Trying to wind down

The usual daily route today…

…which I’ve accepted is just going to be most days for the rest of the year. I need a break from longer runs for a few more weeks so that I can come back refreshed in January and start building up again.

I spent another afternoon catching up with admin and writing and am now looking forward to a quiet weekend! Back on Monday with another update.

November 2019
November last year. It was the fifth year in a row that I’d somehow ended up in London at some point during the month of November; this year, obviously, I will not be maintaining my streak. I’m hopeful that the marathon will be able to go ahead next October but I don’t see myself having any reason to visit until then.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Eddy Grant – ‘Electric Avenue’

Order

Another mile-ish today…

…as I didn’t have that much energy this morning.

I had a bit of a quiet day in general, just getting on with admin. I always feel better when my lists and logs have been tidied up a bit.

A similar day tomorrow, I hope.

Christmas catalogue
Geth picked up a Christmas catalogue from the supermarket. I’ve not read it yet but it makes the sofa look seasonal!

Today’s earworm playlist:

The Rolling Stones – ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’
The Wanted – ‘All Time Low’

Phone Box Thursday: Main Street, Mochrum

Here’s another phone box from Mum and Dad’s travels in Dumfries and Galloway.

Red phone box
Red phone box, Main Street, Mochrum, 14th September 2020.

(Coordinates 54°78’58.1″N, 4°57’10.5″W.)

Interestingly, the phone box has moved slightly relative to the telegraph pole since the Google cars visited in 2009.

The box is very prettily presented, with lots of flowerboxes surrounding it, but sadly it does not seem to have escaped the phone box cull that is sweeping the UK at the moment 🙁 This one, too, has a notice of imminent removal inside it.

Next week I’ll be posting a phone box that I found myself. For once!

Limbo

Just a mile (point two) today…

…and I can’t say I’m that enthused about my well-worn route at the moment, but it’s nice to get out for some fresh air every morning.

Not being able to plan things is getting to me a bit at the moment. Obviously Christmas is the most immediate example, but I also feel a bit empty due to sitting here in my house with a giant stack of rescheduled gig tickets and race entries for next year and not knowing whether they’re actually going to happen or if they’ll all be postponed… again. I know people are making a lot of positive noises about vaccines but I’m finding it hard to believe that it will be possible for life to get back to normal next year. The whole situation just feels endless right now.

I’m trying to find small positives day to day, and I’ve got no shortage of hobbies and distractions. It’s just getting a bit hard now that it’s been so long.

I had a really busy afternoon today with day job work and writing. Looking forward to a slightly more relaxed day tomorrow!

Scented candle
‘Tis the season for scented candles. I’m on my last one, though, so I need to pick up some more.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Lady Gaga – ‘The Edge Of Glory’
Walk The Moon – ‘Shut Up And Dance’

Focusing on today

Longest run in a few weeks today!

I’m feeling a bit better about my running, but am going to continue to take it easy until I feel fully recovered.

The rest of the day was a combination of writing and day job work, as well as a bit more work on the house. I’ve been enjoying listening to music again too, so am going to do a bit more of that this evening.

Trying to take things one day at a time at the moment, though the temptation is strong to tie myself in knots thinking about every Christmas contingency. It may be that we don’t know what we’re doing until a few days beforehand, so I need to avoid thinking about it. It’s a shame because the run-up and the excitement is my favourite time of the year, but I just have to hope we can all salvage something when the time comes.

Another busy day tomorrow.

Earphones
Music has been a nice thing to get back into over the last few days.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Duran Duran – ‘Rio’
Ludwig Göransson – ‘The Mandalorian [Main Theme]’
Walk The Moon – ‘Shut Up And Dance’
Traditional – ‘Carol Of The Bells’
Elton John – ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’

Never enough projects!

Just a mile this morning…

…as I had a busy day ahead. Run went well though as I’m feeling a bit less fatigued!

I spent most of the afternoon writing and doing day job work, but I’m also trying to spend 30 minutes a day working on the house at the moment. Housework and de-hoarding have taken a real back seat this year (mainly because we haven’t had many visitors, who are usually my main motivation for trying to get the house to look nice!), and I’ve tried various strategies, but none of them have really stuck. One of the ones that didn’t work for me did have a maxim that has stayed in my mind, however: why is it that only visitors deserve to see your house at its best? Keeping on top of the house is really hard for me because there are so many other things that take priority. But I’d like to be more comfortable in my home (especially as I spend 99% of my time in it these days!), and so I’m starting again with yet another online method, despite the many other projects I’m juggling at the present time.

I’ve had a few days off videogaming as there are too many other things going on at the moment. I’m going to carve out some time for it tomorrow evening, though, as it’s absolutely the most relaxing thing I can do for myself.

Christmas loungewear
One more pair of Christmas trousers from the weekend! These are loungewear rather than leggings and they are the comfiest.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Judy Garland – ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’
Panjabi MC – ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’
Ludwig Göransson – ‘The Mandalorian [Main Theme]’
Duran Duran – ‘Friends Of Mine’

Crawling into the weekend

About a mile and a half today…

…and I’m still finding it a bit tiring, but I’m doing okay.

I was writing until into the evening today as I got a bit absorbed in my NaNo project. Good to get a buffer in for my wordcount as I’m going to be a bit busier over the weekend. Will update again on Monday!

Christmas leggings, take 3
An especially bright pair of Christmas leggings today.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Duran Duran – ‘Friends Of Mine’