Thursday 10th October 2024 - Manual Labour at Work

Hello all.

Staying up late last night watching TV left me a bit unprepared for today. The morning was a rush—folding and putting away my freshly washed clothes, throwing together a packed lunch for work, and giving the house a quick tidy-up. It all added up to a hectic start, and I ended up driving to work instead of cycling to avoid being late.

When I arrived at work, I was immediately called to fix the School Printer. The touchscreen had frozen, but after a quick reboot, it was back up and running. These quick fixes remind me that sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective.

I also managed to finish the iPad repair I started yesterday. I carefully lined up the new screen, tested it to make sure it was working, and left it to charge while the glue set. The 24-hour curing process means it’ll be ready to go by tomorrow, and I’m glad to have that checked off my list.

Later, I got to dive into some spreadsheet problem-solving. A colleague needed a formula that counts how many "Yes" responses appeared across columns, with a conditional formatting twist to change the color of another cell. It was a fun challenge, and I was happy to help. My love for organizing and making sense of data really came through here, and it’s satisfying to use those skills to make a small impact.

But the real adventure today was building an outdoor storage container for our Nursery. It took four hours, and I’ll admit, there were moments of frustration. But by the end, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction seeing it fully built. It’s moments like these where I appreciate the combination of patience and determination it takes to see something through.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted. The mental focus and physical labor had taken their toll, but I pushed through to confirm my football appointments for the weekend and check in with my assistant referees. Then Juli and I teamed up to make dinner—a simple Chicken Stir Fry—which was the perfect way to wind down after a long day.

We spent the evening catching up on TV, watching The Repair Shop, Fake or Fortune, and Grand Designs. It was nice to relax, but as the night went on, I felt a bit of guilt creeping in. I hadn’t cleaned the bathroom or organized the kitchen like I’d planned, and I regretted spending too much time in front of the TV. But after reflecting on it, I realized I was just tired.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to recharge tonight. Sometimes, we need to slow down and rest. The cleaning can wait until tomorrow, and I’ll get back on track with my routine. Rest is just as important as productivity, and for that, I’m thankful.