It wasn't too bad during the day today, but yesterday the wind was freezing. The mornings have gone cold again and tomorrow's forecast looks terrible. Fool's spring is a real thing!

Tried those Oreo coke biscuits. Not sure I want to taste coke when I eat a biscuit; and the aftertaste lingers. 2/10 from me.

I don’t pay until I’ve closely inspected the job they’ve done, usually 1 or 2 days later depending on what the work is. Cos they ain’t coming back once they’ve been paid. I learned this the hard way. And I need more than 3 hours on a a work day to do what I need to do to be satisfied of a job well done.

The trades left my place around 2pm, sent me their invoice then, 3 hours later I get a message “hi just checking you received my invoice?” as to prompt me to pay now. Are you serious? I get a whole 3 hours before a follow up?

Plumbers at my place today fixing the cause of my recent sewer pipe blockages, costing me a pretty penny but I have no choice. Hate forced spending of money on property maintenence, and especially on something I won't be able to see. Backyard is being dug up to replace an underground pipe, some plants had to get pulled out which is annoying. Didn't have the best sleep and they turned up so early so I'll be knocking back a few coffees to get through today.

The air fryer revolutionised my cooking, I use mine multiple times a week. A worthy investment.

I’m going to the snow at the end of the month and have been messaging a friend I let borrow my ski clothes and equipment two years ago. They just never gave me back my stuff and I forgot about it to now. I’m a bit annoyed they just kept my things, and now my goggles are missing and I don’t remember if I let them borrow. It shouldn’t be up to me to remember and ask for my stuff back, you should give it back once you are done with it without prompt.

Got a case of the downers today. Feeling a bit isolated, the honeymoon period of being self employed is ending and I'm starting to feel like I did when I was WFH full time during lockdowns (which is not good). I'm making the effort to fill my social battery during the week in other ways, which helps but these kinds of down days from the isolation and lack of forced structure still pop up. I saw a photo my old workplace at some event together on LinkedIn and that's made me miss being employed (although I don't regret leaving that hellish place for one second). Just went for a walk and while it was freezing, I already feel better.

Took a pretty heavy call from a friend this afternoon that is going through a rough time. She had an altercation with some friends in our group which I think set her off into a spiral. I had no idea about any of this. It takes a lot of courage to reach out to someone.

I used to get affected by the same friends too, but then learned to stop putting disappointing people on a pedestal, thinking they do the same, and rely on them for emotional support and wellbeing which was always one way. I made some new friends. I discovered that healthy adult friendships actually exist and instead of being upset about certain behaviours from those people, I learned to pity that behaviour. I hope she learns this too.

Taken from my backyard using iPhone 3 second exposure. Can’t really see it to the naked eye but insane on camera.

Found out yesterday morning that was going to be my last working day. Cue frantic tying up of loose ends and organising a handover. And that was it. Handed over my laptop. Now on gardening leave for 4 weeks. Emails and Teams already cut off. I’m not upset at this situation, just in shock that it was all so sudden.

Thinking of doing a short trip somewhere during this time. Otherwise there will be a lot of catching up on sleep, time for cooking, relaxing and preparing for what’s next.

Wrote my resignation letter ahead of sending it tomorrow (employer already knows it’s coming). That’s probably the most enjoyable letter that I’ve ever written. A little bit of sentiment thrown in there, thank you for the opportunity yadda yadda.

So so glad this day has come. The shit they put me through since asking me to move on, honestly I don’t remember a time I had to face so many situations so quickly where I felt like throwing up from nerves and anxiety each time. But I got through it.

There’s talk of putting me on gardening leave, which I think I’m ok with. They were saying they were happy for me to finish early so I can start my contractor role sooner, but I’d have to agree to shorten my notice pay. I think I’ll take the pay for doing nothing.