the full moon on standby

I suffer from bouts of insomnia which just so happens to coincide with the arrival of the full moon. It's something to be aware of because I like this morning at 08h15, on three hours sleep I got my first phone call. I picked it up searching for my professional morning voice knowing that "unknown" was work and 30 seconds later I proceeded to make an espresso and deal with the problem.

I am officially on standby, it's the first time that I have experienced "standby" which is basically work but in 'casual guise' - the phone still rings, the emails keep on coming and the only real difference is that there are no meetings to attend because I am on leave.

Some would argue that is why they pay you (well) but this morning it felt like I was being cheated by big-bad-oil-and-gas, it felt a little bit like that old folk song ‘Twenty-cent cotton, fifty-cent meat, how in the world can a poor man eat?’ - yeah this company certainly does know how to get its pound of flesh and more.

Tonight, from the corner of my eye I can see the full moon peering back at me as it edges its way past my balcony tucked above the third block of flats on the bend. It won't be long before it will illuminate the ocean and the light will extend all the way to the tip of the horizon. A translucent magical image but unfortunately not without its consequences for me as it completely messes up my sleeping pattern.

Besides popping the odd pill, I will do the all of following to help break the insomnia: watch 30 minutes of CNN; turn my shoes so that each pair has one shoe facing in the opposite direction and read Ian Fleming, usually just a couple of pages of James Bond at night will put me to sleep.

Here's hoping that "Diamonds are Forever -sleeping."