Knowing when to pull up and catch your breath can be easy or it can be hard.
I tend to do things the hard way.
Let’s call this Part 1.
Work has been crazy for a while now, mainly through difficulties with finding good staff. It’s been quite stressful on the team that always dig deep and are true soldiers.
It seems like all the good quality people are already working and the people that are looking for work (or say they are) are sadly at the bottom of the barrel, with few skills, experience or acumen. In the waste industry it can be a tough gig and not everyone can cut the mustard.
My weekends are generally packed with keeping on top of the gardens, jobs around the house or other activities. Saturdays can be the biggest day of the week for me. The weekend activities sometimes feel like they could be a full time job without my Monday – Friday full time job!
On this weekend, prior to mowing the lawns and maintaining my “Rock Star“ nature strip, vacuuming the pool and going to the tip, I’m working on my latest DIY room that’s having a facelift – it’s the laundry at the moment.
And on that note – Saturday of last week.
I move out the washing machine so I can tile behind it. Prior to this, I disconnect and place the waste water hose on the clothes basket sitting on top of the washing machine (important point here). OK, so tiling is complete. I move the washing machine back into place – let’s not even think to reconnect the waste water hose to the laundry tub – and then take the old dog to the Vet for the 4th Saturday in a row for another course of Arthritis shots.
Whilst I’m at the Vet, Deb will return home and put a load of washing on. While the washing machine is doing its thing, Deb will go outside and start cleaning up the gardens. I’ve arrived home from the Vet, walk inside to discover to my amazement that the laundry and the adjoining areas are starting to flood. Panic stations – the call goes out to Deb for assistance. I’m thinking “How could this possibly have happened?” Ohhhh Yeah! Forgot to re-connect the waste water hose – it’s just spewing water everywhere at will, like a dam, the clothes basket is useless with four inches in the bottom and the water is just helping itself to any floor area below that’s generously happy to accept it.
Ok, Ok – Get the Mop! Get a Sponge! Get a Bucket! Get Moving! DO SOMETHING !!!!
Unknowingly, my athletic prowess is about to be put on display! Shame there’s only one spectator – Deb!
I step outside to wring out the mop. Wet tiles on the outside landing and my ability to stay upright are, in a split second, at odds with each other. Worlds collide! Slow motion would show both legs quickly rising above my head in a move an Olympic Gymnast would find hard to believe, as I go arse over head and land squarely on my back. A few expletives escape but fancy that – no real injuries- very unusual for me. I think we’re getting on top of this disaster and better still, I only get a subtle reminder from Deb that the whole thing’s my fault – damn waste water hose, in my view it could have happened to anybody, but I‘m a smart guy, I’ll quit while I’m ahead.
Ok I scrape myself down, still feeling pretty good, bit of a headache that I put down to my brain rattling around my skull whilst imploding on the outside landing – I call my golf buddy Rich, yep I’m good for a quick 9 holes this arvo, see you at 2pm. Not a bad round but the 9th hole was a shocker and it made me pay big time – still, could have been worse, Rich had a round that was a total disaster, always makes me feel better watching someone else in golf pain.
Golf finished, so I’ve gotta get home, I’m on dinner duties. I really enjoy cooking, it’s my creative side so I’m told and I actually think I’m getting better at it!
Tonight’s menu is a beautiful Chicken breast with a light smear of pesto wrapped in a filo pastry with a base of string beans mixed with crushed cherry tomatoes. Ooh la la, its worked out a treat. Great job Jamie! (That’s Deb calling me Jamie after Jamie Oliver). A red wine or three, watch the footy and I’m absolutely and unequivocally cooked – time for a lie down, seriously I’m totally drained.
Tomorrow’s Sunday and that’s a whole new story in how not to recognise when you need to call it a day.
As always thanks for reading -RD
—————————————————————
If you enjoyed this post, I would really appreciate sharing it with your friends. Head to the home page and enter your email address and subscribe to www.manstheory.com.
