Both the print and online editions of The Times have a list of the top 50 corporate and anti-corporate blogs and The Tinbasher is in there under the ‘Industrials’ section.

My only question is whether it falls into the corporate or anti-corporate category?

For me personally, writing The Tinbasher is a bit like being in one of those obscure critically acclaimed bands. If only it could afford me the lifestyle to which I would like to be accustomed as opposed to the one I am currently accustomed to (although, ‘working’ in just your underpants can be quite liberating y’know). I do this for the love not the money. But, it’s the kind of love that only a mother can possess for a child who has a face like a spanked arse.

Since emigrating to America I’ve found that I now work at home rather than working from home. And believe me there’s a difference. In the UK I could pop into Butler Sheetmetal whenever and go and see people about possible projects amongst other things - home was just a convenient base. Over here I feel chained to a damn computer - home feels more like serving a stretch.

So, I’ve decided to get off my lily-white ass and find me a job. Or, to be more precise, I’ve had to keep my lily-white ass plonked firmly in its chair and find me a job. And I don’t mean any old job I mean a career related to what I’ve done over the past three years. Something either blogging, SEO/SEM or writing related.

If we go back to the critically acclaimed band thing and take into account that I’ve taught myself everything, as well as The Tinbasher being nothing more than an experiment then what’s your worth? If you said all this had been planned on the back of a beer mat you’d be giving me credit for more than I deserve. Does a prospective employer want a lucky chancer with some degree of natural talent or an analytical thinker who works their nuts off? For the record, I’m obviously both.

In the past couple of weeks I’ve interviewed for a Corporate Blogger position (first question asked: “So what job are you here for?”), been put up in a plush hotel and wined and dined with regards to an SEM position (I presume they didn’t get me down because they thought I needed a break), and have an interview coming up for a rather interesting writing/editing position. I’m also clogging up one or two other pipelines.

I’m getting an inkling that I might be worth something to somebody. But, I’m a self-deprecating doofus that expects any suitor to at least do their homework on me. And there’s a contradiction there that belies a certain arrogance.

One of my main concerns is The Tinbasher itself. At the moment I think it’s suffering a bit due to there being a bit of water between Colne and Elyria. I’m simply not as connected as I was. If this blog turns into nothing more than odd sheet metal tidbits and inane ramblings about what I’m doing over here then we’re in trouble. But, there’s no way I could pass the mantle on and there’s no way I could give it up. I suppose I’m a bit like Tony Blair.

Now whilst everything is all a bit topsy-turvy and I haven’t a clue what could happen or where I could wind up, I’ll sort it - I always do.

In the meantime your candid observations are both appreciated and required.