miscellany

[parthenia]

professional
Had a quite marvellous trip (ahem) to the optician's yesterday, where my knowledgeable and friendly optician confirmed that I am indeed getting more shortsighted, did a 40-minute examination and then wrote out various complex prescriptions. Then he passed me to his Dispensing colleague who talked science at me for a bit and then helped me choose some new frames.

Honestly, it was such an unusual delight dealing with courteous people who know exactly what they are talking about. Then again, it may be because I represent some optical Mother Lode, as far as opticians go. ^^

corporate
Finally, finally stopped working like a workaholic thing, and I am now beginning to clear up the considerable mess of being an easily distracted internet-addicted procrastinatory workaholic. This involves hideous things, like this morning's conversation with a tax accountant (apparently I need a totally new bank account, a PAYE scheme, tax dividends, VAT registration and a million other totally obvious duh corporate things to stop Inland Revenue chasing me).

I can't believe that I have to willingly contact a bank, especially in these wobbly times.

domestic
Leaving aside the financial disarray, we also have distressing levels of domestic disarray. I have experienced gutwrenching levels of tidiness jealousy recently, from working with a woman whose elegant home office is a testament to warm minimalism, to viewing ravurian's artistically styled bookcases. Right now my home office is still scattered with paper - P. fell asleep here on top of all the papers that I had been sorting out on the floor, and the effect has been a bit like a hedgehog rolling in leaves. It's AWFUL.

Am making lists and thinking about systems for storing the work stuff better and more attractively. I have about a week before I get busy again and I think I badly need a massive clear-out, and then some better storage solutions. Inspiration would be greatly appreciated, whether it's products or websites or stuff anyone's done...

Things I have to store:
- routine interview kit (voice recorder, webcam, external mic)
- audio-visual interviewing equipment (still camera, camcorder, tripod)
- blank disks and other consumables
- DVDs and cassettes from past interviews (have to keep these for 2 years, currently piled in bags provided by the studios, and shoved in a box)
- Manuals and installation disks for software and gizmos
- Project files, current and past (coloured cardboard wallets)
- Financial files (large awkward Lever Arch folders)
- Office supplies (stapler, hole punch, labeller etc etc, currently piled on a filing cabinet that I don't use)
- Stationery supplies (neatly stored by my desk)

I'd put up some photos but...well. Eww.