Monday

All across what we call the 'West,' people rise at various, too early, times and greet Monday morning.  By far the majority of working people look forward to a five day week and a very quick weekend to follow.  Lucky people!

Those who do shit work, a week from 7 am to 3 pm, followed by a week of 3 pm to 11 pm, or even a rolling week when the beginning moves forward a day meaning the weekend is never a proper weekend.  Some of course today work 4 day weeks, 12 hour days and 3 days off, great, according to the work that is.  Shift working people often have the lowest jobs, the smallest wage, and the lowest place in society even though many are well educated and often have had 'better' employment.  

The vats majority however, keep to a five day week, Monday to Friday, a rota that never changes and while bring helps you to remember what day it is.  Most are office and shop workers, though many office workers can remain at home thanks to the internet and a good landline, shop workers often have to include a Saturday rather than a Friday finish.  

I well remember the joy of a Monday morning.  The struggle to get out of bed, searching for breakfast, searching for a shirt, searching for a brain.  The 9-5 meant a bus to some workplace in an office full of two faced people.  Not always, but all offices have them.  Even the best include the type of person who would sell their grannie, if they had not already done so.  These places were run by smiling, cheery people who offered good cheer and a knife in the back when no-one was looking, a great thing to look forward to on a Monday morning.  

The commuter, travelling across town in a rain soaked bus, or the early riser meeting the train t 06:35 hours and travelling for 90 minutes into town knowing that in spite of the money earned they will not see home again until 13 hours or more have passed.  Is it worth it I wonder?  During Thatcher's 80s people working in London took to moving to places as far away as Doncaster, here a train at 07.00 hours would drop them at Kings Cross close to their 9 am start time.  In the evening, the 17:23 north would get them home 2 hours later and they would still arrive home before many in London had reached their destination!  The Doncaster house may have cost £28,000 while the London flat £190,000!  It is understandable while people commuted.  The stress is less than that found by living in large cities.  Some of course drive for hours instead of public transport, blocking the roads, having accidents, but being 'free!'    

The only time joy can be found on a Monday at work is when you begin a new, and hopefully, a positive job.  Here you see higher wages, better conditions, superior people, and a hope for the future.  This will of course die, but at the moment you are positive, a wee bit nervous and happy to rise that wee bit earlier.

By Friday all this may have changed...

Those of us missing out on the joy of a Monday, by selecting the cheaper versions of goods in the nearest supermarket, can stand at the window watching people hurrying to work from early on a Monday morning.  Sometimes we wave from the widow while holding our coffee cup but the return waves, often hidden somewhat in the mirk, are not always positive ones.  Ah well, we need some enjoyment while Keir steals out heating support and laughs are always in short supply around him.  With Keir and Rachel every day is a Monday.