Day 28, Level 1: Doors, Windows, Breeze, Bath, Whisky and Boardrooms

The driveway workers were here early. They're hard workers and doing a great job. It's slow progress but taking shape nicely. I think that the new retaining wall bordering our property might just be the best thing that ever happened to our driveway! And then the next great thing will be the redoing of the driveway itself! 

I spent today working on the computer with one writing project or another. Making good progress, but I have so much on my plate it's a little overwhelming, including some big contract projects. They're not as grunty or physically demanding as concreting posts into our driveway and building a retaining wall but they're just as significant - and ultimately impact many more people than those who frequent our driveway! Here's an update photo taken this evening after the contractors had gone ...

 

I had all the doors and windows open today to let some airflow through. Our house is a mass of doors and windows. Great when I'm here, as the place (this is Auckland house) is literally an indoor/outdoor habitat from one end to the other. Locking up to go out is a nightmare of course! With all those windows and doors open - and contractors working with diggers and whatnot - it's not a good working environment, so I was swayed between airflow and noise reduction.

When there is no wind, there is no airflow - and because of our micro-climate situation here, this is often the case. On rare occasions there is too much wind (a rare northerly) and having doors open means they just slam shut or, if door-stopped open, blow everything to smithereens. What exactly is smithereens!? Whatever, best to close doors in this wind otherwise the house is a wind tunnel.

Today brought a decent amount of breeze from various directions, not too much but it had a bit of northerly in it. The breeze flowed through the house in a slightly unpredictable but acceptable way all day. The house, like a good racehorse, was getting a good "blow". Nice. But eventually that northerly aspect became a nuisance later in the afternoon and I had to shut up shop.

One good thing about having all the doors and windows open and a breeze flowing through is that the flies stay away. Flies hate wind. 

Flies have been invading the house recently, as fly season approaches. Driving me nuts. Flying and swatting. But today, with a good breeze flowing throughout the entire house ... not a fly in sight. 

Ruud Kleinpaste, the Bug Man, said this on the radio some years ago when I was listening - and ever since, if I can open the house up and let the breeze through, without it howling a gale, I will. It really does keep flies at bay. Today was testament to that. 

I especially love the fan in our lounge - I can put it on and keep flies at bay! Yay.  Haven't had to yet this spring - but it is in the armory and will likely get used soon - with flies and humidity predicted. Yuk!

Wind = no flies. No flies = happiness. Flies = nightmare.

I finished up work around 6pm and watched a bit of the American election - who knows what that outcome will be. We wait with baited breath. I won't comment here but will eagerly await the updates and outcome  tomorrow. As I type this (1am) it's still an unknown outcome.

So - After cooking and enjoying my dinner - roasted eggplant, kumara, green capsicum, mushroom, onion and cream lasagne - I watched a bit more of the election shenanigans. Then watched Coro. Then retreated and decided to have a very rare bath. 

A BATH: OMG I can't even remember the last time I had a bath, it must be at least a decade ago. The kids had baths when they were little, but truly, baths are not my thing and the bath in our house has been unused in decades. Personally, I may have had 20 baths in my lifetime. When I lived in London, baths were a thing - but I resisted and got one of those handheld rubber attachments. I had baths as a child but very very rarely as an adult. Give me a revitalising shower any day!

So why did I have a bath tonight? Well, I just fancied it. After the bathroom clearout and tidy last Sunday, I'd come across some lovely bath oils. Thought I'd give it a go. Tonight seemed a good time. I ran the bath, poured in the lovely lavender oil, and then stepped in. The temperature was perfect. The bath structure was absolutely NOT. I slid down until my head was virtually submerged. I felt uncomfortable and floundered about not enjoying it at all. I wanted to get out immediately, but persevered in the name of trying to find some sort of bath redemption!

My sister called just as I was contemplating getting out of this horrid scenario - so I talked through it with her as I did get out. OMG we both agreed that baths are overrated and just not very comfortable. 

My lovely bath - that I hated!

I've designed my ideal bath in my head for decades. Old fashioned bath design is antiquated, uncomfortable - and dangerous. Perhaps I need to contact a bathroom design person with my idea. I've never seen a house or showroom etc with my design idea or anything remotely like it. I wish I had it in my home ... but as far as I know it doesn't exist.

Maybe it's the next best thing that won't get made because I'm not some world-renowned design guru!? Perhaps it will be the next greatest design idea that sits idle for too many years because the person who conceptualised it (me) is not a bathroom designer? 

Getting an idea into reality is far far too hard for most of us. And that's how it's likely to be for me - even though I think I have the best idea for a bath that ever was, haha!

So after my bath - instead of feeling soporific and ready for bed (which was my expectation), I felt wide awake and ready for action. Sam rang me from London around 11pm and we had a good chat. He'd thought about coming home but has decided to stay. He's not looking forward to the new London/UK lockdown, starts tomorrow. And winter is coming. 

In all honesty, there is nowhere perfect to be in this world. He rang me from his room in his flat - it's a fabulous room. He looked fabulous and handsome and delightful. I miss him and his camaraderie. I'd love him to be home so I could see him often. I just wanted to hug him tonight, so much. I don't know when I can do that next.

But persevering through lockdown life in London - well, I assured him he'll look back on his London days when he's an old man, and remember whatever he remembers. He didn't quite get what I was talking about - he's too much of a young man! But, one day he'll understand.

Because I was so wide awake after that non-soporific bath, I felt like a tipple. I was gifted a wee bottle of Scotch whisky from The House Of Lords by a colleague when I worked in London in the 1980s (Lyn - was it you or Dilys?) Anyway, after talking to Sam and talking about London and UK, and feeling nostalgic - I decided now was the night to enjoy that House of Lords Scotch whisky. It just felt right.

I have to say it's a damn good drop - and only a wee one. But I consumed it with nostalgia and appreciation. And I thought of all those times I've passed the Palace of Westminster, over many many years - and specifically the time I went inside the House of Lords and Commons to take a look (late 1980s) - thanks to Dilys. Delicious whisky - and it got me over my horrible bath experience!

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Boardrooms ...

They're an interesting place to spend time, that's for sure. Well, not always - sometimes it's boring as hell! I've spent enough hours in boardrooms in my life all around the place. No doubt they're an anomaly of a place for those who never set foot inside one. Sometimes they're a complete anomaly to those who do!

I guess I've been in hundreds, bordering on the thousand+ mark, of Boardrooms and meetings in my life. Whether organising them, doing prep work and reports, participating as a Board member, a staff member, a minute-taker or a guest, I've seen every aspect of Boards and committees for almost 40 years. Near and far. The insights I have accumulated cannot be quantified, or conveyed.

Boards are an interesting beast, that's for sure.

I think I've mentioned this before in my blog - I have so much precious and confidential insight and info around the running of organisations (corporate, not-for-profit, community etc) through time spent in boardrooms. Sometimes I wish I could meld all the insights and info that comes out of them and roll it all into a great big balloon of fabulosity for the betterment of the world. 

But instead, they often reinvent wheels, doubt their convictions, deny issues that are in their face and ought to be sorted immediately, or try too hard to change what isn't broken for the sake of it. It's fair to say there's a bit of dysfunction out there, and a lot of self-serving. It is also heartening to know there are those that are well above board and utterly genuine in every way - they're the ones that laugh and be real. They're usually not corporates! I could extrapolate much more, but that's enough for the moment.

Being taken seriously as a woman in a boardroom is not so simple. I've encountered it for years, for myself and others. I shake my head at some of the situations I've been through, as well as other women. Sometimes it's like banging your head against a brick wall. 

Oh the stories I could tell about organisations and boardrooms ... I feel incredibly privileged to be in the position to get inside different organisations in all sorts of industries and fields in all sorts of roles. The commitment to confidentiality means mum's the word.