Just had a lovely wander round Columbia Road flower market and picked up some lovely plants and fresh flowers.
Yes, it’s super busy and a bit of a tourist trap - but the prices can’t be beat and the selection is fantastic.
2023
Considering Threads
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Back in the day - in other words, before it became a bigot-filled mess - I was a huge fan of Twitter. I’ll admit to spending far too much time on the app, but I’ll also admit to enjoying myself and making some real friends along the way. Once Space Karen took over, I used it less and less, turning instead to Mastodon and Instagram to both express myself and keep in touch with friends.New piece of art collected from the studio this afternoon.
We commissioned the artist to create this after meeting him at an exhibition. I’m absolutely in love with it. A one of a kind, made to a palette of colours we selected to blend in with our home.
I don’t know where to start with this.
Of course these reactionary Tories are against anything that could improve working lives. They spread an over-simplified, fear-based message and propagate it with dark money from fascists in the US.
A rightwing lobby group that doesn’t declare its donors is spearheading a campaign to undermine the spread of the four-day week in the UK.
Rightwing lobby group campaigns to undermine UK four-day week, The Guardian.
Everywhere looks better in the sun.
Snapped on a wander around Canary Wharf this afternoon. From this angle, I think the building looks more like a tool or a set of gears. At least it’s not an oblong box like so many of the other buildings in this neighbourhood.
Last night was absolutely horrible.
I tossed and turned and coughed and sweated. But after all that, I woke up this morning feeling decidedly better. I’m still hoarse, still have a sort through, but I’m not aching and exhausted like yesterday.
I’m taking it very easy today, just doing a bit of admin and podcast work. I’ll wrap up in a couple of hours and then spend some time on the balcony in the sunshine. It’s set to reach 29C here in London today, which is incredibly hot for this neck of the woods. But as we always get a breeze up on the 35th floor, I should be able to stay relatively cool.
And work on topping up my tan, which seems to be fading post-Sitges.
I’m so glad we haven’t made any plans for the weekend. I just want to take it easy
Enjoying the view over the Thames before I take my sick self to bed.
Very glad I came home from work early and cancelled all tonight’s plans. It’s time for some Night Nurse capsules, honey and a hot drink.
Hoping to wake up feeling hugely better tomorrow.
Enjoying the view and the sunshine…
I’m giving up and heading back to bed.
Tried to brave it through another day of work and it was a very, very bad idea. The cough is getting more annoying and I’ve basically lost my voice. I don’t want to be sick all weekend, so I’m just going to focus on getting better.
Periscope down for now.
I survived a whole day of work, so that’s a win. Now for some chicken katsu curry - lovingly prepared by my better half - followed by the latest episode of “Secret Invasion”. And then, an early night.
Snapped on my way to Soho this morning to run a workshop.
Despite my lurgy, the workshop went well. Now I’m back home, sipping a hot drink with honey and preparing to finish up for the day.
Heading home to lie down in comfort, take some tablets and hopefully feel a lot better tomorrow morning. 🤞🏻
Once again, we enjoyed a spectacular sunset from our balcony yesterday.
Just as the winds picked up and we had to tie down all our balcony furniture before it got blown away. While it always seems to be a little breezy on the 35th floor of our building, yesterday’s winds were epic.
And not in a good way.
Hmmm. Scratchy throat. Tickly cough. Feeling quite exhausted.
My very own personal checklist for an imminent dose of something awful. Every time I get the flu or a very bad head cold, it starts the same way. So today’s mission has changed from being uber-productive to simply getting through this afternoon’s meetings and then I’ll be heading home immediately and crawling back into bed.
The theme for this morning’s writing sprint…
Indiana Jones and the Disappointing Finale
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
I’m still trying to figure out what I thought of the latest Indiana Jones movie. I watched it yesterday evening and, while there were some great moments, overall I left the cinema a bit disappointed and a little relieved it was over. There were some very strange edits, some distracting sub-par CGI effects and quite a bit of clunky exposition. All the same, it was great to see Indy back on the big screen and, if I’m honest, have any of the previous movies avoided the above traps?I’ve just started watching the latest season of Black Mirror on Netflix and it’s amazing. First episode watched while doing the ironing. Need to find another household chore I can do to watch some more.
Restoring my iMac to factory settings, so I can sell it. Surplus to requirements, now that I have my new Apple Studio Display and Mac Mini. This used to be quite a painful process, but newer versions of macOS make it a lot simpler.
A year ago, today: a beautiful sunset, snapped from my balcony. I’m a sucker for a beautiful sunset.
Bracing myself for a London Pride today.
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Heading into the West End to watch the parade, to wave at friends who are marching. To be followed by music, public shameless dancing and far too many delicious cold beers. I just know I’m going to be on my feet ALL DAY but probably won’t care by 5pm. Hope I remember to take some pics. Last year started well, but there was a noticeable absence of any photos taken after about 6pm… which represents a significant positive correlation with cumulative beers consumed.Lunchtime burger and a beer at my local BrewDog. The chicken burger is to die for.
Easing into the weekend…
Spotted in a local restaurant, here in Canary Wharf.
There’s a guy on the DLR platform next to meet eating a Gregg’s sausage roll for breakfast. And I am SO jealous.
Heading into the office for a few hours of YouTube video edits and a meeting with the manager of my office building.
To discuss…various shortcomings with the service they’re providing. Another case study for my talks and workshops on “difficult conversations”.
Wrapping up at lunchtime as we have a friend visiting us from Spain for the weekend and he needs entertaining / feeding / beers this afternoon.
Really, really enjoyed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds this evening. It’s by far my favourite ‘flavour’ of Star Trek right now, and I’m enjoying it a lot more than Secret Invasion. And I had such high hopes for that.
Maybe it’ll improve over the next couple of episodes.
New shoes, just arrived. My favourite Allbirds in my favourite colour. And just in time for London Pride this weekend. 👟🏳️🌈
My new iPhone lock screen and home screen, courtesy of the very talented Basic Apple Guy. And yes, I’ve also added the appropriate versions to my Mac and my iPads too. Because matching.
Tools of the trade
Thursday, June 29, 2023
One of my many, many terrible habits is jumping from app to app in the hope that there’s a magical combination of software solutions that will somehow double my productivity. Of course, I realise this is madness and is the kind of think I’d discuss with a coaching client if they brought it up! In particular, I’ve been jumping between notes apps and task management apps, as if I was getting paid to review them.Nearly there with the new office set-up
Thursday, June 29, 2023
I have the new Mac mini up and running with the Apple Studio Display. I’ve done quite a bit to organise the various power cables etc behind my sit/stand desk. and I’ve moved my microphone to make it more convenient to use. I really need to buy some replacement headphones for my various calls and webinars - the rubber has work away on the ones I have, exposing various wires. Aside from how it looks, I’m reasonably confident I’m going to get an electric shock in one of my ears pretty soon.Picturing Suella Braverman weeping into her coffee this morning:
“The court heard from UNHCR that Rwanda had a record of human rights abuses towards refugees within its borders, including refoulement – forced removal to countries where they are at risk – expulsions and arbitrary detention. The refugee agency warned that the Home Office would not be able to guarantee the safety of asylum seekers who were deported to the east African country.”