Singular Scene

So Singular in Each Particular

Archives for July 2008

Status Update

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Further to previous discussion…

I replied to the inquirer that WordPress was a very good option for charities and non profits to set up easy clean looking websites very quickly and at their price (as in $0) noting too that I’d be happy to add all supplied content for her at an hourly rate – I’d anticipate such a thing taking a day or so to do so the expected cost would be well under $1000 dollars.  Admittedly, to gauge their commitment to the project I’d inflated my usual hourly rate to what is closer to standard tech rates.  I should quote higher prices as a rule, I’m worth it, but because the business stuff is supplemental to my regular income I don’t usually bother, it gets me a bit of repeat business/word of mouth etc.

Anyway, I wonder if my polite inquirer forgot that they are connected to me on one of my social networks or if the following comment on their page was a passive way of dissing my suggestion – they certainly never replied to  my email.  I wonder if they’ve even checked out wordpress and seen the great stuff on there…

"Polite Inquirer is looking for a website designer to work pro bono for their charity." (tense/gender changed toprovide a bit of anonymity)

I’ve done pro bono before, in fact, one job I did has turned into a great internet friendship (hi Gem!) which is far more valuable than any monetary remuneration would have got me.  But this whole situation has got me wondering once again at the sort of culture that develops in churches in which people seem to think that because you’re a Christian you should cut them some kind of slack. The unfortunate outworking of this, sadly more often than not, is a feeling of being taken advantage of or worse still, actually being taken advantage of…

So, consider this next question research, given that not all my readers are church goers; Do people in your workplaces/clubs/service organisations/wider social circles have expectations on you to offer your skills/professional expertise and experience to do work for them for nothing or for a substantial discount etc?  What are your own expectations on others with skills you don’t have?

Truth is, it’s been so long since I worked in a secular environment I wonder if I haven’t lost a bit of perspective.  And please, don’t think I don’t do friendly discounts or help for actual friends… but for people who I know who I’m more ‘acquainted with’ than ‘friends with’ I do sometimes think such expectations are a bit ‘on the nose’. 

What do you think?

Happy Blogoversary, Baby!

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I’m still surprised it’s been 4 years since I started this thing… stumbling over a peculiar site called the wibsite where the first incarnation of Singular Scene lives (still) and then to here when my desire to fiddle and tweak got the better of me.

It’s still fun, and though of late posting has been sporadic, I’m sure it’s only a season and the time will come when I’ve got all sorts of [much more] interesting thoughts than I’ve been having lately…

Thanks for taking the journey with me this far!

Sigh

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This from my inbox, and quite frankly, it burns me up… anyone aware of the adage "pay peanuts, get monkeys"?

"I’m looking at something we can update ourselves* but want to spend as minimum** as possible because we are a charity, however, I don’t want it to look cheap***"

Gentle Reader, if at any stage you are wishing to have a site made all of your very own, without wanting to use a free thing like Blogger. and you think you might like to get someone like me to build your site for you (and I’d be delighted, just so you know), please don’t send comments like the above.  It is likely to cause me to double my hourly rate just to make you go away.

 

*we want a Content Management System.  (Add $$$$).
**nothing.
***we want it to look like we spent a fortune on it.

 

Past Meets Present

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Today I interrupted my time out to go to a funeral.  One where we celebrated the life of one of my work mates who had a very short run in with pancreatic cancer.  As in 16 days from diagnosis to the great beyond.  He was a top bloke, and older man who never wanted to retire and who was a sweet loving accepting person of all those he came into contact with.

He was also the father in law of someone with whom I was compelled to cut ties 4 years ago.

Prior to those 4 years I’d been very close to his family, was no stranger to his home and we were always good for a chat about the footy and a catch up on the grand kids.  But the schism separated more than me and his daughter, it cooled things with him and me too.  And that was another of the tragedies in the whole business.

In recent times we’d been able to manage a brief hello and even a short run down on how the kids were doing.  It was never acrimonious, I think it was just easier for him to be distant.  I understand it, lots of people got hurt and above all he was a family man, no crime there he had to support his kids and I bear no grudge for that.

It’s sad that he’s gone, he was a lovely man, and I’m sad that things went the way they did between me and his family, I’m sad that he went so quickly but pleased, above all, that everyone had time to say goodbye and that the suffering was short, and that he knew where he was going.  His presence will be sorely missed around the traps at work. His cheeky, yet quiet, demeanour was often present in the cafe, his handiwork evident all over the campus.  His absence will be felt for a long time to come.

It was a tough morning. Today I saw from afar the family I’ve stayed away from for so long, saw the kids I missed who’ve grown so much, seen the sister they have who I don’t even know.  Saw their Dad.

I couldn’t bring myself to go and say hello, I left as soon as it was all over, ducking out the back.  It wasn’t appropriate to introduce that added dynamic of that particular reunion to the wake. It wouldn’t have been good for my emotional health.

But I am completely surprised by how tempting it would be go get right back in there boots and all, to pick up ties once again. 

I loved them all so much.

I’ll miss the old bloke.

I miss them more.