The reason I haven't worked since then is that I haven't wanted to. Thanks to being a filthy over-paid contractor and, more importantly, having no dependents or mortgage, I had put aside enough money to not need to work. This is one of the many ways I fail at capitalism - instead of putting my money to work, instead of rushing out to make more, I used it to buy what is most precious to me: time.

So, here I am, halfway through my 5th month of doing nothing. (I'm only gloating slightly.) I've had time to think, time to read, time to, well, do what I want. So what lessons have I learned, what thoughts have I thunk?

• I achieved the most in the 3 weeks after I finished work. After that, everything went downhill.
• After 4 weeks, I didn't care I was achieving less. Doing one task a day was enough to make me feel I was achieving something.
• After 3 months, one task a week was enough.
• I read obsessively, but in bursts. For a couple of weeks or so, I will read from the moment I wake until the moment I fall asleep. For a couple of weeks afterwards, I won't touch a book.
• I play computer games obsessively, but in bursts. For a couple of weeks or so, I will play one computer game from the moment I wake until I start to fall asleep in front of the computer. For a couple of weeks afterwards, I don't even turn the computer on.
• I can't walk past a bookshop without going in.
• A month after I finished work, I walked across Scotland.
• A month after that, I wasn't leaving the house for days on end.
• I visited Edinburgh for a week. I have decided I want to live there at some point.
• My natural diurnal cycle seems to default to 28 or 29 hours. This causes problems with:
  1. Going to the shops at the right time.
  2. Taking a daily tablet.
  3. Being able to play music loudly.
  4. Knowing when I can put the washing machine on.
  5. Sounding alert when recruiters call.
• When it rains in August, my flat is invaded by spiders from the riverbank.
• The Byzantine Empire was really rather interesting. You should all go out and read a book on it.
• I either need to get rid of some of my books, or move somewhere bigger.
• I am incapable of getting rid of books.
• I really like cider on hot days.
• I can turn on the professionalism at a moment's notice, both in person and on the phone.
• I often had to, when answering calls that had just woken me up.
• I can turn on the charm at a moment's notice, both in person and on the phone.
• I can very rarely be bothered to.
• People are far too interested in stuff.
• People interested in stuff don't understand people who aren't.
• And vice versa.
• I have a good idea for a way of building an income that doesn't involve me selling my time. It will take about three weeks to put it all together.
• That three weeks will probably have to wait until after I finish my next contract.
• I need a new couch.
• I really don't see the point of synchronised diving.
• Women's beach volleyball is also pointless, as a sport. It is not, however, completely pointless.
• Sitting in a pub with a decent pint and a newspaper is still one of the best ways to spend a day.
• Some weeks I would be obsessive about watching the news, and trawling through online news sites. Some weeks I wouldn't so much as glance at newspaper headlines. On the whole, the weeks I ignored the news were much more fun.
• Amazingly, my lack of interest in the news did not cause reverberations around the world, which managed to get by without me.
• Everyone should, at some point in their lives, resign without a job to go to, and see where fate takes them.
• As this week is one of those when I pay attention to the news, I am going to recommend you don't follow my advice above right now.
• I am so addicted to caffeine it isn't funny.
• I don't have the discipline to write the stories I want to write.
• I need to have more faith in myself.
• Travelling long distances on the train, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, is actually really relaxing.
• I am almost 30, yet I still manage to look like I need a haircut the majority of the time.
• I have never before been this content, or this relaxed, in my life.

I have an interview on Tuesday. Wish me luck. If I get it, the normal fare of annoyance, irritation and bile will return to my diary.