Not having to go to work each day has allowed me to really find a rhythm in terms of household management. I could really get used to being a house-husband.
What Went Well at Work?
Another month of not being there — thanks Long Service Leave! Interestingly, I am not missing it at all. Clearly, I have a good mental balance between work and life.
Highlights
Meeting and catching up with a range of interesting people from all walks of life. This includes old friends, people I hope to be new friends, business people, artists and politicians. It’s been a busy social month.
Visiting my mom with the two boys and sleeping not in her house, but in the tent with them.
Watching Hannah deliver awesome oratory performances in front of a large group of people.
Participating in media with Hannah and the boys, and having the opportunity to do a TV interview.
My Media Diet
Game of Thrones.
Star Trek Discovery. I loved this second series, and am disappointed it’s over.
My son and I finished Mario World Odyssey together on the kid-friendly difficulty level.
I finished Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. Such a good game. I hope they make another.
I started playing Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This could take up a lot of my time.
My Passion Project
I stepped away from projects this month, and just concentrated on keeping the house running and having some fun.
The ultimate project - Australia’s Federal Election, is being held on 18 May. If you’re an Australian voter and live in the electorate of Swan, vote 1 Hannah Beazley!
Zelda Breath of the Wild is addictive!
I met some new people today who were just brilliant folk. Hit it off with them immediately. It’s not often that you get to make ‘new friends' through random chance.
My Easter bunny related news: I finished Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. What a great game.
Easter treats.
My Apple Store visit was a huge success today. My capable Genius confirmed my iPad discolouration patch, and replaced the iPad with a new one on the spot. Best part about that is I get a new battery!
Adobe Rush for iOS is good. Some bugs in places, but it’s helping me to edit together video successfully.
My iPad Pro has developed a ‘lighter’ splotch on the screen, just a bit above the home button. I keep thinking it’s a smudge, but it’s definitely the screen. Now I can’t unsee it. Must be upgrade time. 😅
RSS reader update: Reeder is too ancient, its panels don’t look nice on a portrait iPad and it has slow sync. Unread is pretty but there is so much swiping and long-tapping needed to do anything. I might be slinking back to Fiery Feeds.
@martinfeld i just saw that John Siracusa has faved your rumination in Instapaper. A brush with nerd fame!
After using Fiery Feeds for some time, I’m doing an audit and testing other RSS apps again. Fiery Feeds seemed to be using a lot of battery. So far, Unread is winning.
That was fun, spending $672 on car maintenance, with news of more expenses to come soon.
It was great to be out in the bush with our old girl Indi.
The third entry in this series, reviewing my month that was.
What Went Well at Home?
I started Long Service Leave, which is a benefit that becomes available after working for a single employer for 10 years. This time off has been wonderful so far. I have not at all missed work. I’ve disconnected my email accounts, am not answering calls, and am entirely disassociated from my normal work world. It’s extremely refreshing.
Having time away from work has freed me up to knock off a bunch of items from my ‘to do’ list.
I went to a retro musical bingo event. I, along with the others at my table, dressed up in suitable ’80’s retro gear’. I was wearing double-denim, high-top sneakers and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt. We arrived to discover our group was the only one who went to the effort to dress up. We didn’t care though, still having a good time.
I’ve been doing a lot more cooking, and trying to enjoy it.
What Went Well at Work?
Not being there!
Highlights
Going swimming at beach for many mornings, just before it becomes too cold to do so. I discovered that I really do enjoy a swim in the ocean, particularly at a beach that offers change room facilities, for changing before getting back in the car to head home.
Attended a Town Hall session with the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten. More importantly, my wife Hannah Beazley gave the introductory speech, and she was brilliant.
My Media Diet
Continued watching Star Trek: Discovery, season 2.
This month has been about winding down my work mentality.
It has also been about supporting my wife in the run-up to the Federal election campaign - vote Hannah Beazley for Swan!
Further investigations into my missing wedding ring are leading to the unfortunate conclusion that my 3-year old boy flushed it down the toilet. He will be hearing about this when he’s older.
Wear light blue to show your support and understanding.
@martinfeld Your latest rumination on travel as work resonated with me. Not that I do it, but that I also think it’s a trap. Wage growth is already anaemic, why provide additional labour at no charge?
