THAT HOUR a New Service

AI Generated

A friend sent me this AI-generated image in response to my new That Hour service, and I really like it! It’s a brutal yet beguiling illustration that brings to mind the resourceful workers I’ve encountered in different parts of the world—like the street dentists in India, the preachers in Glasgow, and the Polish engineers I met in Israel, lined up every morning on a wall, waiting for builders in search of cheap labour.

It reminds me of the cobblers and hairdressers in Iraqi refugee camps, the local children in Africa crafting bracelets for UN staff, the boatbuilders in Indonesia waiting with their tools for a job, and the brilliant welders and mechanics I met across Africa. They were all multi-skilled problem solvers, adapting to whatever materials and equipment they had. They worked in informal co-operatives—if they couldn’t fix something, they knew someone who could. Their approach was patient, informed by years of experience, and deeply resilient.

There was something wonderful about their accessibility—their enthusiasm for answering questions, sharing knowledge, and even, at times, letting you have a go yourself. No password generation or sign-up hassle, no follow-up calls, no sharing of personal details, no hidden costs—just genuine interactions for brief but meaningful moments. I admired how they involved others, always ensuring a young person was nearby, learning. Many of the more established professionals recognized their skill and often sought their counsel.

I don’t want to romanticise their reality—it was tough, unhealthy, and precarious, and I’m sure many would have preferred a more secure life. Yet, I have immense respect for their craft, their ingenuity, and the way they tackled challenges. There’s so much to learn from their adaptability and problem-solving mindset.

Maybe that’s why this image resonated with me.... thanks for the image Patti