
16/06/2025
After my father passed, I became the handyman of sorts for the house. Today was challenging. The decades-old fluorescent light decided to call it a day. I changed the tube, but still no luck. So must be the starter right? And then I realised the ancient starter (I couldn't even find this Trimex brand anymore) got stuck and likely fused together with the components. Then I tried pulling out the stuck tip with pliers it broke into pieces... It was really a test of patience, my arms on fire from holding them up for so long... I was about to give up... Then it yielded!
So I put up the light tube, twisted it in and then the bracket broke 😭. I was feeling 😂 😖at this point. Told myself worst case scenario, we'll call in the electrician.
Then.. It worked! So proud of myself 😁
My dad didn't actually teach us how to fix all these things. We just saw him doing them around the house, and somehow picked up those skills.
I even recall how he sometimes swore when fixing things and they broke or tools slipped - that was me today in my head.
I lost track of when is already. But I'll still feel him around at times like these.
We are lucky if we get to grow old. We are luckier if we get to grow old with our loved ones.
(yes that's the dog stealing the towel and running away for the umpteenth time in the photo)