NORTHERN PLANNER

I went to see Ryan Adams (NOT, I repeat NOT Byan) the other night at the O2 Academy in Leeds.

Rather good in case you're interested. I like gigs like this, nice to be surrounded by my own people or so to speak.

But that's not the point I want to make.

You see, leaving the venue, we walked past a nondescript pub.

Except it's not for me.

Over 13 years ago, I didn't have a full time job and the money was running out.

So I was temping in a call centre, selling plumbing and drainage insurance.

Soul destroying, which is why I'm always nice to cold callers. I've been there.

We worked from 12pm until 8. Lunch was 5. But it wasn't lunch, everybody went to this pub to drink their way into a state to get through the rest of the shift.

Misery.

The spoiled, ex-student, recently ex-ad agency me met all sorts of people there.

And I learned how lucky I was, because I knew this employment arrangement was only temporary.

For others, this wasn't a stop gap. Just part of an endless cycle of undertainty.

Sometimes it's worth being reminded you could roll the dice a thousand times and never be as lucky as you are.

Anyway.