Sweat and Satay

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How we accidentally packed an entire weekend into one Saturday

Yesterday started strong. My husband and I had just finished a casual, energizing stroll with some fellow startup folks in the morning. Two and a half hours on foot, non-stop convo, not-so-fresh air, and plenty of laughs. We got home a bit sweaty (okay, I was very sweaty), and barely had time to breathe before we had to rush 26km away to our previous home. 

While I went to the john and showered in record speed, my daughter made a quick lunch: an instant nasi daging rendang from Lanana, that came from a Ralali goodie bag. I took one bite in the car and surprised because it was shockingly good. Warm, comforting, spicy, but not too much. I finished it right there, happily chewing through traffic. 

By 1 PM, we arrived at the property just in time. Five people were already waiting, ready to help us maintain the place. The timing was perfect. 

First up: two awesome guys from Cleansheet. They’re part of a service that cleans homes: changing sheets, emptying fridges, dusting, vacuuming, everything. From 1 PM to 3:15 PM, they worked through every corner. The house felt completely different afterwards: lighter, fresher, cared for. I love using Cleansheet not just because of their great work, but because they have a mission too: helping fund their team’s education. Good service, good cause. Win-win. 

Then came two guys from Petrokil, our go-to pest control folks. They’ve been helping us keep termites away for nearly two years now. What I really appreciate is their regular check-ins. It’s not just a one-time thing and goodbye. They make sure the treatment lasts. Consistency like that gives you real peace of mind. 

The last person wasn’t officially scheduled, but always part of our ecosystem: our housekeeper. He doesn’t live at the property, he’s actually the gardener of the whole townhouse. But I trust him with the keys. He checks in on the place when we’re not around. It’s a small but meaningful layer of security and comfort. 

While all that was happening, my husband kept going fixing lamps, labeling drawers, organizing small stuff I usually ignore. We finally wrapped up close to 5 PM, and by then, we were absolutely famished. So we headed straight across the road to a warung we've loved for years. Their sate, nasi goreng kambing, and tongseng are dangerously good. We ordered too much, and have it to go for our daughter. 

And still, it wasn’t over. 

We capped it off with a full 90-minute massage. Thank goodness the place still accepted us at 8 PM. By 9:45, we were melted butter. Relaxed, stretched, and finally still. Nothing feels better than clean sheets and a tired-but-happy body after a day like that. 

So yeah, that was our Saturday. We walked, cleaned, managed, ate, got massaged, all in one day. I don’t recommend making a habit of this much productivity on a weekend (unless you have superhero knees), but I do recommend: moving your body, supporting good people, and ending your day with something that fills you up. Whether it’s satay or a really good body massage :) 

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