😴 Last night’s sleep destroyed by a horrible dream that I was in Egypt, stuck in a hotel due to some kind of coup, and unable to find my passport. Gunfire and screams outside. It all felt so, so real. Woke in a panic and had to check it was where I always keep it.
Thanks for nothing, brain.
📆 A superb Monday so far!
Aaaargh. My hay fever is off the scale this morning. Feeling utterly miserable and I haven’t even left the apartment yet. Eyes streaming, constant sneezing, itchy all over. Seems my meds aren’t doing a thing today.
🦷 Starting my weekend with a trip to the dentist.
Nothing serious, just a check-up. But never, ever anything less than a chore.
Despite being woken up by a malfunctioning fire alarm at 4am, I’ve been vaguely productive this morning!
Finished the edits and published my lastest work YouTube video, survived a client call regarding a new project, and with the help of even more coffee, I’m going to run a webinar in about 30mins from now.
I am, however, going to wrap up work as soon as that’s finished. I may need a very short nap to get through the rest of the evening.
😱 An awful night’s sleep, punctuated by the worst possible nightmares.
Seems like each time I went back to sleep, I slipped into another awful (imaginary) situation. Robbery, mugging, job loss… one after another. Sitting here with a coffee, reminding myself none of it was real.
📸 I have the gym all to myself this afternoon!
Saturday, May 4, 2024
I’d like to say the worst bit of yesterday’s MRI was the noisy machine. I’d like to say it was the scratching and uncomfortable line inserted awkwardly into a vein in my left arm. Indeed, it would be nice to tell people that the worst part of the experience was the half-litre of gloop they made me drink before the scan. Or maybe having to hold my breath while my digestive system was scanned.Christ on a bike this stuff is vile!!!
But apparently necessary, pre-MRI. Currently fantasising about my dream lunch (I’ve been fasting) and I’m pretty sure it involves a Five Guys burger 🍔
Another day of two halves…
I’m off to Vienna this evening, to (hopefully) enjoy a Bank Holiday weekend in the sun. But first, I have to go back to hospital, for yet another test.
Thankfully, it’s just an MRI, so all I have to cope with is boredom. Hopefully.
OMG. Ten hours of sleep later and I feel like a new man.
Glad it was just a quick (and nasty) food poisoning, rather than the start of some bug. Feeling 100% now and planning to head out for a run shortly.
Finally home from my overnight to Chichester to speak at a conference.
The presentation went really well, almost making up for last night’s food poisoning and projectile vomiting at 2am. 😥
Haven’t slept since and, at this point, I think I can see sounds and taste colour.
Started the morning with yet another medical appointment, followed by booking in yet another test.
Just an MRI this time, so nothing invasive or uncomfortable. There are only so many colonoscopies a boy can handle in a single year! I’m so grateful I can access this quality healthcare, but I’ll be a lot more grateful once I have some firm answers to my body’s questions.
I had a headache earlier, which has gradually spread to my right eye and now (thanks, aging body) gone into my right ear. I was almost getting used to the headache, but the earache is a new level of fuckery.
Glad I finished work early, so I can take to my fainting couch and moan…
Turns out…
These ferocious headaches I’ve had for the past three days (including this very moment) could be down to the nuclear volume of probiotics my gastro consultant prescribed.
Ugh.
Took a rake of painkillers. Had a nap.
Feeling marginally better, but there’s still a dull ache all over the right hand side of my head. And my eyeball hurts when I bend over or sneeze. Just lovely.
Anyway. I managed to finish the YouTube edits I was working on and got a podcast episode lined up for publication next week. Chipping away at my todo list, just to make tomorrow slightly easier.
Yesterday’s headache is back with a bang.
Thumping. And my right eye hurts like a mofo. As it hurts to look at a screen, I’m going to pack up and head home. I’m not someone who gets migraines, but it’s starting to feel that way.
Time to lie down in the dark and hopefully this will pass.
A thing I’ve been working on for weeks and weeks has finally gone live and I’m very excited (and nervous).
The first video in a series, all about how to develop your psychological flexibility and deal with pressure and stress more effectively. An evidence-based, effective and impactful approach.
All in all, a very good day at work.
Enjoyed coffee and a catchup (and plans for more work) with a client in the West End and then delivery of a workplace wellbeing workshop for a new client.
Now heading home to head to the gym. I know! But after all that talk about investing in our wellbeing, I can hardly collapse on the sofa with a beer, can I?!
Ooooh…
Seems my new health insurance (thanks husband, thanks husband’s new employer!) means I get a meaty discount from the local snazzy gym. And while I know we have our own gym in the basement of our apartment building, it doesn’t have a massive pool, a sauna and a steam room. Or a packed schedule of exercises classes.
I was considering joining on a four-times-a-month contract, but for just £40 more per month, I could get unlimited access. I’m going to have to check my budget and see if I can make this work.
Yes, £100 a month for a gym is both excessive, but also the price of two evenings in a London pub.
Insert shrug emoji here.
Another day of two halves…
I’ve just come upstairs to my apartment after a solid hour pumping away on the elliptical machine down in the gym. I had a pretty rough morning (medical appointment… grrr) so it was nice to take my frustrations out on an inanimate object, and burn some calories in the process.
Plus, I finally got to finish watching ‘Severance’ and I’m quite sure the final episode helped raise my heart rate to epic levels!
I’m definitely finishing the day on a more positive note.
What next? Oh yes. My better half is making us spicy chicken ramen and we’re going to watch the latest episode of ‘Shogun’. It’s just magnificent.
Here’s to the power of physical exercise and escapism!
Sunday, March 10, 2024
An unusual week, this one. I started it in a hospital and I’m finishing it on the sofa. Feeling fine now and looking forward to the week ahead. Wellbeing After Monday’s hospital tests, which all went to plan, I’m now waiting on my next appointment with the consultant to get some answers and a plan of action. I’m not sure how much was physical and how much was psychological, but it took me a few days to feel like my normal self.I survived 45mins on the elliptical trainer.
Fuelled by rage, as I watched coverage of today’s budget. It may have raised my heart rate but did nothing for my enjoyment of the exercise.
Next time, I’ll go back to watching Battlestar Galactica. A true escape from Tory nihilism, where you’ve only got nuclear holocaust and infiltration by killer robots to worry about.
Heading downstairs to the gym.
For the first time since before I went to Japan. 🙈
This’ll be fun.
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!
Sunday, March 3, 2024
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. Travel and adventure 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.Made it downstairs to our gym after work today.
Seems there’s a new neighbour in our building. One who likes to make loud phone calls on speakerphone while walking on a treadmill. He was like something from a cheap reality show.
And I hope our paths never cross again.
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Another summary of the week that was… Wellbeing I’ve had ups and down on the health front. On the one hand, I’ve stuck to my healthy diet and got to the gym after work. I’ve now lost 3kg since the beginning of the year. On the other hand, my gastro symptoms and associated pain have slowed me down several times. I’m just focused on my hospital appointment on March 4th and getting some clarity and a plan of action after that.Thursday, February 8, 2024
I’ve had quite a fun and productive day! I started my morning by editing a podcast episode and then edited the video version of the same. I’m now using Descript for the podcast and I’m loving it. It’s the perfect, pragmatic solution for a non-techie like me. Although I noticed quite a few glitches in the video, courtesy of my Elgato webcam, but after lots of back and forth, I decided to publish it anyway and let the audience be the judge of how annoying it is.