I have looked upon with wonder and more than a little bit of envy at work-from-home desks of my friends. Somedays I have longed for a place like that. A place where I can put up cute little mugs filled with colourful pens (that all work), a happy family photograph, a quirky poster, a plant maybe and other adorable knick-knacks.
Somehow I never got around to getting one for myself. Perhaps I never truly felt I needed it.
In the BC (Before Corona) days, from 8 am to 3 pm the house was mine and mine alone. It helped that those were my best writing hours. I could pretty much sit anywhere I chose. Everyday I’d pick a spot and spread out my ‘things’. And that was that.
When the Pandemic struck last year, the children and the Husband took over the home. Wifi wars hotted up between the three of them, each vying for the best spot. The modem was moved from one place to the other and routers were installed to placate everyone.
Between my peacekeeping efforts, feeding the household army (it certainly seemed like one) and keeping the house tolerably clean I had my plate full.
It was only by May-June of 2020 that I could find my bearings. And then, to my shock, in every cosy corner, every happy nook, every writing space I looked, I found a child or a husband busily ensconced, spouting sales figures on the phone at the top of their voices or attending class.
My writing space was severely compromised, my happy hours lost forever. A table was a dream, I didn’t even seem to have a room any longer. I pretty much became a gypsy in the house. I’d shuttle between the dining room and my bedroom and the children’s rooms depending on where I could find some quiet and a table to call my own. To make matters worse I enrolled myself in an online course that needed concentration and focus.
Finally, two things came to my rescue — a folding table and a rucksack. Even as I write this it feels a tad weird but I’m telling you this is the most practical solution.
The rucksack has my kindle, my current read, my phone, my laptop, a physical file that doubles up as a planner and note-taker, a pen and a bottle of water.
I pretty much carry my home-office with me. All I have to do now is pick up my rucksack and my folding table, find a spot and I’m good to go.
My table usually has my note-taker and my laptop. That’s all. For now this will have to do. The gorgeous knick-knacky table of my dreams will have to wait a little while longer.
‘This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.’
