I have had a really good day of not doing much at all – just reading and listening to music. It’s been a rainy day, so I’ve had zero inclination to leave the house. Will venture out briefly tomorrow morning for parkrun!
Today’s earworm playlist:
Timecop1983 and The Bad Dreamers – Back To You
The Carpenters – Yesterday Once More
Duran Duran – White Lines
Nik Kershaw – I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Japan – I Second That Emotion
Kygo and Whitney Houston – Higher Love
I know I shouldn’t wish my life away, but today is the day I always start to get excited about autumn, my favourite season of the year.
It’s the first of August – just a month away from meteorological autumn – and while I know most people are still enjoying the summer (I’m not sure how, given that after last week’s brief heatwave the weather has since returned to a constant cool, grey dampness that means Geth can’t mow the lawn), I’m already dreaming of darker evenings and Hallowe’en chocolate and getting my ’80s jumper collection out again.
The BBC are starting to announce the first few Strictly contestants, and I’m stepping up my training for the Great North Run, and I’m already busy planning out my writing for all the fiction and poetry competitions I’m going to be entering from September to November. I’ve got a lot of gigs lined up for that period as well – it’s going to be a really great autumn this year!
In the meantime, I’ve got one last summer trip away to enjoy this month. It is Shetland, though, so I’m not hopeful for the weather (last time I was there, it rained the whole time).
A nice normal Thursday today now that we’ve got the internet back – Geth and I went to the earlier Slimming World group today so that we could be in when the new router arrived, and we’ve got boardgaming guests coming round this evening for more adventures in the Lord of the Rings universe.
Today’s earworm playlist:
Haim Saban and Shuki Levy – The Mysterious Cities Of Gold Main Theme
Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill
A-ha – Take On Me
Andy Taylor – Broken Window
Lizzo – Truth Hurts
Gunship – Dark All Day
Yesterday did not end as well as it began. The UK railway chaos caused by the heat meant that Geth and I were unable to get from Newcastle to Durham for our race, so I had to DNS a race I’d entered for the first time since 2016 (when I couldn’t take up my place at the EMF 10k due to my brother getting married in Toronto the same weekend). Really annoyed about the whole thing! Next time I have to go anywhere during a heatwave I’ll be taking the car – the trains are just too unreliable.
I then had a bad night’s sleep due to the heat, so I’ve not really felt on top form today and haven’t got as much writing done as I would have liked. It’s been a long, muggy day – there was a heavy rain storm earlier this evening that’s made the air a little cooler, but it still feels pretty uncomfortable.
I may or may not be at parkrun tomorrow depending on the weather, but I will be in town either way as I’ve got a hospital appointment that I only found out about today.
Today’s earworm playlist:
Martin Garrix, Macklemore and Patrick Stump – Summer Days
Daniel Bedingfield – If You’re Not The One
Arcadia – Say The Word
Cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Time Warp
Kylie Minogue – I Should Be So Lucky
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
George Ezra – Paradise
And a bonus track that Geth was humming earlier:
Haim Saban and Shuki Levy – The Mysterious Cities Of Gold Main Theme
Geth woke me with great excitement this morning because he’s had a paper accepted (it’s been a few years due to various things getting in the way of his research), and I was still on a high from giving a well-received performance at poetry night yesterday evening, so it was a good start to the day. Well, it was until I read all the newspaper headlines screaming ‘ARE YOU READY FOR THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR?’. Firstly, no I’m not, because I have to run 10k this evening and cooler temperatures would be preferable (the forecast is now saying thunderstorms – this could be interesting) and secondly, you don’t actually know that it’s the hottest day of the year until the year comes to an end, newspaper people.
Other than the uncomfortable heat, though, our good vibes have continued as Geth and I both had losses at Slimming World. Just hoping that the weather won’t make tonight’s race too miserable!
Today’s earworm playlist:
Oasis – Champagne Supernova
Gunship – When You Grow Up Your Heart Dies
Duran Duran – All She Wants Is
George Michael – Careless Whisper
Cole Porter – Too Darn Hot
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – Despacito
Martin Garrix, Macklemore and Patrick Stump – Summer Days
The one annual week of summer heat has arrived in the UK with a vengeance. I am not about it in the slightest so I have spent today indoors with the windows open, ignoring the news and getting lots of writing done.
Looking forward to a quiet evening with music and reading, and then another day of writing tomorrow.
Today’s earworm playlist:
Gunship – The Mountain
Lil’ Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road
Andy Taylor – I Might Lie
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
Trevor Something – All Night
Al Stewart – Year Of The Cat
Bowling For Soup – 1985
The Midnight and Nikki Flores – Jason
Colony 5 – Black
Duran Duran – All You Need Is Now
Duran Duran – A View To A Kill
Bucks Fizz – If You Can’t Stand The Heat
Martin Garrix, Macklemore and Patrick Stump – Summer Days
Finally some nice weather today! And I made the most of it by…staying in the house all day ’cause I was a bit tired after last night. Got to get that garden finished so that I’m more inclined to sit out!
Last night was hectic but ultimately successful. I lost for the second week in a row at Slimming World – only a pound, but I’d rather get into a pattern of small losses every week than keep doing the ‘lose five, gain five!’ thing that has characterised my results since race season began. My next race is the Great North 10k on the 7th of July, and I am so determined not to gain that week. I’ll have to be really strict to mitigate the post-race bloat that always seems to happen at the moment.
I then went to ukulele class – it was running late, so I had to skip out before the last song, as I wanted to get to poetry night in time to make sure I could read again. I’m still a bit nervous before performing, but I think I’m gradually getting better at it. Geth took a video, which I *may* be brave enough to post later in the week (no promises though!).
Have had a fairly quiet day today – Mum and Dad visited in the morning on their way back from Sweden, and I’ve spent the afternoon getting on with writing. Just a few things to finish off tomorrow and then I can chill out for the weekend.
Today’s earworm playlist:
Queen – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
Haircut 100 – Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
The Midnight – Gloria
Duran Duran – Shadows On Your Side
The Midnight – Days Of Thunder
Duran Duran – 911 Is A Joke
I’m seeing a lot of complaints on social media today about how hot and muggy it is. This is not the case in Newcastle. It’s wet and miserable, and Geth and I had the fire on all morning.
As such, it has been a good day for staying in the house and getting work done. I spent the morning editing for clients, and am now getting on with my own writing. Geth is playing the remastered version of Final Fantasy XII at the moment, which is nicely soundtracking my work.
A slightly more hectic day tomorrow, so I’m glad I’ve been able to get so much done today!
Today’s earworm playlist:
Heaven 17 – Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry
Haircut 100 – Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
Duran Duran – Perfect Day
Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
Avicii and Aloe Blacc – SOS
Mark Ronson and Lykke Li – Late Night Feelings
I had a doctor’s appointment this morning (I needed to renew my regular medication) and then a quick trip to the hospital afterwards to pick up some hearing aid batteries. Nice to listen to some podcasts in the sunshine!
Day job work and writing all afternoon, and now settling in for the evening with some music.
Today’s earworm playlist:
Queen – We Are The Champions
Duran Duran – All Along The Water
Bronski Beat – Hit That Perfect Beat
Ed Sheeran – You Need Me, I Don’t Need You
The weather is finally improving and feeling marginally more summery! I went out for a walk (well, really to go to Asda ’cause I’d run out of fizzy juice) this morning, which felt nice after a few days of being cooped up. I’ve spent the rest of the day editing for clients and doing my own writing.
Out again tomorrow morning – again it’s for a boring reason (doctor’s appointment) but it’ll be another nice walk if the weather stays like this.
Today’s earworm playlist:
Charlie Puth – One Call Away
5 Seconds Of Summer – Easier
The Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star
Katy Perry – Never Really Over
Space – Female Of The Species
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
Duran Duran – Violence Of Summer (Love’s Taking Over)
Oasis – Cigarettes And Alcohol
Another fairly quiet day. After Slimming World this morning, I did a big shop so that I wouldn’t have to go out again for a while (it’s still cold and wet out there!), and have spent the afternoon writing and playing ukulele.
Looking forward to more time to myself tomorrow.
Today’s earworm playlist:
Timecop1983 and Seawaves – Lovers
Trevor Something – Summer Love
Wham! – Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)
The Midnight and Nikki Flores – Light Years
Meat Loaf – Paradise By The Dashboard Light