I
Day 3 in the big brother house. Thursday the 23rd January 2025. The time is 7:48. The housemates are just waking up for a brew and a biscuit. Jim and Rhonda are still not speaking after last night’s tiff.
Did you read that in the Big Brother narrator’s Geordie accent? I hope so. All jokes aside though, it is Thursday so true freedom beckons at my door. Speaking of freedom: as I walked from the bus stop to work, I realised I see the same people every morning. On the bus, and on my short walk here, always those same blank, tired faces. People who I know nothing about other than the fact that they are programmed to head to work at the same time as me. Like ants who bring food for their queen, we move without want, but because it is ingrained in our routine. Invisible chains are wrapped around our ankles, and, it is very rare that we break free from those shackles. Do you not wonder what would happen if you did? Whilst you ride the bus one morning, instead of disembarking at your usual bus stop, why not get off at the next? Better yet, why not call in sick and travel somewhere new? If you drive, surely, you must have thought about that: continuing down the motorway towards a mysterious foreign land.
I broke free once. Two years ago. I was on the bus to work and didn’t feel like going in. Instead, I visited Leeds train station and caught a train to Blackpool, where I walked along the beach and got very drunk at 9am. That was a wonderful day. A magical memory made. And – if you read my blog yesterday – you will know I don’t make many memories any more. I’m sure we all yearn to act impulsively every morning before work. Don’t let me be the devil on your shoulder, but, maybe, one day, why don’t you act on those impulses and break free from your routine? Just a thought. Do with it what you please. Anyway, 8:13 now, I better go and empty bins.
II
9:41 and I have hoovered the entirety of the second building.
There are two buildings I clean and this one is where I do most of my work. Although, I shouldn’t have to hoover the entire building. The cleaner who covers the afternoon shift should also play his part. Unfortunately, I have found him to be incompetent and lazy. He barely does anything and even has the cheek to admit so when I see him at the end of my shifts. Several times now he has strutted towards me and said, ‘I had nothing to do yesterday so I just sat down for hours’.
I felt like punching him right there, in his fat fucking mouth. Nothing to do? How’s about do the fucking hoovering, mate? When I mentioned that, he replied, he doesn’t like to hoover while people are around. I shook my head and stormed off, a big vein bulging across my temple.
Many people here have informed me of how bad a cleaner he is. Even before I started working here and he covered both shifts, apparently, he didn’t do jack shit – he sauntered around with a bin bag in his hand and that’s about it. So, when I heard about his laziness, I decided that, each shift, I would prioritise necessities such as the kitchens and toilets. Leave the hoovering and desk wiping to him. Now I’ve established though, he won’t even do that! Heck, I like to keep myself busy. I like time to pass as quickly as possible. But, what I don’t like is, when somebody takes the piss. We earn the same wage so our work should be equal; I shouldn’t have to do everything whilst he sits on his arse. Oh well. What can I do? I won’t snitch. I’ll suck it up, because I know I won’t be here forever.
III
10:56. One hour to go.
I have cleaned the toilets in the first building and soon I shall begin on the second building’s. I haven’t cleaned the kitchens. I’ll tell the other cleaner to do them. Whether he does or not is his prerogative; I cannot control his actions.
I’m debating if I should run after work or not. I love running, and, last year, I managed to build my stamina up until I could run 10k. I ran the Abbey Dash in a decent time last October. Then, a couple of weeks later, after one particular run, I was hit with a dreaded shin splint that hasn’t fully healed. I stop running for weeks at a time, believe it has healed, run again, then it comes back. I thought I’d finally beat it last week. I managed three runs with no discomfort at all. Then, I went for a run on Monday, and now it’s painful again. I wouldn’t mind, but now, I also have issues with my thoracic muscles due to Scoliosis. I frequently suffer from back pain. Therefore, I cannot win. If I lift weights, my back aches. If I run, my shin splints. So, what can I do? Return to being a chubby slob like I was for most of my twenties? Say fuck it, and die of a heart attack before I reach sixty? Some days, I feel like giving up when the pain is at its worst. But I know I cannot sink back into apathy. I want to push forth and keep growing as a person. Hardship makes weak men tough, or so they say.
IV
11:42 and time to call it a day.
Nobody works ’til finish time. During those final few minutes, we pack up our belongings, bang on our coats, and prepare ourselves for home.
Tomorrow is Friday, the best day of the week. Everybody is all smiles and waves during that final weekly shift. Thursday is somewhat better than the previous three days, yet we know we must still work tomorrow. I cannot complain though, only working part time. When I leave here at 12pm, so many hours remain, which gives me ample opportunity to read and write and exercise and do all of the other things which make me happy. I do not take this for granted. I know millions of other people cannot afford to work part time. I will use this free time to better myself, hone my craft, and hopefully, one day, achieve my dream of becoming a professional (PAID) writer. These blogs are just one step towards achieving that goal.
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