Monday 28 September 2009

What a difference a day (off) makes

A couple of years ago, when we first started doing this manual (and womanual) labour, we realised that you need one day off a week to let your body rest. Otherwise you become a Dr Who-monster-like being trudging very slowly from one monumental task to the next.

We'd forgotten this.

With winter coming and so much to do, we've been working every moment to Get Things Done. Especially necessary when, without electric light, our day finishes when the sun goes down (currently around 8.20).

Until yesterday.

After spending a very pleasant evening with some new friends, I awoke feeling a little fragile (I tell you, that eau de ville is to be avoided at all costs). I suggested that I go and work on the yurt platform until I felt a bit better, but Her Outdoors bade me (I'm reading that book set in the 19th Century, remember?) lie in the hammock and rest.

Work was off the menu for the day. The sun shone. It was glorious.

Time off also meant we could get through a hillock of paperwork that had built up over the last few weeks, have a Proper Wash (which entails much boiling of pans on the camping stove) and generally Get Things In Order. The day ended with a few beers with some other friends, before returning to cook risotto in the dark (picture me, candle in left hand, spatula in right, peering into pan to see if the stock has been soaked up - you get the idea). Then more "Jonathan Strange..." by candlelight.

Today, I feel relaxed, rested and ready to take on the world. Good thing too. You have no idea how much work there is to be done...

5 comments:

Dave Quinn said...

Slacker!!!

Get that wall plate screwed down and the rafters on!

Meanwhile I shall be slaving away over a hot model or 15... eg

Its not easy being me...

Now, off you go!

Dave

the devolutionary said...

Not sure about the black lippy. But each to their own. The roof should be on by the end of the week. Should. We had some useless meeting yesterday I'll blog about when I have time. Time, eh? Who has that these days?

SarahW said...

I can really relate to this! We're renovating a cottage in Normandy and really don't want to spend another winter in the caravan so it's full steam ahead to be in before it gets cold. We also forget that a day off is important until eventually we are so knackered we have no choice but to stop for a bit! Today has been one of those days and I suspect we will be more useful tomorrow because of it. Really enjoying the blog. Ours is not so beautifully written but if you're interested it's at www.lapichotiere.originalwalls.co.uk

Sarah.

G. said...

Yeah, Slacker,

...and you didn't call? Wassup widdat?

So I finally am posting a link to your blog on mine (sorry it took so long), and if you want to post mine, here's the url -

http://madstone2000.wordpress.com/

for "Madstone Mystery Labs, Inc."

no quotes.

Ya back to work yet?

the devolutionary said...

Been working. Too hard. Just went for a walk in the woods for the first time in over a year. Came back to bad news about canvas yurt covers. Like the one Her Outdoors has been slaving over in time to get the adobe down and dry before winter. More on this, soon. Thanks for the link. Consider it reciprocal.

That peace prize. Bizarre.