It is the last day of the antipodeans’ financial year. For the last hour or so, the office has been abuzz with an anticipation of a good lunch in a restaurant nearby, for the whole office. I guess this means the firm has had a good year. That is consistent with the Australian economy, I guess. I wonder though, what it’d be like next (financial) year. With crude oil prices asking Scottie to slow down, with John Howard’s version of industrial relation revolution, with a chronic shortage of skilled labour and of course, – everyone’s 600 pound gorilla – China’s juggernaut, how the economy would fare after today is a question no one dare ask loudly, I guess. For me personally though, I’d be glad if I still sit here this time next year, cranking out agreements, affidavits, pleadings, letters and such other exciting legal documents.
I was in the city yesterday afternoon and just like all of my other visits, yesterday stoked a little fire in me, causing me to miss city-type of work. This office I was in was very similar to my last law firm in KL. Beautiful panelled wall with the name of the firm tastefully emblazoned across the wall separating the reception from the rest of the office, the set of plush leather chairs in the waiting area exuded charm and class. The office goes around to occupy the entire floor, and the meeting rooms all had charming oak or oak-like tables and gently aged leather chairs. Of course, all these are likely funded by associates and partners busily cranking up billable hours, probably at the expense of a “balanced lifestyle”.
I recall the insane hours the associates and some partners in that KL law firm used to put in (and are still putting in). I’d leave around 9-10pm and still feel like an early one. Then there were the all-nighters, which thankfully I had very few of. Of course, in those days, often the only time I saw my kid was during the weekend. I remember often wishing I had the chance to be doing something else, just to avoid that sort of grind. And yet, here I am, thinking maybe I miss those days! I guess we tend to remember the good parts and forget the bad parts of every stage or experience of ours. Maybe the fact that I’m trying to find my feet/ground myself in the legal circles here that I sometimes wished I could return to that sort of work. Later that night however, when I was home cooking dinner for the wife and daughter at 6.30pm, I was glad I wasn’t working in the city. It felt good to be sitting at the dinner table at 7pm with the family, eating and catching up, talking and laughing.
God in His wisdom has provided me with this job. It wasnt something I particularly wanted or sought out, but it has turned out to be a blessing in so many ways. I guess I could do a lot worse than placing my future totally in God’s hands. I will just work on what he has blessed me with and leave everything else to Him.
Ante 