A week of small wins that didn’t feel like wins – felt like defeats, actually, and not small ones.
Leaving aside the creative projects that I do as my “job”:
1. Had a man round to inspect the roof, after putting it off for years. This wasn’t just any man: I made that painful mistake before. Found this man through association that actually vets its members. Having found the association, I emailed several:
I’d like to pay for an inspection and a written report with photos on my roof and gutters. I’m getting separate quotes for any actual work, so I just want an honest assessment. I was let down badly by a previous tradesman, so I’d really value straight answers on what genuinely needs doing now versus what can wait.
This week, he arrived. Rather satisfyingly, he used a drone to inspect the roof. Took off from outside our front door, looking like a grey frog with mad whirring feet.
He went away, sent me a report and – ouch.
As expected, lots of work is needed. So you see what I mean about it feeling like a painful defeat. But I suppose getting the report done in the first place does count as a small win.
Faced up to something, if you see what I mean, instead of not.
2. Paid to have a new boiler installed. Again: ouch, for reasons that reach into multiple four figures.
But also: ouch, because I’d prefer to have installed some kind of marvellous renewable technology instead of a gas boiler, but that wasn’t possible right now.
Small win: we have an efficient new boiler.
Small wins!