I don't usually have a coat or bag with me. I do usually have my phone in my pocket, along with my key, credit card and a clean hanky. I don't want to carry more "stuff" than that. Coats and bags are a pain; easy to lose or leave behind which would be a double nightmare if they had everything in them.
I wouldn't recommend it, but my phone has been dropped plenty of times and it seems pretty robust. I've broken far more pens, and at least a phone never leaks ink all over your only suit. As to banging in fence posts, I don't usually do it with the phone. Last time I used a JCB, but that's a different story.
It happens to me a lot, although less often in my current position. It's called "the second job of the day", and could be anywhere in the country.
I usually seem to wait in small deserted reception areas with a piece of "art" on the wall, a plastic plant and a view of a brick wall. To be honest, it holds little interest for me.
I use calendar to organise work and stuff like doctors appointments. When you work with people, they tend to need to know what you're doing and where you are. I can't see any use for a "secret schedule" unless you're a crack international assassin?
I couldn't work without a phone, so it's going to be there whether I like it or not. We clearly have very different jobs, although I'm pretty sure there's a chainsaw app for iPhone.
My personal phone is a cheap indestructible brick. I think I've put £5 on it since I first got it about 8 years ago. It came with £2 which lasted the first couple of years, and I think there's about £3 left. I don't generally make personal phone calls; certainly not from a mobile. The last few calls have simply been to keep it alive, because you need to use it once or twice a year to avoid losing your credit.
_________________jonbwfc's law: "In any forum thread someone will, no matter what the subject, mention Firefly."
When you're feeling too silly for x404,
youRwired.net