I have today (July 1) completed a year in my new job. Or, to put it in another way, a year away from mainline journalism.
I cannot say I have not enjoyed myself – in fact, I have loved the discipline, the early to work and early home routine, plenty of time at my disposal etc but in one corner of my mind, I do miss the hustle and bustle of journalistic life.
And, even in Bahrain, where “nothing ever happens”, it’s been a few eventful years that I spent at the now defunct Bahrain Tribune and the Gulf Daily News. Of course, the high point of any journalist’s career are so-called “civil disturbances” when the eyes of the world are on you. And, I was there in the thick of things during those unfortunate events of 2011.
Those days are, thankfully, behind us and Bahrain has moved on, once again, to become a place “where nothing happens.”
That said, the responsibility that comes with my now year-old job as well as the “attention” that I get all the time makes me not miss the days when I was on the job 48 hours a day, 14 days a week, 60 days a month. There was no night, no day, no afternoon naps, no peaceful lunches, no parties, no outings, gatherings or celebrating occasions. Everything hinged on the unexpected – and that could be a car turning turtle somewhere or a fire in someone’s backyard. 
It could also mean being woken up at 3 am by a friendly paramedic who reported a major fire or a co-operative hospital employee who called me on a Friday to say some fishermen rescued from the sea had checked into the emergency Room.
Even now, when I see an “incident” on the road I almost always jump to “cover” it and realise instantly it’s not my job any more. I do alert friends at the newspaper sometimes but mostly look the other way. After all, they also have a job to do – like I did.
Coming back to the present, I am frankly not really liking the sleeping and taking a nap bit when I return from work but try to utilise the time as much as possible to go on picture walks – and work on a book of picture that, I hope, will see light of day soon!
But, yes, I have no regrets, no emotions.
After all, I am here because my new employers needed me – and those at the newspaper did not!
Tag Archives: job
Flab to Fab
Reply
It has finally happened! I have joined a gym. And the first assessment report has encouraged me. I am only three kilos overweight, and a few weeks of regular exercise should solve that problem, so said my personal trainer.
The extra kilos are on the belly, which had started to look somewhat like a very small inverted pot over the last few months.
Two days so far and I am already looking forward to the workout for the next few days and beyond.
The best part is the gym, located in Bahrain’s most upmarket locations, gives a feeling of being in a fitness freak’s paradise and inviting.
Another incentive is that there are so many other like you – ordinary people who are there to exercise, just to keep fit, stay or become agile or to cut a few inches off the tummy. That makes you feel “not alone”.
Nearly three months out of my old job and two months into the new, I am finally making the most of the extra time at my disposal. Enough of coming home in the afternoon and sleeping it off or lazing around. The time is suddenly productive. And what better way to spend it than getting rid of the unwanted flab?
Here’s to a fitter tomorrow!
MANDEEPSINGS 