Monday, January 30, 2006
My current Ramadan project is answering on-line surveys. At this point I am sure half of you are saying, "What's Ramadan?" and the rest are saying, "But Ramandan was over months ago.. and anyway, you are not Moslem." Allow me to explain. (And I hope they will forgive me because I mean no disrespect, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery)
For many years I worked in Moslem countries and every year there would be a period of one lunar month which was considered a time for good behaviour, prayer and meditation. This was a particularly dull time for those of us inclined towards misbehaviour so every year I found myself something to do that my hectic social life normally didn't allow time for. As I felt the benefit of taking a month to stay home, eat healthily and avoid alcohol I have continued with the tradition.
One year I hung out in chat rooms, another I joined Friends Reunited and tracked down a selection of old classmates. A particularly lucrative project was writing a workbook which, I am reliably informed, is selling well to this day in certain parts of Asia. Shame I get no royalties on that one.
So, as I said, my current project is answering on-line surveys. Some of them promise gifts, some promise lucky draw entries and a few say they will pay cash. I am not expecting to make my fortune but I am fascinated by the type of information companies think they need. I recently filled in a two-part questionnaire about kitchen roll. I was looking forward to giving them, at length, my views on inferior quality paper with stupid patterns but all they wanted to know was did I own a holder for it. I confidently ticked 'NO' but Jim later informed me that we do, I'd just never noticed it as I spend so little time in the kitchen.
Current weight 79.6 kg
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For many years I worked in Moslem countries and every year there would be a period of one lunar month which was considered a time for good behaviour, prayer and meditation. This was a particularly dull time for those of us inclined towards misbehaviour so every year I found myself something to do that my hectic social life normally didn't allow time for. As I felt the benefit of taking a month to stay home, eat healthily and avoid alcohol I have continued with the tradition.
One year I hung out in chat rooms, another I joined Friends Reunited and tracked down a selection of old classmates. A particularly lucrative project was writing a workbook which, I am reliably informed, is selling well to this day in certain parts of Asia. Shame I get no royalties on that one.
So, as I said, my current project is answering on-line surveys. Some of them promise gifts, some promise lucky draw entries and a few say they will pay cash. I am not expecting to make my fortune but I am fascinated by the type of information companies think they need. I recently filled in a two-part questionnaire about kitchen roll. I was looking forward to giving them, at length, my views on inferior quality paper with stupid patterns but all they wanted to know was did I own a holder for it. I confidently ticked 'NO' but Jim later informed me that we do, I'd just never noticed it as I spend so little time in the kitchen.
Current weight 79.6 kg
