functional · ramblings

Last time I took a leave of absence from writing this thing, Steve was kind enough to bemoan my silence, and so I felt pressed to write again. That was over a year ago now, and so much has happened - I am on my second PowerBook, for starters - but I am disappointed to note that nobody has missed me enough to warrant, say, asking where I am. I am aware that this is because no-one actually reads this (and am further aware that writing such has the effect of driving any that do away, as they feel sad/guilty for perusing the memoirs of a loser).

I suppose work has rather got in the way. It's noticeable that I was posting quite a bit back in April, which was roughly the time when I should have been being studying for exams - or possibly in that void just afterwards - the one between finishing exams for the year and getting a job. In retrospect, that void probably lasted longer than I would have liked - it was not until some time in late June that I actually got a job - firstly at Russell-Cooke solicitors in Putney and then, at least partly thanks to Marimo, at the Japan Green Medical Centre, glorious for various reasons, but chiefly for the purposes of CV enhancement (one has to be mindful of such things these days). Gastronomically profitable too, as alluded to here.

And I've now been working in that same law firm's Bedford Row office for, ooh, a good month and a half now, which has been an excellent experience and also, I must add, a pleasant one. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and I feel rather like I have "made it". Bedford Row is the home of various barristers' chambers and oldskool law firms and it is most delightfully English - a wide avenue (yes, it has trees) with old brick buildings and red phone boxes. Something like heaven for me.

I think this is where I'm headed. I think the Bar awaits. I have expressed this idea to a few now, which has met with some surprise, as it makes no use of the Japanese I have spent ten years learning. But I am now wondering what I want out of my knowledge of the Japanese language. If I want to go down the law route and use Japanese, I have to become a solicitor specialising in commercial law, which pays well but has no soul.

If he reads this, Shu-chan may well switch off at this point. I am sure that on more than one occasion I have extolled to him the necessity of soul in a career, and that the idea of working on weekends and coming in on Christmas Day for nothing more than money is not something that particularly motivates me, but I don't think he really gets me. Each to their own, I suppose, but where is the greater good in Ibramovich or Bill Gates making another million quid?

I suppose perhaps as a family lawyer you can really help to make a difference to individuals' lives, but a barrister can have his hand in forging a precedent that lasts down the ages. I suppose, ultimately, that might be my way of achieving immortality.

It's all about the bigger picture.