πΈ The combination of sunshine, clouds and the London skyline is really working this evening…
πΈ The combination of sunshine, clouds and the London skyline is really working this evening…
πΈ A mid-afternoon treat: some delicious mini KitKats from last monthβs visit to Japan.
On reflection…
I should have booked today off work to recover from yesterday’s adventures. But we are where we are. So instead, I left the office early and I’m chilling at home.
After some annoying work news and a general feeling of being blocked creatively, I did the only sensible thing: I bought a new notebook. Time to return to the bullet journal and get back some clarity and focus.
It’s not been a typical few weeks, what with Japan and hospital, so I think it would be useful to pause and take a step back. Time to put on the kettle and get writing.
So this morning’s hospital tests all went to plan.
A bit of discomfort, minimal pain and some lovely, caring hospital staff all made it as positive an experience as this kind of thing can be. I’m back home recovering on the sofa.
And waiting on the delivery of the Five Guys burger I’ve been fantasising about since about midday yesterday. When I had to start fasting for the procedures. It can’t come soon enough!
πΈ He lives!
In and out of theatre super quick. Lovely team looked after me - couldnβt have been nicer. And now I just have to wait for the results.
So it’s D-Day.
Or more accurately, C-Day. I’ve been awake since 4:30am, mind buzzing. I just want to get all of this over and get some answers about my health.
To keep me going, I’ve been fantasising about the Five Guys burger I’m going to demolish later today.
Wish me luck!
πΈ Enjoying the view over London this evening…
Memories of last month’s trip to Japan and my visit to the Miyagi Zao Fox Village.
After a couple of weeks off due to my visit to Japan, I’m back into the weekly habit of posting an update of the week that was.
The main update here is my return from Japan. It always feels like a wrench to leave Tokyo, but this was somewhat lessened due to my excellent journey home. Though it was far from efficient.
I flew with Malaysia airlines from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur and then from Kuala Lumpur to London. With a six hour layover in the middle. Both flights were an absolute delight and I can wholeheartedly recommend Malaysia airlines for any long-haul travel. Just like they mention in their impressive onboard safety video, they bring Malaysian hospitality to life.
I have a few of short-haul trips in the schedule in the coming months: Edinburgh, Dublin, Sitges and Mallorca. I’m also looking at visiting Malaga for the first time. And then, hopefully, we’ll be back in Japan come November - for my first ever visit to Hokkaido. Exciting!
Not that it’s my main focus in life, I now weigh less than I did before my visit to Japan! This is despite all the food and drink and lack of gym visits. I can only put it down to all the walking I did and the healthy nature of a lot of Japanese cuisine.
Today is all about preparing for tomorrow’s hospital visit. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but my focus is 100% on getting some results (which should be immediately after, once I’m fully conscious again) and have a plan of action.
I went to see Dune 2 yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s arguably better than its predecessor and I barely noticed its impressive 2hrs 47mins runtime. The special effects were incredible, the score absorbing and the story compelling. If you enjoyed the first one, this will definitely impress.
I’ve been re-watching Battlestar Galactica from the start - again! It was initially reserved for sessions on the elliptical trainer in our gym, but I actually ended up watching six episodes on my flights back from Tokyo. I’m now on season two and, while there are a few rocky episodes and evidence of cheaper set design, it’s still an impressive piece of TV drama.
I also finished Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and really enjoyed it. As I noted when I posted about it, it reminded me of one of my favourite books of all time, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay which is the biggest compliment I can give it.
Finally, given recent news of how Wordpress is abusing the content creating by its users, I’ve started over with a personal long form blog and will be shutting down my Wordpress sites in the coming week. I’ll also be posting my longer posts over there, but linking back to them here on MacPsy.ch. I find Ghost to be a much better solution for those kinds of posts, where Micro.blog is perfect for sharing quick thoughts and cross-posting to other platforms.
And that was the week that was…
Awake since 5am.
No, not jet lag. At least, not mine.
Husband arrived back from Japan yesterday afternoon and has been wide awake since 3am. Whereas I would read or mindlessly scroll, he’s been up doing laundry and housework.
I’m exhausted just listening to it.
πΈ Declaring βSofa Saturdayβ and relaxing with some podcasts, YouTube and reading.
πΈ The sky is finally clearing up after some abysmal rain and wind earlier.
π¬ I really, really enjoyed Dune 2.
Even better than its predecessor. Incredible design and music - a totally engrossing cinema experience. The 2hrs 47mins runtime flew by.
π 48hrs until I’m in hospital…
With just 48hrs until I have the pleasure of a combined colonoscopy and endoscopy in hospital, it’s pretty much all I can think of. And not in a good way.
πΈ I got to spend an hour with this good boy yesterday…
He’s called Theo and he’s the bestest of best boys. Full of affection (and muscle).
πΈ This sky looks like my brain feels…
Just when I think I’ve got this jet lag beat once and for all, around comes 4pm.
And my body and brain immediately go into standby mode. I’m just grateful it’s Friday and I could have a fairly quiet afternoon.
Back in the office for the first time since Japan.
And I’m not going to lie, I could feel better. I slept from 9pm until 6am this morning, so it’s not a lack of sleep. It’s a lack of Tokyo!
In light of developments at Wordpress: A place on the web.
Time to start afresh and not depend 100% on a company that might sell my data.
Oooof. Battling the jet lag this afternoon.
After several very productive hours - unpacking my suitcase, two loads of laundry, a shower and shave, and a trip to get some groceries - I’ve hit the wall. And not even the prospect of season two of Battlestar Galactica can keep me awake.
I need a nap to keep going, but I also need to set an alarm. Otherwise, I’m going to sleep until sunrise tomorrow.
Landed at Heathrow after a wonderful flight from KL.
I slept most of the way, except when I was eating delicious food and chatting with the cabin crew. Though I do wonder why so many of my fellow passengers think itβs okay to be so rude and dismissive to the crew. Blows my mind.
And now⦠a 25mins wait for a train into London. Because god forbid there would be public transport available from when the first flights arrive in the morning.
Mission: stay awake until Canary Wharf!
Given I was worried how I was going to spend my layover here in Kuala Lumpur Airport, I’m amazed how quickly the time has gone by.
Once I was clear on what terminal I needed to be in (the same one I landed in - yay!), I headed to the Malaysian Airlines lounge and did some work admin (primarily, sorting out my work expenses for this month), cleared by work email inbox, and enjoyed some nice champagne and cheese. I’m two days ahead of my self-imposed deadline on the expenses, which is always nice.
I also pulled together a deck of slides for a webinar I’m facilitating on Thursday. I’ve been meditating and reflecting on the topic for weeks, and once I sat down and opened my laptop, it all sort of spilled out of my brain and onto the screen. In the nicest possible way.
I then took advantage of the pristine facilities and had a rather lovely shower. It felt great to freshen up, especially after spending seven hours on a plan from Tokyo. As I was preparing to leave the lounge to go exploring, I spotted a doorway I’d somehow missed on the way into the lounge. It was an entire sit-down restaurant!
Never one to pass up a free meal, I was escorted to a table and offered a menu. I skipped starters and desert and opted for the mushroom risotto. It was delicious. Completely superfluous to requirements, but delicious all the same.
So now I have just a couple of hours left before I’ll be in the sky again. This time for a 15 hour flight to London. I’m hoping for smooth skies and several hours of sleep. Between now and then, I’ll be downloading shows onto my iPad Mini, sampling more of this delicious champagne (before Sober March starts), and just being super grateful for the opportunity to take a holiday like this. I can imagine time might have crawled without access to this lounge.
I read about 60% of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow on my flight from Tokyo and it was so engrossing. Something about it reminds me of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. The creative process. The long story arc. The passion. The pain.
Can’t wait to pick it up again on my next flight and finish it off.
Just landed in KL…
And I have to gush about my flight with Malaysian Airlines. I don’t think I’ve had a friendlier or more attentive crew on any flight. They were incredible. Add to that some delicious food plentiful champagne and a comfy seat and I was all set. The seven hour flight from Tokyo really flew by.
I’m going to gloss over the vile man behind me, whose body odour wafted in behind him as he boarded and whose snoring was audible over my Bose noise-cancelling headphones. That’s all out of the airline’s control, obviously. It was a genuine pleasure to fly with Malaysian and I’m looking forward to my next flight with them.
In less than six hours!
About to board the first of two long-ass flights today.
First, Tokyo Narita to Kuala Lumpur. Then a six-hour layover, followed by KL to London Heathrow. And while I can’t wait to enjoy some of the famous Malaysian Airlines hospitality, all I want to do as soon as I board is get some sleep. Last night brought little to no sleep, so I’m a bit destroyed this morning.
Still, I made it out to Narita single-handed, navigated check-in and security and found my way to the JAL lounge for some breakfast. So I can’t be that bad. And yes, I had the famous JAL beef curry for breakfast. I’m wild like that!