Who says that men can’t multitask? I was simultaneously watching a webcast, participating in a video meeting and dealing with two web chats this afternoon. And that’s straight after wolfing down a bowl of packet noodles while watching a bit of Hot Fuzz on Netflix.

The electricity was supposed to be out the entire day. I woke up before six am and used the remaining smoked salmon we ordered from Tasmania to prepare crepes with cream cheese and scrambled eggs. I’ve never made crepes before, only pancakes. Strawberry milkshakes accompanied it, using the last of the fruits, ice cream and most of the milk.

It was beyond filling and the fridge was almost bare of perishables by the end.

You supposedly only have four hours with fridges. Freezers can last the day.

Batteries were charged and B had organised leave for half the day rather than risk her laptop running out of power. She took Alex to Cronulla to eat burgers for lunch and relax in a park.

I had meetings. Meetings that blended into more meetings that lead to web chats and phone calls while trying to complete disparate tasks. Meanwhile, before he left, Alex was trying to chat with me about nothing in particular.

Okay, so I can multitask, but damn it drains the mental batteries. It felt so good to shut down the computer at 5 pm. Alex and I played a bit of indoor badminton. I’ve still got the reflexes! Afterwards, I went downstairs and performed sixteen kata alone, letting the body engage the mind.

The day was not done.

“What’s for dinner?”

I defrost chicken thighs, chop vegetables, make a white wine, lemon and cream chicken stew, my own invention, not following a recipe.

It is after eight pm. The power never went off.