The Meerkat Muse: 23rd of April, 2025

Ahoy there my good ‘kats, and welcome back to the Meerkat Muse! This time around, there is something of a theme. I am both reflecting on the past, and looking to recent events. Let us begin with a voyage into memories.

The Reunion, P1

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with a former colleague from my current job, who had left a year or so ago. It was nice to catch up with him, and to hear his story since he left. Truthfully, I wish he would return, he was fun to work with and good at the job. Alas, he has gone on to new pastures, and I certainly can’t blame him for escaping. Escape has been on my mind lately.

The Reunion, P2

I recently went up to my old stomping grounds of Stevenage, having been invited to a retirement party for a former colleague from my magistrate’s court days. I will confess, getting an invite was lovely, and I was glad to go. Some of the people there, I had not seen for more than twenty years, an obscene passage of time. It was an opportunity to catch up, to share in experiences between then and now, and reminisce. Full confession, I didn’t immediately remember all the faces, and some people I’d never met knew of me by reputation! Divine from that what you will!

The Schism

The sequel to The Awakening is now here! It can purchased directly via the good people of Jumpmaster Press, or via Amazon.

Going Quackers

I have been known to enjoy a bit of cosplay in the past, including an inflatable dinosaur, a meerkat (duh), Bowser from the Super Mario franchise, and now, I proudly present my latest cosplay, intended for an upcoming convention, and perhaps Halloween too:

The outfit might prove to be uncomfortable, but the test run was alright. At this particular event, David Tennant, of Scrooge McDuck fame, will be there, so perhaps I can meet him, as Scrooge! I had a dream where this scenario played out, and Mr Tennant was actually impressed. I hope this is a prophetic dream, but it may yet prove to be pathetic.

Sunnier Days

It certainly seems that April is delivering brighter, warmer days. The evenings are still a bit cooler, as are the mornings, but to demonstrate the improving weather, I went out on Friday the 11th with my wife and daughter, wearing a t-shirt, rather than a coat or hoodie, and it felt warm. I was comfortable. This is a major milestone, and I’m hoping to see a continued upward trend.

Hopeful Prospects

A branch of a nationwide bookstore chain is opening – or reopening – in my town. Alas, I did not realise precisely when, so I haven’t had the chance to put a CV in and see about a job there. I am going to heavily observe this place, because at this point in my life, working in a bookstore could be a form of nirvana.

The Circus

Last Tuesday, my wife, daughter and I took a trip to Lakeside, to go to the circus. It has been quite some time since I saw such a show, and the event itself was an energetic, feisty affair, with acrobatics, stunts, humour, and some intense performances that had this meerkat gasping. I’ve seen the motorbikes in the steel ball before, but it’s always quite exhilarating to see it, and it’s impossible not to respect the dedication to the craft. The performers are artists, honing their skills down to near-perfection, and working to hone their physical and mental strength to the limit. It was very impressive.

What was not so impressive were the day’s experiences with other peoples’ spawn. On the train, we all had to endure whining, grumpy kids, who would not shut up. As we wandered around the labyrinth of Lakeside Shopping Centre, more such encounters with absent-minded and irritable (as well as irritating) children were to be had. At the circus itself, one small child – with his parents not seeking to restrain him at all – kept prodding and poking me in the back, whilst the kid next to me had a neon spinning light thingy, which he kept smacking against my arm. It was an experience seemingly designed to test my patience, at a time when my tolerance for people in general is at a bit of an all-time low.

Still, I was able to reaffirm my escape plan from my current employer, by asking someone in the Lakeside branch of the bookshop chain what they were like to work for. The signals are encouraging; I just need to find a way in!

Easter

This particular Muse draws to a close right after Easter, which has granted my child two weeks off school, and no such rest for me. In fact, I face four out of six working days on my own, with all the potential stress and boredom to go with that. Still, I cannot complain, having been reunited with good friends during this period. These familiar, and much-loved people enriched me, and I hope I did the same for them.

I did do one major, constructive thing over the Easter Holidays. I mowed the garden. I surprised myself with this, because I had originally planned to put it off till Tuesday, however the suggestion of rain meant I either did it on Sunday, or it would not get done for at least another week. Both the front and back gardens had taken on a rather ragged appearance, and desperately needed mowing, so it was a case of biting the bullet and getting it done. Those who know me know I rather despise gardening, but it was looking messy, and now it doesn’t. How about that, I managed to be productive!

Bank Holiday Blues

Monday was a Bank Holiday here in the UK, which I had to work. It was horrible. There were simply too many people for my liking, all with overlapping demands on time. My desire to leave my current employer has never been stronger.

With that thought, I leave you to wonder how I get on, as April slips away, and May graces us. Until next time!

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