By Jon Vertigan, radio presenter and Metro Content Director for the ACE Radio Network:

I’ve always loved radio. From the moment I was born, I was exposed to this wonderful industry thanks to my dad, John (senior), who spent over 50 years as a broadcaster. His passion for the medium was infectious, and I’ve carried that love with me throughout my life.

Dad spent Christmas with us this year, as he usually does, and I cherish our time together. Over the years, though, he’s seen a different side to me during the festive season—the swearing, cursing, and frustrated side. Assembling things has never been my strong suit. I’ve stuffed up trampolines, basketball rings, bikes—you name it. If it came in a box with instructions, chances were high that I’d fail.

With the kids a bit older now, I was really looking forward to a stress-free Christmas—no assembly required. Or so I thought. That illusion was shattered on Christmas morning when I unwrapped a present from my wife: a LEGO radio.

Now, don’t get me wrong—it was a thoughtful gift. This beautiful woman knows how much I love radio. But she also knows my Achilles’ heel: following instructions. And this thing looked intense. Hundreds of tiny pieces, a detailed manual, and the promise of hours of construction.

Fast forward to Boxing Day. As the Aussie cricketers stepped onto the MCG for the test match, I began a test of my own: assembling this bloody LEGO radio. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the experience, but an hour in, I was hooked. I hadn’t checked my phone, I wasn’t worrying about work, and I wasn’t thinking about anything else. I was completely immersed in the process. It was pure mindfulness at its best.

I chipped away at it, a little more each day. By Day 3, I was making serious progress. But then, disaster struck. The tuner part of the radio was supposed to ‘slide in’ to the casing, but it wouldn’t budge. After a closer look, I realized I’d made a mistake early on—and by ‘early on,’ I mean right at the beginning. The entire structure was compromised.

You know that sinking feeling when you’ve written a pretty extensive imaging package and Google Drive crashes, erasing everything? Or when you’ve meticulously built a stack of new clocks in GSelector, only for it to ‘throw an exception’ and wipe it all out? Yep, it was just like that.

But I surprised myself. Instead of throwing a tantrum, I thought, “Who cares? I’m on holiday.” I pulled the whole thing apart and started over. And you know what? I enjoyed it even more the second time around. Piece by piece, I rebuilt the radio, savoring the process rather than rushing to the finish line.

By Day 5, as the Aussies wrapped up their victory over India, I placed the final piece on my LEGO radio. It looked fantastic. More than that, it felt like an achievement—not just because I’d built something cool, but because I’d rediscovered the joy of slowing down and focusing on the moment.

This little LEGO project reminded me of something important. Whether it’s assembling a radio, crafting a radio show, or just spending time with family, the magic is in the process. And sometimes, even when things fall apart, starting over can be the most rewarding part of all.