but I actually quite like the bloke. One time, at work, he said that he would go halves on a lottery ticket with someone else at work, adding, "If it comes in, I will split it down the middle with you, 50/50." All these little kids said sarcastically, "Oh, yeah, sure you would. You would take the money and run." (which is what the little brats would do), but this is the kind of guy that isn't like that, at all. He is as good as his word, and a man is only as good as his word. That is very rare in this world, especially nowadays. He is a man of honour. He asks for nothing, but gives generously. I told him I was broke, that I would much rather come visit when I could turn up with a bottle and a Chinese. He insisted, explaining that he would just be sat at home alone, and wanted some company. How could I refuse? He also said, "Next time, you can get them in." This I will do, gladly. Reciprocity. Friendship. It's important.

If I am honest, we are very different in many ways. I tend to be somewhat more humanitarian, and have a more egalitarian view of the world. I live in books. I am not a conspiracy theorist. Much of the time, however, we both agree, because we are both ultimately patriots, no matter if both of us have become embittered by being ground down by an uncaring, ungrateful society, which rewards rich crooks and taxes the poor.

I have also learnt that here in the provinces, there is a much more conservative view of the world with many people. This is not true of the hippie and bargie side of this county, but is more true of those I actually prefer to keep the company of (such as Dr. Sean Walsh, the writer and philosopher).

In truth, I should have attended that do tomorrow, but I'm broke, and I actually hate going anywhere broke (besides, I still have yet to make good on £15 I owe this other chap, a thoroughly excellent person). It's for the better.

Max.