Lin Li Yeoh

6:00 AM

You know how it is, that morning struggle. My alarm's set for 6 AM, but let's be real, I'm not getting out of bed any earlier than 6:15 AM. I’d rather run around like a headless chicken for 15 minutes than lose anymore of my beauty sleep!

6:15 AM

I slip into my work gear and put together a no-fuss breakfast – granola, yogurt, and raspberries I snagged from the farm. Of course, an oat milk latte is part of the ritual. 

6:30 AM

I cue up some karaoke tunes and hit the road going to our office in my trusty ride, aptly named "Blueberry”.

7:00 AM

The workday kicks off by cross-referencing old-school paper time sheets with their digital copy. Once all the appropriate edits have been made, I head deep into the Perfection Fresh raspberry farm to help our Research and Development (R&D) Team.

Here, I’m involved with the data input of the different R&D varieties’ yield and waste berries.

This helps us to decide which varieties to bring through to the next stage of trials. Every so often, some cool bugs decide to join the party.

9:00 AM

Following a well-appreciated "smoko," I dive back into the data inputs. But today, a stroke of luck – I wrapped up the data inputs ahead of schedule. With a tray in hand, I step into the tunnels, joining the pickers in their final push of R&D harvesting. Raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries are the triad of our experimental trials.

12:30 PM

Noontime arrives, and I retreat to a satisfying meal – stir fry over rice and my second, much needed, coffee of the day. 

1:00 PM

Post-lunch, my attention pivots to the progress of our seedling propagation. We're deep into the swing of our propagation season, a bustling time where we're on track to nurture a whopping ~1.7 million raspberry seedlings.

My role involves keeping an eye on the numbers and overseeing the propagation model. This means a stint with Excel, where I update our harvest figures to create a more accurate model of the season.

1:30 PM

Once the data is all squared away, I venture into the sprawling raspberry fields for a bit of scouting. Think of it as a plant detective mission. I examine a series of random plants, gauging its health and scanning for any signs of the tiny inhabitants – both the beneficial and the troublesome bugs. This detective work serves a crucial purpose – it's like an early warning system, giving us a heads-up on whether we might face a showdown with damaging bugs or diseases in the near future.

3:00 PM

With the workday drawing to a close, it's time for a different kind of challenge. I make my way to the gym, ready to tackle the evening workout. Today's focus? Leg day. With determination, I settle in for a session that promises sore quads for the next few days.

5:00 PM

Having relocated from New Zealand for this role at Perfection Fresh, I'm used to finding jam for about $2 at the supermarket. So, when I saw a price tag of $7 for a jar, I was less than impressed. Therefore, today, I decided to try my hand at jam making. Using fresh raspberries, I simmer them into a fragrant concoction, then pour them into a glass jar that I fished out of the recycling bin (appropriately disinfected, of course). 

6:00 PM

After tidying up the remnants of my jam-making fiasco, I transition to preparing dinner. I may not be a culinary master, but I give it my all, even if the results aren't always gourmet. Somehow, I cobble together a decent meal, and with dinner taken care of, I finally allow myself to sink into a cozy chair, book in hand. It's a smooth transition into the evening, a perfect way to keep me both engaged and relaxed.

9:30 PM

The clock flicks 9:30 PM, signaling that it's time to wrap things up. I tie up any loose ends, setting the stage for a peaceful night. With a sigh of satisfaction, I slip into bed, ready for the sweet embrace of sleep. Another day ends, making way for tomorrow's adventures.

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