Chapter 1: Tackling Home Projects

This past week, I finally completed the odd jobs at Stephanie's home, as previously discussed in my article about the challenges of gaining father-in-law approval and home improvements.

Initially, I had concerns about drilling into the freshly painted walls; there was a risk of hitting the wrong spot. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened! 😂

On my first attempt, I drilled two holes for a mirror, both of which went into the mortar instead of the bricks. After realizing my mistake, I adjusted my aim and was fortunate with my second try, successfully locating a vertical mortar line.

With a tape measure in hand, I ensured that my next attempts were precise, resulting in two strong fixings for the mirror. (Let’s ignore the extra holes — they are cleverly concealed behind it!)

Next on my list was a small decorative shelf installation on a lath and plaster wall. Despite my initial hesitation, the item was light enough to secure directly to the laths without issue.

The final task was to replace a missing ceiling rose for a light fixture. Stephanie handed me a heavy light shade her daughter had chosen, which was surprisingly weighty for a cable suspension.

I had two different brands of replacement fittings, and though they were slightly larger, I managed to make one fit the existing base. Completing these tasks was a relief, and Stephanie expressed her satisfaction.

Chapter 2: Car Insurance Woes

After receiving my car insurance renewal, I realized I needed to update my occupation to reflect my new self-employed status, as my Medium earnings had surpassed the £1000 threshold. However, when I specified my field, I found no suitable option for online writing.

Following the update, I was met with a disheartening message: they could no longer provide coverage! It seemed they had classified me as a higher risk, possibly due to my new designation.

Turning to a trusted price comparison site, confused.com, I found another insurer willing to cover me at a 25% discount.

After successfully reducing my own car insurance, I turned my attention to helping Stephanie with hers. Unfortunately, after navigating through the insurer’s website for what felt like ages, I received a rejection for her quote.

Despite trying various options, we ultimately had to settle for a pricier insurer — though it was still less than her renewal quote.

Chapter 3: Health Updates

This week, my son attended his quarterly appointment at the diabetes clinic. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020, this was his second visit as an adult since turning 18.

Historically, the hospital's approach to transitioning from child to adult care was inconsistent, leaving me unsure of my role during appointments. This time, at his request, I stayed in the waiting area while he spoke with the medical staff alone.

I hoped this one-on-one interaction would lead to a more focused discussion about his condition. Afterward, he was sent for a blood test, which he initially wanted to skip, but I encouraged him to go through with it.

Chapter 4: Medium Insights

I’ve noticed a decline in engagement on my Medium stories. It seems many of my recent posts are not receiving the same level of claps they once did.

Upon reflection, I discovered that my older stories had fewer claps than I remembered, likely due to Medium’s ongoing bot cleanup affecting visibility.

While I believe my reads have decreased lately, I also recognize that fluctuations in stats can occur after a viral story or a boosted post.

Despite these concerns, I remind myself to appreciate the success of the stories that have resonated with readers.

Thank you for following my journey. 💛

Alan

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This week's topics include grief, autism, and technology.