That week, I am back working in Freshwater. And there’s something about that place that really affects me. It’s calm yet lively at the same time, a coastal village in the north of Sydney with a relaxed surfer vibe. I’m really drawn to it. It feels like a tropical version of Zandvoort. It’s the atmosphere that makes it special. The work itself is back to the brick scrubbing, and the more I do it, the more I appreciate it.
I have a lot of time to think and sit with my thoughts. And also to practice controlling them. Every now and then I listen to a podcast just to interrupt the constant stream in my head. I think everyone recognizes that feeling of thoughts always being “on,” and sometimes I need to calm them down when I notice myself becoming restless. In the end, they’re just thoughts, and they always pass on their own. Whether it’s about my future, money, being away from home for a long time, hobbies, people, or where I want to go in life, they’re all questions of awareness through which life tests and challenges you. And sometimes that naturally brings doubts too.
During this work, I notice myself thinking about old patterns I tend to fall back into. Working hard, proving myself a bit, doing more than average, pushing myself, earning money, living considerate, being careful with what I do and what I spend my money on. I also realize and have to conclude that I’m simply not someone who throws money around without thinking. Deep down I know I have the discipline to build things back up again, and that’s part of the freedom I currently experience. The freedom of choice, of deciding where in the world I want to be.
I’m selective about the people I surround myself with, and at the same time, less pleasant people always teach you something too. So maybe bad people don’t really exist once you become aware of the lesson you can learn from them. In the case of Bernie and Tanya, I’m around genuinely good people with whom I feel incredibly comfortable him and his children as well. That week his wife was in Bali for a few days, and because I had work in Freshwater, I could stay there for a couple of nights to fill up his company. I had a solid workday, we walked his dog, and had dinner with one of his daughters who had already moved out but still comes back every Monday for dinner together. I was invited along, and that made for a peaceful Monday evening.
That morning I took another refreshing swim before my workday started, and in the evening it was gym time followed by trivia quiz night. I worked there the whole week, so life actually felt pretty normal. I know this routine and slower pace are good for me, although I also keep wondering what my next chapter will look like. Staying flexible is the most important thing, I continuously notice, and things always seem to come my way eventually. With my working life currently, there are fewer exciting or extreme moments, and honestly that’s probably a good thing because I’ve got a few changes coming up.
There’s Jordy and Annemijn’s wedding, for which I’m flying to Bali on May 24th. I’m really looking forward to that. And as I already mentioned in my previous blog, my rental agreement here has also ended. I needed to find a new place to stay for a few days and spent time scrolling through Facebook options nearby. No luck. And speaking of staying flexible… I did scratch my head a little after buying that keyboard. Anyway, situations like this force you to think in solutions, although at that point I didn’t exactly have one yet because I still had no place to live. It puts me into action mode, which is a good thing. Even during uncertain moments, the art is to trust that things will work out. In difficult moments like these, stress can definitely arise, but I focus on the idea that the answer always appears once you truly focus on finding it. I keep repeating that to myself, sometimes even out loud.
That Friday morning during my run club, I felt a stiff muscle pulling again, the same issue I had after my half marathon. Time for a little (St)anatomy lesson: it’s my left iliopsoas muscle that’s weak. It’s an important muscle around the hips that can become inactive from too much sitting. Since walking barefoot much more during my travels, I’ve already noticed my posture becoming much straighter, and my core muscles have become stronger because I’m not sitting all day and I’m generally much more active. That’s had a positive effect for over nine months now. Those hip muscles are still something I need to work on though, I know that, even if I’ve been postponing it a bit, to be honest.
Back from Stanatomy to Stan the Man’s life. It’s Friday, the work atmosphere is good, and after two classic beers next to the dumpster, I’m in the mood to continue the night. Charlie, whom I’ve met up with several times before, is staying at a hostel in Bondi, so I head there to hang out. Good vibes, a few beers, and enjoying some live music.
Earlier that week, I got tempted by an social media hype collaboration for a special watch between two big brands: Audemars Piguet and Swatch. Honestly, I genuinely liked the watch, and yes, partly because of the hype, I got out of bed early to see if I could get one. But when I arrived, the lines were already huge, and some people had even camped outside overnight. The store manager quickly came out to explain they only had a few dozen pieces in stock, so I quickly realized I wouldn’t be one of the chosen ones. When I looked further into Swatch collaborations with other major brands, I noticed this is actually a common strategy: create huge attention around the release, then restock later. I probably could’ve known that, but once again, you learn something new.
Back home after that, and then on to my Saturday morning coffee-club quiz, where I was, thankfully, one of the chosen ones. Always nice to have a bit of company and chat nonsense over quiz questions from the Saturday morning newspaper. That afternoon I helped my flatmate Karl move because he had a lot of stuff to bring to his new place. So overall, a pretty quiet Saturday. And honestly, I didn’t do much that Sunday either. I emptied the fridge knowing that I wouldn’t be keeping most of my things once I leave for Bali and Lombok and if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s emptying a fridge.
That Monday, my week started again in Freshwater, and I also knew it would be my final workweek before my holiday started. It’s always nice to remind myself of that. Vacation ahead. Although honestly, my life already feels like one big privileged holiday… I realize that too.
And as that week started, I found myself reflecting. I’d worked for almost six weeks, and there’s a duality in working hard. On one hand, I’m proud of myself and it feels good to know that I can quickly tap back into that discipline and work hard again. At the same time, I also feel that this work is temporary, and I don’t see myself becoming an Australian contractor. Still, I keep learning new things and gaining insight into the process and the way people build here. Everything is carefully planned and designed, and everything has to meet Australian Building Standards. Construction here is done very professionally, and you can clearly see that in the quality of the houses and the way everything is maintained.
So I know I’m not going to become an Australian contractor. But I also strongly feel that a better version of myself could emerge if I started something for myself. That realization feels like an important stage of growth, and I know my next lesson lies somewhere in that direction. I’m convinced that once I put this same hard-working energy into something of my own, something truly beautiful will grow from it. I can definitely conclude that from these past few weeks.
That workweek, I moved back and forth between two houses, and the brick-scrubbing project had finally wrapped up. When I worked mornings in Freshwater and afternoons in Neutral Bay, I allowed myself to enjoy the travel time a little more and take longer lunch breaks. As soon as I arrived at this renovation project, I could immediately see there was plenty of work to do. There’s enough work there for months, so if I decide to come back after my Bali holiday, my hands will definitely still be useful there. But that’s something to think about later.
That Thursday was my final workday, and I experienced something quite remarkable. A small truck arrived carrying two very stereotypical garbage collectors. One of them inspected the amount of waste and walked over to the contractor for an old-school handshake negotiation. “600” was the opening offer for rubbish pickup. “No, 500,” the contractor replied. Eventually they settled on 525, and I watched with admiration as this nostalgic style of bargaining still existed. With the handshake deal done and a few more stones carried around, my workweek came to an end, and it was finally time for vacation.
A blog full of random thoughts and perhaps somewhat disconnected stories for the reader. But I look back with enormous pride at everything I’ve experienced and done over the past few weeks. Now it’s time for rest and holiday.
More on that later 🤙🏼🏝️
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