Our BLUETTI has finally arrived and, assuming I don’t accidentally electrocute myself during setup, the new system should let us stay off-grid for close to a week at a time. Between the van’s existing battery, rooftop solar and the BLUETTI, we’ll have enough power to run the important things: Starlink, the fridge, coffee and whatever device tells us where the nearest pub is. If my maths is right, avoiding powered campsites should see the whole setup pay for itself in about six weeks. It’s rare that buying an expensive toy can be described as a financial decision, but I’m choosing to believe it.
It also means it’s our last night in Mount Isa, so to celebrate we bought a couple of steaks at the eye-watering price of $56 a kilo. At those prices, I’d quite like the cow to have enjoyed opera, daily massages and a fulfilling social life before making the ultimate sacrifice. We’ll see tonight whether they’re noticeably better than the supermarket variety, or whether we’ve simply paid gourmet prices for something that’ll end up covered in barbecue sauce anyway.
In other news, my former employer appears to be ignoring my request to pay the commissions I’m owed for April, May and June, a tidy sum of around $15,000. Today is payday, and if it doesn’t land in my account tonight, Barrister Berry will be forced out of retirement. He’s not particularly pleasant, but he does enjoy paperwork almost as much as he enjoys getting paid.
I genuinely thought I could put that chapter of my life behind me, but apparently not. It’s disappointing to discover that loyalty and a handshake only seem to count while you’re making someone money. Worst case, Will and I start looking for work a little earlier than we’d planned. Either way, I’m not walking away from fifteen grand. I’ll get every dollar I’m owed. One way or another.
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