Gegen Windmühlen kämpfen

Life is ugly, brutal, and short when you work at a windmill. There's wood to chop, grain to grind, cloth to weave. Sure, you have six (seven? who can keep track?) reliable, if not particularly bright, children to help you with the chores. But then some misguided nutcase comes along and rips a hole in your sail with his spear. Use your limited energy wisely, lest your windmill crumble to ruins season after season.