During these three weeks in and around London, I had a great opportunity to experience different venues for working. This is actually something I don't usually do even though my job technically gives me freedom of workspace. There has always been a certain degree of fear that frequent changes of workspace might affect the stability of mind and concentration, thus productivity. And work is, in the end, all about productivity. Productivity must be secured.
However, when circumstances change, one has to learn to adapt to changes.
The challenge is this. I came to London to visit and spend time with friends, and I have to work, probably at a different place every day. Who knows, though. Perhaps it will turn out to be a great thing - a chance to experience different venues and train myself so that I become less prone to outer circumstances while working. Well. I'm in it.
So went three weeks of the experiment. Now here is the list of places I worked at during those days.
Entering UK
- Gatwick Airport
Richmond
- M's guest room
- Richmond Green park
- Richmond Lending Library
Stock Newington
- The House cafe in Clissold Park
- Stock Newington Library
- Lydia Cafe
- A's living room
St. Albans
- F's living room
- A cafe in central St. Albans
- The garden of a Thai restaurant in St. Albans
- St. Albans Central Library
Waterloo
- S's room
- St. James Park
- Benugo bar & kitchen at BFI Southbank
Leighton Buzzard
- M's dining room
- Leighton Buzzard Library
- Ollie Vee's (vintage store/cafe)
- A park behind St. Banabas' Parish Church
Richmond
- Starbucks
- M's living room
My best favorite library was Stock Newington Library, because it has a big desk for each individual, it doesn't have the slightly stuffy air many libraries with carpeted floors have, and it is amusing to see people interact with each other - whether it is a librarian randomly talking to people or an elder playing out loud some pop music by mistake and people just enjoying what has just happened.
But the best of the best workplaces is a park under the sun. When the weather is fine, there is no better place than a warm, dry lawn to sit on and work from. One day, I was walking alone to the Leighton Buzzard Library. Then I stopped at the park between the train station and St. Banabas' Parish Church. There was nobody, and the sun was shining. How could I not.
Soon I found a tree to lean my back on, sat there, and started working. Two hours passed in such tranquility and joy. The only sounds heard from time to time were just the church bells ringing, birds singing, and leaves rustling through the gently blowing wind. I shouted in my mind several times, what a happy human being I was.
The challenge is this. I came to London to visit and spend time with friends, and I have to work, probably at a different place every day. Who knows, though. Perhaps it will turn out to be a great thing - a chance to experience different venues and train myself so that I become less prone to outer circumstances while working. Well. I'm in it.
So went three weeks of the experiment. Now here is the list of places I worked at during those days.
Entering UK
- Gatwick Airport
Richmond
- M's guest room
- Richmond Green park
- Richmond Lending Library
Stock Newington
- The House cafe in Clissold Park
- Stock Newington Library
- Lydia Cafe
- A's living room
St. Albans
- F's living room
- A cafe in central St. Albans
- The garden of a Thai restaurant in St. Albans
- St. Albans Central Library
Waterloo
- S's room
- St. James Park
- Benugo bar & kitchen at BFI Southbank
Leighton Buzzard
- M's dining room
- Leighton Buzzard Library
- Ollie Vee's (vintage store/cafe)
- A park behind St. Banabas' Parish Church
Richmond
- Starbucks
- M's living room
My best favorite library was Stock Newington Library, because it has a big desk for each individual, it doesn't have the slightly stuffy air many libraries with carpeted floors have, and it is amusing to see people interact with each other - whether it is a librarian randomly talking to people or an elder playing out loud some pop music by mistake and people just enjoying what has just happened.
But the best of the best workplaces is a park under the sun. When the weather is fine, there is no better place than a warm, dry lawn to sit on and work from. One day, I was walking alone to the Leighton Buzzard Library. Then I stopped at the park between the train station and St. Banabas' Parish Church. There was nobody, and the sun was shining. How could I not.
Soon I found a tree to lean my back on, sat there, and started working. Two hours passed in such tranquility and joy. The only sounds heard from time to time were just the church bells ringing, birds singing, and leaves rustling through the gently blowing wind. I shouted in my mind several times, what a happy human being I was.
Another day at the Richmond Green park which is obviously more crowded.
Another day at the St. James Park, which is still more crowded.
I've got a poo attack from a pigeon. This well demonstrates why I'm not very excited about super central parks. One might say birds are birds, they are the same everywhere. I don't think so. Anywhere that is crowded and shared by many has got less cohesion and respect and care, whether among people or animals or plants. I don't know why.
At a garden in St. Albans.
Look. I've got a visitor at my office.
Workspace tour around the world is to be continued.