day in the life of unemployed and bored person

Fish-and-chips fail: batter detaches, the outside browns while the fish seems undercooked, and nearly all the oil is consumed. He blames unpleasant pangasius for sticky, chewy, fishy taste, rejects it, and throws the fish away; the chips are soggy. The blueberry pie is undersized; its filling shrinks, lid sinks, and pastry is hard outside but raw and stodgy inside.

His ambitious cooking again produces frustration, waste, and self-criticism rather than a satisfying result.