Working Hard and Slacking at the same time

Strange times with work. I've been working damn hard and actually getting stuff done. I got back to work on the Tuesday the 20th to about a half dozen "I know you've just gotten back from holidays but can you get this done NOW?" requests. Thankfully I was actually motivated and got through four of the six that day. Literally a frenzy of activity and quite satisfying.

The Wednesday I feel a bit fluey and I'm told the two girls in my office who have kids have had days off looking after their kids who have a cold thats going around. I still get the fourth of the problems sorted out and another that sprung up that day. That night the Shaguar and myself visit friends for a few drinks and conversation. We end up staying out until midnight, at which time I can feel the flu coming on strong.

Thursday I go to work, feeling like death, coughing and sneezing, so I can get the last of the "Things I absolutely must do!" list done. I organised meeting at head office the next week in Perth, talked to a company about dropping off and getting a pump kitted out for a project I'm working on at the same time, then talked to the regional manager about the last of the "TIAMD!" problem. Then after lunch I piss off home to be looked after by the Shaguar.

Friday I wake up having had a dodgy nights sleep, feeling clogged up, coughing and sneezing but otherwise not feeling too bad. I call in sick and spend the day lazing around home with the Shaguar. What else are sickies for? Besides, I don't want to spread my flu around the office.

Saturday I start to feel like I'm on the mend. The Shaguar wakes up feeling like death. Time for a role reversal as I spend the day making sure she feels okay, going out and buying strepsils and paracetamol, fluffing her pillows, getting her drinks and trying to make her as comfortable as possible. She has a terrible nights sleep and ends up sitting up reading in the lounge until 3am.

Sunday I finally convince the Shaguar that when you use the decongestant spray I have it does not "go down the back of your throat and taste horrible". After a great deal of badgering she uses it and half an hour later, after further badgering, sheepishly admits that it actually works really well and she can breathe through her nose for the first time in two days.

She's going to hit me for that the next time we catch up.

Monday the 27th the Shaguar was due to head off back to Melbourne but wakes up feeling like poo still, so she stays on another day but I head off back to work. Get in to find another two "Can you please do this ASAP" requests. Crikey!

Organise further meetings in Perth, discover that one meeting I organised last week has been cancelled. Damn! I've just booked accommodation for the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights and could have come back Friday. Ah well.

Get home to a Shaguar looking a little healthier.

Tuesday, the Shaguar heads off (and takes my decongestant spray with her). It takes her six days to get back to Melbourne arriving on the Sunday, after having taken only three to get over here. Go to work, get the rest of the "Must do" things done, return home to an empty house. Quite depressing, but at least I know I'll be seeing her again in June, then late July, then December. Back to emails, text messages and phone calls.

Do a half day at work Wednesday before heading to Perth and dropping off the pump. Check into my hotel, kick back in bed and watch Foxtel.

Thursday I have meetings and get some very useful info on a couple of the projects I'm working on.

Friday I sit at a computer, faff around and get some work done but I'm far from motivated.

Saturday I drive back home. Sunday I clean the house.

Monday (today) I have a public holiday. I head down the beach with a boogie board I was given by an insane surfer mate of mine who salvaged it off a beach somewhere. I get dumped, caught in a rip and then there are just no waves at all. My boogie board has no wrist strap and I'm like a greased pig with all the sunscreen I smeared on myself, so I cling onto it for dear life and after a bit of a struggle I manage to extract myself and get into an area where there are a couple of waves breaking.

I catch the one decent sized wave in the last ten minutes to extract myself to near shore, walk along shore a bit and find a better place. I can stand where the waves are breaking, resting on my boogie board and for an hour, set after set of 1 to 1.5m waves roll in.

It's 42 degrees today, I'm sitting at my computer under my fan, but my shorts and t-shirt are still damp and I've got a nice, large, cold drink sitting next to me. I sometimes forget how nice this place can be.

So, in all, for the last two weeks I've worked hard, but in essence had two three day weeks. This week is a four day week and I still have a stack of work to do.

But I can't complain. Life is good.