Aarghhhhhh!!

**Laird_M** · 7th November 13, 05:13 AM

Can someone remind me why I'm working in IT and not sitting at my workbench making sporrans, jewellery and candles?

Our systems are running like molasses in the Arctic, locking up and dumping out...

**Thomas H** · 7th November 13, 05:16 AM

Well could you make the same money and have the same insurance ? if so then yell
Frreeedddooommmmm as you run out of your office . and get to work making what you love . if not then welcome to the club of people who would rather be making sporrans lol.

Have a great day doing what ever you choose .

**BCAC** · 7th November 13, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by Laird_M

Can someone remind me why I'm working in IT and not sitting at my workbench making sporrans, jewellery and candles?

Our systems are running like molasses in the Arctic, locking up and dumping out...

Martin, just be thankful that you have a job (not everyone is that lucky).

I'm being made redundant soon and at my great age they won't be falling over themselves to employ me. A daunting prospect with sombre days ahead for me.

**Laird_M** · 7th November 13, 07:04 AM

Yeah, I know. Was made redundant back in March and was lucky enough to get a job at the end of July which will run until April next year. But days like today really try my patience and make me wish...

**Kalok Sundancer** · 7th November 13, 07:46 AM

I am in IT myself and have been for a bit over 26 years now. There's many days that I wish I was out on my motorcycle rather than at work....heheheheh

**HippieLee** · 7th November 13, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Laird_M

Can someone remind me why I'm working in IT and not sitting at my workbench making sporrans, jewellery and candles?

Our systems are running like molasses in the Arctic, locking up and dumping out...

Ever since I got bit by the leather-working bug, I've wondered the same thing - of course that was only a few months ago and so far I've only made 1 sporran (and several non-sporran items to practice techniques) and I don't even have a work-bench yet - i do most of my work eithe rat teh Tandy leather store where I've been taking some classes or in my recliner with a big wooden lap board for cutting and sewing or a granite slab for tooling and punching and rivet/grommet/eyelet setting...so I know I'm not making a living at it now as I'm just not that good yet

But even as I sit and lace my mind wanders to what might be..starting with a proper work-station! But as an IT guy, I'll probably have some sort of internet connection nearby to get ideas and instruction while I work...

It is nice that in between emergencies (and EVERYthing is an emergency - from a work crew outside cutting through the sonet ring to someone's mouse battery died) I have the freedom to browse through Xmarks and plan my retirement...or where to eat lunch..

**kiltedrennie** · 7th November 13, 12:08 PM

As a fellow ITer, I feel your pain. I'm currently enjoying a death march project with a drop dead date February 14th. Haven't touched any of my personal projects in weeks. Sleep will have to wait until I'm dead.

I've been at this for 24 years and each year it gets harder to do.

**unixken** · 7th November 13, 06:11 PM

I feel the collective pain in this thread. I too am in I.T. I just would have thought that by now I'd be in a position that didn't still have to do the on-call rotation. But The Fates have not been so kind. On-call should be only for the young.

**Pleater** · 8th November 13, 04:32 AM

You have frustration?

Consider the futile round of cleaning dishes, clothes and the house in general knowing that it will not last.

I did not inherit the HK gene - you know, the one which some women get four of and some none. You can tell the instant you walk in through the door.

But hey! another candlemaker - I've never found another one. I have a heap of moulds and wax and other bits and pieces just waiting for either the time to get back to doing fancy smelling painted candles, or a series of power cuts.

What sort of candles do you make, Martin?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Laird_M** · 8th November 13, 05:00 AM

Hi Anne,
I make church style, novelty (did my own Xmas ghost - a Halloween ghost with a small sack of presents), scented, rolled and cast beeswax, pretty much anything.
I used to sell to a few shops including one in London and a few re-enactment groups as I can do Japanese veg wax as well. Trouble was with the cheap Far Eastern flooding the market and Yankee Candle opening up EVERYWHERE I found I couldn't compete despite mine being ultra high quality hand cast items.